It’s no secret that fashion is one hell of a merciless industry. I mean, how many times have we heard how unrealistic body image standards and high expectations have pushed girls to the brink of insanity? And although the stigma around plus-size models is fading away, the steps are so tiny, it’s barely visible.
Luckily, more and more women are willing to take matters into their own hands and rewrite fashion industry rules altogether. One plus-size model, Denise Mercedes, is doing just that. The size 14 Dominican model has launched a TikTok challenge titled “Style Not Size” with her friend Maria Castellanos. The two friends of different body types are putting on the same outfits, sharing the snack-sized videos to 1.7M followers, and showing that beauty comes in all shapes and forms. Their videos have now been liked a whopping 30.6M times, proving that healthy and happy women rule the world!
More info: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | DeniseMercedes.com
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When Denise was 16 and a petite size 8, she started submitting her pictures to modeling agencies, but her height was too short for industry standards. She kept on posing for the camera as a side hobby until she turned 21 and had gone up to a size 14.
According to a statement on her website, Denise started putting outfits together and posting her cool photos on social media. She is an avid advocate of body positivity and runs a campaign #becauseitsmybody dedicated to women of all shapes and sizes. She now has collaborated with many fashion design brands and boutiques like Forever21, Target, and JCPenney.
There’s a huge gap between fashion industry standards and real-life women, who measure a size 16 around the waist on average in America. Moreover, plus-size girls represent 68% of fashion shoppers, according to Glamour, and yet a very small percentage of them actually work in the fashion industry.
Only in 2016, Ashley Graham became the first plus-size model on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit edition and paved the way for models with curves. But the model herself told CBS Sunday Morning that she doesn’t like the word “plus-size” because it’s “so divisive to women” and puts them into categories.
Many women find the representation of diverse body types in media more assuring. In fact, this study by Florida State University found that women tend to experience deeper body satisfaction and retain a memory of plus-size models better than that of the thinner ones. It also pointed out that exposure to “unrealistic-sized media models” has a negative effect on the consumer’s “mental and physical health, including experiencing lower body satisfaction.”
she's crushing so many crop tops, and i just don't have the confidence for it. gorgeous
Perfect summer wear. And for haters, they are COVERED, no cleavage, no crack in the back, skirt long enough. Don't be jealous.
Personally, I think that this outfit suits slim girl better. No offense to curvy girl.
!["Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her"](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/coworker-complains-to-hr-about-womans-body-revenge-latest.jpg "\"Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her\"")
I think they both look great but I actually found most of the clothes really suited the curvier woman best. Maybe it is the style of clothes chosen. This just goes to show why we need models of all sizes coz clothes look very different on different sizes.
I think it's because the slimmer girl doesn't have a narrow waist, so form-fitting clothes meant to show off the mid-section or hips curve just don't look as good on her. She looks great in the pics where she's wearing clothes that are more loose or create the illusion of a narrower waist. Clothes really need to be designed with different body types in mind, it's not just the size that matters. That's why rich/famous people have everything tailored.
I don't think it about the waist it's the lack of hips.
Agreed. I think it's more about body type than about weight.
We really don't want to show models of all sizes; extreme anorexia should not be promoted or glorified, nor should obesity. I suppose the curvy one here and her friend both look to be within the range of healthful body fat percentages, but the extreme low and extreme high ends of body fat are dangerous sates of affairs for people to live in and, morally speaking, should not be held up as exemplars. This isn't to 'shame' the very fat or very thin, but to avoid sending confusing, mixed messages, e.g. to a young person who's just had a sobering conversation with their physician about how they're significantly over or underweight.
Elizabeth please don't feel that way. I hope you're just voicing what you've felt at times and that this isn't something you're struggling with currently. Rule 1: Love yourself as you love others. I'm sure you have some things you can and should love about yourself, and any health and fitness plan you make should be rooted in that. You're right, don't address your health to make anyone else happy EXCEPT the family & friends who DO value & love you for who you are, & for yourself too. I really don't mean to shame anyone who's struggling w/ a serious issue of this type - it's only the mixed messages to such people that I'm critiquing. The coherent message the world actually needs on eating disorders: you can both love yourself and others, AND make a change where a professional like a doctor says you need to; not only are these things not mutually exclusive, they're actually two sides of the same coin.
" extreme anorexia should not be promoted or glorified, nor should obesity." Both of these things can stem from unrealistic standards being applied to women. As a very fat woman, I can tell you...I wear men's clothes because they are what I can afford and most stores carry my size in men's clothes. I am a 3xl in men's...that's a 4-5xl in women's. If I want a t-shirt it is hands down cheaper to buy the male version because that'll cost me 30ish...the Female version is more like 50-60...I'm 100% punished daily for being fat...and all it's done is make me feel like there is no point in 'getting healthier'...Why? Why should I make myself even -MORE- miserable? Right now I feel so horrible because of how I've been treated since puberty by -other people-...that the idea of removing -everything- that makes me happy to make you people happy is why bother? I should just off myself.
