Victoria’s Secret Features A Size-14 Model In Its Lingerie Campaign For The First Time
Victoria’s Secret has just signed its first-ever size-14 model. Her name is Ali Tate-Cutler and she will be featured in a collaboration ad campaign with U.K. lingerie brand Bluebella. The move to hire a plus-size model, however, was met with criticism, as some people think that the company is just covering its tracks. Less than one year ago, Victoria’s Secret chief marketing officer Ed Razek was slammed for insensitive remarks on-brand talent.
Image credits: ali_tate_cutler
Responsible for a homogenous, airbrushed, and sexualized brand image that is now largely considered as outdated, Razek infuriated the public with comments he made in a Vogue.com interview last November about Victoria’s Secret’s casting practices: “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy.”
Image credits: ali_tate_cutler
Surprisingly, the confirmation of Razek’s departure came on the same day when news talks began circulating that Victoria’s Secret hired its first-ever transgender model, Valentina Sampaio, who is working with VS Pink.
Image credits: imageglam
Regardless, Ali Tate-Cutler was stoked to work with the brand. “It feels amazing, I feel on top of the world,” Ali told E! News. “When I went in today to the VS store for the launch of the collaboration it felt surreal. I never expected that I was going to see an image of myself on the wall next to these famous models that I have been looking up to since I was a little girl. The whole thing came about when I got cast to be in Bluebella in London through my agents at Milk. It all unfolded from there and I was told this was going to be on the wall at VS and carried in their flagship stores.”
Image credits: ali_tate_cutler
Image credits: ali_tate_cutler
Image credits: ali_tate_cutler
She also said she doesn’t get hung up on the term ‘plus-size.’ “I do know that I am not the first plus-size girl to become a model, but I am the first 12-14 size model. Size 14 is actually the average size of women in America and I do think that we need to see more of it in media and fashion because most women are that size. So, we need to be accurately represented in brands and media. For Victoria’s Secret, I am so excited that they decided to put a size 14 women like me on the wall. I feel like they are headed in the right direction and they are listening to their audience who have requested to see more women of diverse shapes and sizes. I think if they continue to head in that direction they will be on to a jackpot because that is reflective of what the average woman is in America.”
Image credits: ali_tate_culer
“When we look at fashion history it’s taken a long time but we can also look back and see that in the 1950s there was a different body image that was more popular,” Ali said. “Predominately the beauty standard that has dominated the fashion scope has been a skinny tall body. This was damaging for women all around the world to see this because we were told time and time again that you can only be a beautiful woman if you are tall skinny and predominately white which has changed so much in the last 10 years. I think it took so long because we needed disruption in the industry. We needed people to step up and be the whistle-blower of the fashion industry. More than ever we are seeing all different shapes and sizes in fashion weeks around the world. They are heading campaigns of all different kinds. It has been changing but it just took a while to get there.”
Image credits: ali_tate_cutler
Image credits: ali_tate_cutler
Image credits: ali_tate_cutler
Some people, however, weren’t happy with the news
Image credits: readytostare
And pointed out what Ali said in the past
Image credits: readytostare
Here’s what others said about it
61Kviews
Share on FacebookThis is plus size????? I wear a 6 in regular clothes and am a large in VS - their standards are ridiculous and unhealthy.
here in Australia size 14 is not seen as 'plus size'..though in comparison, an American size 14 is the equivalent of size 12 down under..here you are not considered 'plus size' until you are an 18 (US 16)
Load More Replies...It's funny she talks about having empathy for the environment over empathy for people.
Maybe she should heed her own advice and resign for being a body figure she's against
Load More Replies...My original comment that I posted on this subject I deleted. For those of you who want to know what I said, I basically stood up for women that had normal shaped bodies, not model bodies. It's cool that you're trying to include "plus sizes" but that's not really inclusive enough. I know the whole point of modeling is to promote "hey i'm pretty buy my stuff and you can look like me as well" but can we have one normal lady modeling? Just call random people in from the street and ask them if they're ok modeling. If so, then just do the pic, pay them 50-100 dollars, and let them continue on with their day. We don't need perfect people. We just need people.
Why is it a big thing, that a perfectly normal sized woman can buy sexy lingerie? They should make it much larger than that. There a heaps of "plus sized" women that would look amazing in sexy underwear. S**t I'm glad I'm not a woman and should feel "large" just because I couldn't fit in a French woman sized underwear.
