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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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SoozeeQ
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are people downvoting Debster? I think she meant to be complimentary to the curvier girl. She has a gorgeous figure.

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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.

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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.”

#10

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rosebona avatar
athornedrose
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

she's crushing so many crop tops, and i just don't have the confidence for it. gorgeous

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Dizzyaudiohh
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm diggin the crop tops too! I'm not quite "curvy" but I am thick and I usually don't have the confidence to wear crop tops but recently I started getting some crop tops and playing with outfits to pull them off cuz I think they're so cute.

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Debster
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again curvy girl. I admit I grew up with a body like the slim girl. So I may be biased on curves.

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Rã. R. Field
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

^..I so know what being tiny is all about, my whole life meant altering or just making my own designs to fit. I say this as I notice the elastic wasted jeans on the smaller model; or which either are for children, or small pregnant women.. I found a Versace child’s designer jean with elastic, Great find as the price to buy are hundreds of dollars and I certainly didn’t pay that... Nothing wrong except they didn’t fit the child. Sizes for women have never been consistent or considered important until very recently, and still if one wants to buy something that fits in a pro-womans boutique, then expect to pay more always.. something that doesn’t get spoken about either on the other end of the spectrum , Very naturally tiny women... There has been a quiet argument in Industry for years about how many smaller women just get forgotten > exactly the same if one happens to be that bit larger than the general large size... it’s a conundrum!

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Amber Duhs
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love the way it looks on both! not in love with the top tho, idk just not my style

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Rose Coleman
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To the girl that wanted to know if her pants were on backwards, come on you can see where the zipper is!

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Maggie Dougherty
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3 years ago (edited)

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Why is the heavier girl, always in the background, it seems, and she kind of scowling, like in photo number 5, and 9? I'm curious? She also looks like she is def not having a good time.. idk..I imagine she has a beautiful smile.

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Angela
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3 years ago

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A)Not the same pants so if we are talking apples to apples (and to the comment on the other image about not liking pants that go that high): I think the point is different shapes compliment different shapes. Where pockets land, either front or back, will impact how you see (like? Blaaah!) shape. B) great thinking behind this post. PLEASE let's talk fashion in terms of composition and the shapes of human forms like artists rather than commenting on "fashion" tied to the prejudice/social construct of "she's hot" or "curves kill" or self esteem or whatever.

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Benjamin F. Rodriguez
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could you be nice, like you realize people aren’t gonna like your comment so stop being such a b**** about it (sorry I had to swear she’s getting on my nerves)

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#12

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Donna Leske
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perfect summer wear. And for haters, they are COVERED, no cleavage, no crack in the back, skirt long enough. Don't be jealous.

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Pam Olson
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is my favorite - it is a pretty color and it looks great on both of them.

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LoPandas
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ooooooh, I like this. I may need to go hunting for a bikini like this.

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sJm
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the first one where I think the outfit suits the slimmer girl better. Else the bigger girl wears everything else heaps better.

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Sandra Simpson
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Personally, I think that this outfit suits slim girl better. No offense to curvy girl.

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Gin
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry, but the buttons shouldn't be tearing apart. It's a beautiful dress, just get a size larger.

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