Cynthia Cheng

They’ve been in the news a lot these days, the so-called “plus-size” model.  And usually, commenters say that these women “don’t look plus.”  Well, of course they don’t.  Models like Crystal Renn, who is 5’9″ and a size 12, are still model-height.  The average woman, who is a good four or five inches shorter, looks “bigger” wearing the same size.  It’s very interesting that the press has rarely taken height into consideration.  Instead, they’re obsessed with numbers.

A plus size model strutting her stuff at an Australian model search.  Image © Lucas Dawson/Getty Images

The size 0 issue, for example, applies more to the freakishly tall models one sees on the runway.  Hollywood actresses, who’re for the most part, fairly petite, generally look healthier in the same size.  Reese Witherspoon, for example, has said that she weighs under 100 lb at 5’2″ or so.  This probably puts her at a size 0.  However, no major publication has ever said that she’s “sick.”  The size that she is suits her very well.  In fact, if she gets any smaller, she wouldn’t even be able to purchase clothing off the rack (being sized out, especially with vanity sizing these days, is a real issue for those of us who’re small-framed) and it means that wardrobe people on set will have a lot more work to do to make things fit her.  Also, dress sizes increase much quicker on a short person.  You can go up two sizes just by gaining or losing six pounds.  It might not be a lot to taller people, but it IS when you’re 5 feet tall.

I applaud that the media wants to be more diverse when it comes to size.  But critics have to lay off the whole “but she’s not that big” spiel.  People also have to start going beyond dress sizes, as they don’t mean much.  All the “size zero is gross” and “size 12 isn’t too big” rants are driving me crazy.  Please take other factors into consideration and discuss it.