Wow daruby, I didn't see the original post but I doubt you deserved that response
Load More Replies...my one issue is this: "“Predominately the body that has dominated the fashion scope has been a skinny tall body. This was damaging for women all around the world to see this because we were told time and time again that you can only be beautiful if you are tall skinny and predominately white which has changed so much in the last 10 years. " Twiggy became a thing because thin was considered unattractive at the time, to the best of my knowledge. She helped women with "less curves" become admired for their "quirks". I think the better message to send is it's ok if you're thin, it's ok if you're curvy, and it's ok to be anyone in between. :)
It's because Fenty is basically putting Victoria's Secret out of business with their inclusivity. He made some really horrible comments about transgenders and plus-size people. Rihanna is making waves and setting a great example in the beauty industry.
Rihana has a terrific butt. I agree with that 100%.
Load More Replies...1. she doesn’t look size 14. I’m size 16 and I have a gut. Where is hers? 2. Where are the stretch marks? A full figured girl is covered in them from her arms to her legs, but ms size 14 model has none. 3. Photoshop
While I get what you are saying, Im a 14/16 and only have stretch marks in specific areas, I have a minimal gut. I also very happily fit in VS bras. Not all of us are built the same. When you are nearly 6 feet tall a size 14 will look different than if you are 5'5" or smaller.
Load More Replies...Clever trick and a new trend in many stores to keep normal and plus sized people interested (and investing) in their labels. "funfact": plussize often not available in the stores and often not size-adapted produced. L /XL doesn't mean just add more stuff.😉
I'll stay away. I have always been big busted, and they never carried bras or lingerie in my bust size until so many women starting having breast enlargements that they were forced to. So they'll cater to women who don't need bras but not women who do. They didn't care about my business then, they can do without it now.
First of all, I think she is lovely. Second, I wouldn't call her plus size but it is nice to see a more "realistic" body shape being modeled for lingerie. I personally don't buy lingerie because I can tell by looking it will not fit me the same way as the model, and I'm not large I'm just not shaped like a VS model.
I guess she looks nice, but that stuff she wrote is ignorant and mean.
Load More Replies...I'm sorry but why are people referring to obesity in reference to this woman? It says in the article size 14 is the average size in america. So, she's not 'fat' or 'obese'-she's a normal size and a healthy weight. If you think she's too big, then its because of magazines like Victoria's secret that portray such an unachievable weight that has become the norm. I think its great that finally people of normal sizes are being accepted and its such a shame that people get so hung up about it.
Size 14 is a normal woman. Show us 18 or more. Plus she isn't 14, more like 12.
To all the Nay Sayers: At least big brands are making an effort to accommodate larger women. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful whatever your size. There will always be the curmudgeon in every walk of life.
Is she supposed to be fat? I mean she's a little chubby but what's the not fat version? Size 1?
I'm not so sure this is a groundbreaking move from VS. What they've done here is borrowing (actually renting, se surely there's a lot of money involved) a campaign started by a smaller brand which celebrates includes "plus size", transgender and BAME models. But this is Bluebella, it's not VS. These new models are not going to become "angels". How ling will this last? till spring-summer season begins maybe? All this actually reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Mr Pitman buys Kramer's stories to put them in his biography and tell them as his own.
well she's not dumbass. Get out some time, if you did you'll see actual women don't look like your gross hentai fantasies
Load More Replies...so the average womans size in America is 16 to 18 I just googled. They really should have models for those sizes too then since thats who they're selling to the most.
There should be clothes and lingerie that fit plus size women in a way that they themselves want to have because there are women (and men) who are not size bloody f*ckin 0. HOWEVER, the point is to create wear for these individuals, but still understand that a certain line in obesity is still not okay and should not be romantisized. I'm not on the spectrum of obesity nor anorexia, but I have some plump to my hips. I try to eat healthy and exercise because I know my health isn't as good as it should be. So I do agree to her point a little in her past post, obesity is not necessarily "good." But, we have people that need clothes that will make them feel amazing and proud to walk in regardless of their size because that is who they are at that given moment and they damn as well do not need to succumb to negative aspects about their bodies 24/7. Honor yourselves, but also take care of yourselves. A balance and understanding.
What's wrong with what she wrote? "Sorry, most morphinists ... blabla ... some have a genetical disposition, but most are juist drug addicts ... blabla ... " would certainly not result in saying someone was drug-shaming someone else, while every time someone mentions something about being fat that in fact is bad to someone else than the fat person his/her/whatever-self, no one even cares if it is true or not - these days, you have to say that fat people are beautiful, and if you in all honesty possible do worry about a fat friend's health - a lot of people will claim you don't, without knowing. Fat is beautiful, and if you call fat fat, it also is bodyshaming, because ... I don't know. I don't really get it - but I am very happy for and with a formerly fat friend who now has regular weight, and actually made it past 30 ... which was in question when she was like 20 ... I guess her doctor fatshamed her too bad, even did fatshaming surgeries! What an a*****e, right? Damend ... really?