I think it's alos because the curvy girl is a model. She just 'pops' in the pictures. And she is a stunner, just look at her face.
If you might also notice, some of the clothing choices go better than others with the body style of them. For example, on the curvier woman, oranges, browns, warmer colors, and some pinks and purples work extremely well, and with the slimmer woman, emerald, light green, whites flatter her. Jeans, of course, go with almost anything. They look stunning on both sides. Beiges are beautiful on both of them too. Just as you stated, and I concur, different clothes work on different people. It has to do with your body style, clothing style, and when it all comes down to it, color! :) TL;DR: You're right, but color also factors. See 6, 17, 20, 21, 24 for examples. These are some of my faves.
Same :3
you know I'm jealous as all hell for Miss Curvy..she's overweight, BUT, she's one of the lucky ones that carry it in the RIGHT spots..notice how she still has a FLAT tummy..?? ME, l carry my excess weight in the tummy area so nothing ever looks flattering on me..but as long as my boobs sit out further than my tummy then I'm happy..it's because she doesn't carry it all in the front that the outfits look good on her..yeah, I'm old and I'm jealous..chuckles..
It was a good post, but based on the comments, not the right time. Put a hold on these posts until people can be mature.
They both look great but most curvier/plus size women do not have dimensions remotely close to Denise. Her waist is pretty small and not much larger than her slim friends...then she has a larger just even for a plus size person and wide hips. I'm plus size and my widest point is my waist, my hips are the narrowest and these clothes would not be flattering on my figure at all. I wouldnt call this 'style, not size' ...because the curvier girl is the ideal size/proportions for curvy.
very realistic point of view. Their photos are shown with good intentions but they miss their own point
I agree. And also the curvy girl's stomach is flat. Many folks with those sort of curves also have a belly with rolls, and that sticks out in front of them. That drastically changes the way that clothing fits.
Yeah, I would LOVE to have her flat stomach. That’s what gets me about most plus-size models. Like, how do you have a flat stomach, and a thin neck and face? LOL
Yes, exactly right, I would love to be that kind of ‘plus size’ I find clothes very depressing, I’m barely bigger than ‘normal’ but because I have large boobs and a wide waist and women’s ‘plus size’ clothes always seem to aim for this wasp waisted pear shape, jeans are always either uncomfortably tight around my waist or loose on my butt and hips, shirts in my size never fit over my boobs, dresses in general look terrible. ‘Style not size’ really means ‘shape not size’, there is very little style to be found in my shape.
Yes, she has unusually tiny waist.
I think average person does not look like Denise either. So what's the point here? Clothes does look differently on different bodies, no kidding! What an idea.
I am size 10, a curvy girl, without curves, the clothes would never look like her. The curved models also surpass the normal woman, they usually have a very small waist, and they have a slim woman's face.
Totally! I'd love to be "curvy". I'm just an overweighted girl (not that much, just 8 kg) but I have absolutely NO curves. I have a big belly, no hips, no breasts either... The worst! So when they say something about these "curvy girls" I always think "so what? That is a sexy body, not a "fat girl" as they try to sell"...
Totally agree! It's wonderful that the industry is moving to be more inclusive. However, I've also boticed that plus size models are always giels with small waist and skinny faces.
The curvy girl has a very small waist and her stomach is flat..Not many plus sized women look like that. I wouldn’t call a size14 plus sized. That’s why I always hate to go clothes shopping.I hate how anything looks on me.
This was my thoughts too.
Clothes look different on different bodies - I think that is the point. It's all about the confidence. They both look awesome
I think they both look great but I actually found most of the clothes really suited the curvier woman best. Maybe it is the style of clothes chosen. This just goes to show why we need models of all sizes coz clothes look very different on different sizes.
I think it's because the slimmer girl doesn't have a narrow waist, so form-fitting clothes meant to show off the mid-section or hips curve just don't look as good on her. She looks great in the pics where she's wearing clothes that are more loose or create the illusion of a narrower waist. Clothes really need to be designed with different body types in mind, it's not just the size that matters. That's why rich/famous people have everything tailored.
I don't think it about the waist it's the lack of hips.
Agreed. I think it's more about body type than about weight.
We really don't want to show models of all sizes; extreme anorexia should not be promoted or glorified, nor should obesity. I suppose the curvy one here and her friend both look to be within the range of healthful body fat percentages, but the extreme low and extreme high ends of body fat are dangerous sates of affairs for people to live in and, morally speaking, should not be held up as exemplars. This isn't to 'shame' the very fat or very thin, but to avoid sending confusing, mixed messages, e.g. to a young person who's just had a sobering conversation with their physician about how they're significantly over or underweight.
