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Meet Brooklyn Allen, a 23-year-old part-time retail worker, and part-time social media aficionado.

Recently, Brooklyn saw a number of thin women participate in a trend on TikTok where they recreated popular Pinterest looks. So she decided to take part herself.

“My intention when recreating these outfits is to wear them exactly how the original model did and show how they look on my body,” Allen told Bored Panda. “I’m trying to show women who are my size that we can wear these outfits and look good! I do the best with what I have and sometimes the outfits don’t turn out well. In that case, I talk about society’s standards and how hard it is to find items as a plus-size woman and how our treatment is entirely different from thin women’s.”

More info: TikTok | Instagram

Image credits: brooklyn.dallen

Image credits: brooklyndallen

Creating these recreations, Brooklyn has learned that a lot of outfits work for everyone. “There’s nothing wrong with a fat woman showing some skin, and I’ve found that I love the way I look in these outfits!” Allen said, adding that the recreations have also helped her to find and develop her own style.
“My point from this series is that fat women can wear whatever they want. It’s no one else’s business to tell us what fits, looks good, or ‘flatters’ us. Fat women’s bodies are heavily scrutinized and the clothing that is ‘meant for us’ is clothing that covers every inch of our bodies. I’m not interested in another peplum top. I’m going to wear what I want and advocate for my followers to do the same.”

Her TikTok already has over a million views

@brooklyndallenlove y’all but I said what I said #WidenTheScreen #plussize #fashion #style #pinterest♬ Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) – Doja Cat

In the video, Brooklyn explains that she’s “missing the key accessory that makes these outfits so desirable and perfect to society, and that is a flat stomach”

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Image credits: brooklyndallen

Image credits: brooklyndallen

“I’m sure I wasn’t the first plus-size person to do it, but I felt like with my specific body type and size, I could help a lot of my followers understand that they can wear anything they want and look great doing it,” Allen told BuzzFeed.

“When I refer to a flat stomach as an accessory, I am in no way being mean or bitter!” Brooklyn explained. “I’m completely okay with thin women using what they have, but I just want people to understand that it’s not the same for fat women. Our fat stomachs are systemically considered an imperfection, while a thin stomach is something that society would see as an elevation to an outfit.”

Allen thinks that “fat women don’t have the privilege of accessorizing with their fat stomachs unless they want stares and rude comments.”

Image credits: brooklyndallen

Image credits: brooklyndallen

Brooklyn aims to highlight what she believes to be a double standard in the fashion world that “has to do greatly with systemic fatphobia.”

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“I don’t like the word ‘flattering’ anymore, because I’ve noticed that what’s considered ‘flattering’ on fat women is clothing that hides our bodies,” she said. “Fat women have been ridiculed for ages for wearing crop tops, short skirts/shorts, and just anything that shows skin. Whereas skinny women are celebrated in these items because it shows off their thin bodies — which there’s nothing wrong with, it would just be nice to not be treated differently as a fat woman.”

Image credits: brooklyn.dallen

When it comes to TikTok as a whole, Brooklyn thinks the platform has done a lot of good and a lot of bad for the body positivity movement. “On the good side of things, I have met some of the most loving, accepting people that I now consider friends. And on top of that, I have such an amazing following that truly gets me and relates to me!”

“On the other hand, I think TikTok has pushed a lot of women who would barely be classified as mid-size to the forefront of the movement, which isn’t what the movement was made for. Of course, everyone can be body positive, but I think it’s important for smaller-bodied creators to advocate for the women who are on the larger side of the spectrum and push for their representation.”

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Image credits: brooklyn.dallen

“The body positive movement was started by fat black women and was meant to give them representation because they lack(ed) that!” Brooklyn said. “I think we have tons of work to do with putting the bodies this movement was made for as the face of the movement, really uplifting them, and giving them the representation they deserve.”

The woman hopes that people take away from her TikToks the idea that all bodies should have access to fashion.

“I really just want my plus-size women to understand that we can wear whatever we want, and for the thin women following me to understand where I’m coming from, that I am never personally attacking them, and for them to understand their privilege and use that to advocate for plus-size women,” she added.

Image credits: brooklyn.dallen

Brooklyn said the reactions her TikToks have received are mixed. “I have a great support system and tons of followers who understand my intentions and meaning behind the series. They get that I’m always just trying to start a conversation and advocate for fat women.”

“Some people on the other hand take it as a personal attack, and that’s never my intention. They think that ‘some things just don’t look good on fat people’, and prove my entire point with their responses.”

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Here’s what people have been saying about Brooklyn’s TikToks