Torn ... on the one hand, life is "bigger" than the skinny models make you believe. On the other hand, if I want average, I just look around. Don't you go to the movies to see things that DONT happen in real life?
VS is a company that makes underwear for real life women, so it should reflect that.
Load More Replies...I dont het the fuzz about this s**t. Sexy women will sell. Iknow its bad, i didnt make that s**t so dont blame me. And before u call me arrogant narrowminded kunt who is misogynist u should know that there will never be fat man in calvin klein ad.
I think that women are actually more likely to buy if they think something will actually look good on their bodies.
Load More Replies...I think we should be promoting health, whatever the size. Though I do feel though that obesity should never be considered normal or ok as It's associated health effects cannot be ignored. Just as high blood pressure or diabetes is seen as conditions which need to be monitored and treated, so should obesity.
Ok, but overweight people still need to wear underwear.
Load More Replies...See, poor dev mehta makes a body positive comment , indicating he/she appreciates the sexiness of this Size 14 lady ....... gets downvoted!, likely because he dared call a somewhat chubby girl chubby .... the nerve !!!!
Load More Replies...Sure, but it isn’t VS’s problem. They are there to make clothes to support women at whatever size they are.
Load More Replies...I promise you, Victoria's secret didn't start doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. They were losing market share to other companies that included sizes "regular" Americans wear. They want money. They want money from everyone - not just uber skinny women.If there were enough uber skinny women to keep buying their stuff, vs wouldn't have begun this campaign.
Load More Replies...This is plus size????? I wear a 6 in regular clothes and am a large in VS - their standards are ridiculous and unhealthy.
here in Australia size 14 is not seen as 'plus size'..though in comparison, an American size 14 is the equivalent of size 12 down under..here you are not considered 'plus size' until you are an 18 (US 16)
Load More Replies...It's funny she talks about having empathy for the environment over empathy for people.
Maybe she should heed her own advice and resign for being a body figure she's against
Load More Replies...My original comment that I posted on this subject I deleted. For those of you who want to know what I said, I basically stood up for women that had normal shaped bodies, not model bodies. It's cool that you're trying to include "plus sizes" but that's not really inclusive enough. I know the whole point of modeling is to promote "hey i'm pretty buy my stuff and you can look like me as well" but can we have one normal lady modeling? Just call random people in from the street and ask them if they're ok modeling. If so, then just do the pic, pay them 50-100 dollars, and let them continue on with their day. We don't need perfect people. We just need people.
Why is it a big thing, that a perfectly normal sized woman can buy sexy lingerie? They should make it much larger than that. There a heaps of "plus sized" women that would look amazing in sexy underwear. S**t I'm glad I'm not a woman and should feel "large" just because I couldn't fit in a French woman sized underwear.
Wow daruby, I didn't see the original post but I doubt you deserved that response
Load More Replies...my one issue is this: "“Predominately the body that has dominated the fashion scope has been a skinny tall body. This was damaging for women all around the world to see this because we were told time and time again that you can only be beautiful if you are tall skinny and predominately white which has changed so much in the last 10 years. " Twiggy became a thing because thin was considered unattractive at the time, to the best of my knowledge. She helped women with "less curves" become admired for their "quirks". I think the better message to send is it's ok if you're thin, it's ok if you're curvy, and it's ok to be anyone in between. :)
It's because Fenty is basically putting Victoria's Secret out of business with their inclusivity. He made some really horrible comments about transgenders and plus-size people. Rihanna is making waves and setting a great example in the beauty industry.
Rihana has a terrific butt. I agree with that 100%.
Load More Replies...1. she doesn’t look size 14. I’m size 16 and I have a gut. Where is hers? 2. Where are the stretch marks? A full figured girl is covered in them from her arms to her legs, but ms size 14 model has none. 3. Photoshop
While I get what you are saying, Im a 14/16 and only have stretch marks in specific areas, I have a minimal gut. I also very happily fit in VS bras. Not all of us are built the same. When you are nearly 6 feet tall a size 14 will look different than if you are 5'5" or smaller.
Load More Replies...Clever trick and a new trend in many stores to keep normal and plus sized people interested (and investing) in their labels. "funfact": plussize often not available in the stores and often not size-adapted produced. L /XL doesn't mean just add more stuff.😉
I'll stay away. I have always been big busted, and they never carried bras or lingerie in my bust size until so many women starting having breast enlargements that they were forced to. So they'll cater to women who don't need bras but not women who do. They didn't care about my business then, they can do without it now.
