ADVERTISEMENT

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

#3

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
rosebona avatar
athornedrose
Community Member
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#12

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
booksfeedthemind avatar
Donna Leske
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
pamolson avatar
Pam Olson
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
laurenwatts avatar
LoPandas
Community Member
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.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
dodsonmichelle avatar
Celtic Pirate Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again - great dress, horrible color! It does nothing for either of their skin tones.

joodith227 avatar
Mumof1
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is a truly hideous dress and does neither girl any favours.

magentamanganit avatar
MagNat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the shade of the dress just fits the slender girl better.

tomismith avatar
TomiSmith
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is Denise always so far back? Besties should be closer.

madame-ra1111_1 avatar
Rã. R. Field
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*.. some very ‘selected’ bling is needed with beige shades, always... Kind Tip.☯️

gfstaylor avatar
GFSTaylor
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

It took me a moment to realize why this dress doesn't work on the bigger girl - it's the wrong colour for her skin tone.

majandess avatar
majandess
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Who is this dress made for? The color is just hideous.

baugh3r avatar
Debster
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Slender girl looks awkward and curvy girl looks unimpressed

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
seyn219 avatar
sJm
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
alexandrasimpsonstudent avatar
Sandra Simpson
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

Two-Friends-Same-Clothes

denisemmercedes Report

Add photo comments
POST
gintare_cer avatar
Gin
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu