All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through links in this article.
The pull tabs rarely made it all the way to the top of the zipper.
Illustration by Niege Borges
T-shirt fabric stretched taut across my belly and the back fat that always hung over waistbands.
Surrounded by beauty products, I finally felt accepted, hoping that fashion might one day catch up.
This is a familiar tale for many fat people, women especially.
Sarennya Srimugayogam stars in a campaign for Kulfi Beauty.
“Once I discovered red lipstick, I literally was wearing it all the time.
I’ve heard plenty of similar sentiments from other big babes throughout my life.
(Some might call me midsize, most call me plus-size or even “small fat.”
Roseline Lawrence stars in a campaign for Glow Recipe.
I just tell people I’m built like a brick shithouse.)
Ashley Graham is currently a spokespersonfor St. Tropez.
Glossier featured Paloma Elsesser in its2017 Body Hero campaign, which included alarger-than-life billboardopenly depicting stomach and back rolls.
An for one of Megababe’s most recent launches, Le Tush Butt Mask.
So when people think of plus-size models, the big names mentioned above are likely who they picture.
Many industry insiders, including Torres, agree.
“Picture a fragrance commercial,” Sturino asks.
Sarennya Srimugayogam stars in a campaign for Kulfi Beauty.
We’re at the cusp of that shift.”
All tell me they have witnessed improvements in the industry in regard to fat representation.
However, they also agree that there’s work left to be done.
“I want to see round, chubby faces and triple chins.”
“My identity definitely plays a huge role in landing jobs.
It’s a bittersweet relationship,” she says.
Roseline Lawrence stars in a campaign for Glow Recipe.
With the exception of body-care campaigns, most promotional beauty content is shot from the shoulders up.
Personally, I don’t think so.
Because they don’t think that it’s pretty.
They think they’re promoting obesity.
They think they’re promoting an unhealthy lifestyle," she laments.
Those same fashion houses also stamp their names on plenty of blockbuster makeup and skin-care brands.
They want to feel safe and secure," she explains.
“But what I have found is thatpeople resonate with representation.
How could anyone possibly feel this way?”
“I think that any steps they’re taking are only good steps as long as they stay consistent.
Its social media managers?
They should just be there like they are in real life.
There was a visible uptick in fat representation on the brand’ssocial media channelsafter announcing the creation of this board.
But the bottom line is that they just have totry and thenkeep trying.
Ganjoo recalls a similar experience when preparing for the launch of Kulfi Beauty.
“I dismissed that as being woefully out of touch.”
Facebook changed some of its ad policies in 2020.
“Everyone else was a white, thin, tall, Barbie doll-looking person.”
“And there are always the few sets where they don’t have the proper clothes to fit me.
BeforeAllurestaffers startedworking remotelydue to the pandemic, I saw this play out daily in my professional life.
I’d meet with various brand founders and their publicity teams to discuss product launches.
I attended high-budget promotional beauty events packed to the brim with people.
I worked in studios to shoot editorial and advertorial beauty content.
I walked the same halls and took the same elevators as countless other employees from various publications.
“It always makes you feel othered and it makes you feel subconsciously not included,” says Sturino.
“There’s no barrier for size in beauty.
Torres began her fat-positive content-creation career specifically in retaliation for this lack of representation.
And it’s infuriating that these feelings are something I have to explain.
And all of this emotional turmoil is for what?
I’m good, thanks.
And contrary to popular belief, they’re doing just fucking fine in their totally valid bodies!
And they always will.