First of all, I think she is lovely. Second, I wouldn't call her plus size but it is nice to see a more "realistic" body shape being modeled for lingerie. I personally don't buy lingerie because I can tell by looking it will not fit me the same way as the model, and I'm not large I'm just not shaped like a VS model.
I guess she looks nice, but that stuff she wrote is ignorant and mean.
Load More Replies...I'm sorry but why are people referring to obesity in reference to this woman? It says in the article size 14 is the average size in america. So, she's not 'fat' or 'obese'-she's a normal size and a healthy weight. If you think she's too big, then its because of magazines like Victoria's secret that portray such an unachievable weight that has become the norm. I think its great that finally people of normal sizes are being accepted and its such a shame that people get so hung up about it.
Size 14 is a normal woman. Show us 18 or more. Plus she isn't 14, more like 12.
To all the Nay Sayers: At least big brands are making an effort to accommodate larger women. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful whatever your size. There will always be the curmudgeon in every walk of life.
Is she supposed to be fat? I mean she's a little chubby but what's the not fat version? Size 1?
I'm not so sure this is a groundbreaking move from VS. What they've done here is borrowing (actually renting, se surely there's a lot of money involved) a campaign started by a smaller brand which celebrates includes "plus size", transgender and BAME models. But this is Bluebella, it's not VS. These new models are not going to become "angels". How ling will this last? till spring-summer season begins maybe? All this actually reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Mr Pitman buys Kramer's stories to put them in his biography and tell them as his own.
well she's not dumbass. Get out some time, if you did you'll see actual women don't look like your gross hentai fantasies
Load More Replies...so the average womans size in America is 16 to 18 I just googled. They really should have models for those sizes too then since thats who they're selling to the most.
There should be clothes and lingerie that fit plus size women in a way that they themselves want to have because there are women (and men) who are not size bloody f*ckin 0. HOWEVER, the point is to create wear for these individuals, but still understand that a certain line in obesity is still not okay and should not be romantisized. I'm not on the spectrum of obesity nor anorexia, but I have some plump to my hips. I try to eat healthy and exercise because I know my health isn't as good as it should be. So I do agree to her point a little in her past post, obesity is not necessarily "good." But, we have people that need clothes that will make them feel amazing and proud to walk in regardless of their size because that is who they are at that given moment and they damn as well do not need to succumb to negative aspects about their bodies 24/7. Honor yourselves, but also take care of yourselves. A balance and understanding.
What's wrong with what she wrote? "Sorry, most morphinists ... blabla ... some have a genetical disposition, but most are juist drug addicts ... blabla ... " would certainly not result in saying someone was drug-shaming someone else, while every time someone mentions something about being fat that in fact is bad to someone else than the fat person his/her/whatever-self, no one even cares if it is true or not - these days, you have to say that fat people are beautiful, and if you in all honesty possible do worry about a fat friend's health - a lot of people will claim you don't, without knowing. Fat is beautiful, and if you call fat fat, it also is bodyshaming, because ... I don't know. I don't really get it - but I am very happy for and with a formerly fat friend who now has regular weight, and actually made it past 30 ... which was in question when she was like 20 ... I guess her doctor fatshamed her too bad, even did fatshaming surgeries! What an a*****e, right? Damend ... really?
Torn ... on the one hand, life is "bigger" than the skinny models make you believe. On the other hand, if I want average, I just look around. Don't you go to the movies to see things that DONT happen in real life?
VS is a company that makes underwear for real life women, so it should reflect that.
Load More Replies...I dont het the fuzz about this s**t. Sexy women will sell. Iknow its bad, i didnt make that s**t so dont blame me. And before u call me arrogant narrowminded kunt who is misogynist u should know that there will never be fat man in calvin klein ad.
I think that women are actually more likely to buy if they think something will actually look good on their bodies.
Load More Replies...I think we should be promoting health, whatever the size. Though I do feel though that obesity should never be considered normal or ok as It's associated health effects cannot be ignored. Just as high blood pressure or diabetes is seen as conditions which need to be monitored and treated, so should obesity.
Ok, but overweight people still need to wear underwear.
Load More Replies...See, poor dev mehta makes a body positive comment , indicating he/she appreciates the sexiness of this Size 14 lady ....... gets downvoted!, likely because he dared call a somewhat chubby girl chubby .... the nerve !!!!
Load More Replies...Sure, but it isn’t VS’s problem. They are there to make clothes to support women at whatever size they are.
Load More Replies...I promise you, Victoria's secret didn't start doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. They were losing market share to other companies that included sizes "regular" Americans wear. They want money. They want money from everyone - not just uber skinny women.If there were enough uber skinny women to keep buying their stuff, vs wouldn't have begun this campaign.
Load More Replies...
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