Elizabeth please don't feel that way. I hope you're just voicing what you've felt at times and that this isn't something you're struggling with currently. Rule 1: Love yourself as you love others. I'm sure you have some things you can and should love about yourself, and any health and fitness plan you make should be rooted in that. You're right, don't address your health to make anyone else happy EXCEPT the family & friends who DO value & love you for who you are, & for yourself too. I really don't mean to shame anyone who's struggling w/ a serious issue of this type - it's only the mixed messages to such people that I'm critiquing. The coherent message the world actually needs on eating disorders: you can both love yourself and others, AND make a change where a professional like a doctor says you need to; not only are these things not mutually exclusive, they're actually two sides of the same coin.
" extreme anorexia should not be promoted or glorified, nor should obesity." Both of these things can stem from unrealistic standards being applied to women. As a very fat woman, I can tell you...I wear men's clothes because they are what I can afford and most stores carry my size in men's clothes. I am a 3xl in men's...that's a 4-5xl in women's. If I want a t-shirt it is hands down cheaper to buy the male version because that'll cost me 30ish...the Female version is more like 50-60...I'm 100% punished daily for being fat...and all it's done is make me feel like there is no point in 'getting healthier'...Why? Why should I make myself even -MORE- miserable? Right now I feel so horrible because of how I've been treated since puberty by -other people-...that the idea of removing -everything- that makes me happy to make you people happy is why bother? I should just off myself.
I think it's alos because the curvy girl is a model. She just 'pops' in the pictures. And she is a stunner, just look at her face.
If you might also notice, some of the clothing choices go better than others with the body style of them. For example, on the curvier woman, oranges, browns, warmer colors, and some pinks and purples work extremely well, and with the slimmer woman, emerald, light green, whites flatter her. Jeans, of course, go with almost anything. They look stunning on both sides. Beiges are beautiful on both of them too. Just as you stated, and I concur, different clothes work on different people. It has to do with your body style, clothing style, and when it all comes down to it, color! :) TL;DR: You're right, but color also factors. See 6, 17, 20, 21, 24 for examples. These are some of my faves.
Same :3
you know I'm jealous as all hell for Miss Curvy..she's overweight, BUT, she's one of the lucky ones that carry it in the RIGHT spots..notice how she still has a FLAT tummy..?? ME, l carry my excess weight in the tummy area so nothing ever looks flattering on me..but as long as my boobs sit out further than my tummy then I'm happy..it's because she doesn't carry it all in the front that the outfits look good on her..yeah, I'm old and I'm jealous..chuckles..
It was a good post, but based on the comments, not the right time. Put a hold on these posts until people can be mature.
They both look great but most curvier/plus size women do not have dimensions remotely close to Denise. Her waist is pretty small and not much larger than her slim friends...then she has a larger just even for a plus size person and wide hips. I'm plus size and my widest point is my waist, my hips are the narrowest and these clothes would not be flattering on my figure at all. I wouldnt call this 'style, not size' ...because the curvier girl is the ideal size/proportions for curvy.
very realistic point of view. Their photos are shown with good intentions but they miss their own point
I agree. And also the curvy girl's stomach is flat. Many folks with those sort of curves also have a belly with rolls, and that sticks out in front of them. That drastically changes the way that clothing fits.
Yeah, I would LOVE to have her flat stomach. That’s what gets me about most plus-size models. Like, how do you have a flat stomach, and a thin neck and face? LOL
Yes, exactly right, I would love to be that kind of ‘plus size’ I find clothes very depressing, I’m barely bigger than ‘normal’ but because I have large boobs and a wide waist and women’s ‘plus size’ clothes always seem to aim for this wasp waisted pear shape, jeans are always either uncomfortably tight around my waist or loose on my butt and hips, shirts in my size never fit over my boobs, dresses in general look terrible. ‘Style not size’ really means ‘shape not size’, there is very little style to be found in my shape.
Yes, she has unusually tiny waist.
I think average person does not look like Denise either. So what's the point here? Clothes does look differently on different bodies, no kidding! What an idea.
I am size 10, a curvy girl, without curves, the clothes would never look like her. The curved models also surpass the normal woman, they usually have a very small waist, and they have a slim woman's face.
Totally! I'd love to be "curvy". I'm just an overweighted girl (not that much, just 8 kg) but I have absolutely NO curves. I have a big belly, no hips, no breasts either... The worst! So when they say something about these "curvy girls" I always think "so what? That is a sexy body, not a "fat girl" as they try to sell"...
Totally agree! It's wonderful that the industry is moving to be more inclusive. However, I've also boticed that plus size models are always giels with small waist and skinny faces.
The curvy girl has a very small waist and her stomach is flat..Not many plus sized women look like that. I wouldn’t call a size14 plus sized. That’s why I always hate to go clothes shopping.I hate how anything looks on me.
This was my thoughts too.
Clothes look different on different bodies - I think that is the point. It's all about the confidence. They both look awesome