Know these plus-size models?, Model" conjures an image of a sylph-like female with slender proportions. But beauty comes in every size. Gorgeous models who wear dress sizes in the double digits are making appearances. Here are some lovelies of whom we hope to see more.
Robyn Lawley
One of the three at the table on Vogue Italia's June 2011 cover (see the cover | who else modeled?), Australian Robyn Lawley's career continued to bloom in the years since. She was the first plus size model to appear in a Ralph Lauren campaign and she was featured on the cover of French Marie Claire. Just this week, Lawley announced that she is expecting her first child with her fiancé.
Tara Lynn was part of the now infamous trio on the cover of Vogue Italia in June of 2011 . Lynn's pretty pucker has been featured on the cover of Elle France and in editorials for V Magazine and Glamour. She's also modeled for H&M's 2012 At the Poolside Spring campaign.
This Brazilian beauty is often referred to as "the plus size Gisele Bündchen" but we think she deserves her own renown. Fluvia Lacerda has been featured in Vogue Italia and Bust. She won the 2011 Full Figured Fashion Week Best Plus Size Model award. And, well, Lacerda just makes size 18 look seriously sexy.
When Ashley Graham's Lane Bryant commercial was banned from airing before 8 p.m., everyone tuned in to see why. This Nebraska native's curves lit up the airwaves, causing some controversy and some puzzlement over why (watch the ad). Graham's tush has also been featured in Levi's campaigns. Her undeniable self-confidence should inspire gals, large or small.
The daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, model and autism activist Christina Mendez has appeared on the pages of Glamour, Latina and The Source.
This pretty Brit is signed to Ford Models. Marshall was a teen beauty queen and won the Miss Surrey title. She has appeared in campaigns for Macy's and Torrid and walked in a Lane Bryant fashion show.
The golden haired singer, actress and model skyrocketed to fame because of her tummy's spare tire. Miller posed for Glamour magazine's September 2009 "Confidence Issue" (see the photo). Her glorious smile and soft curves enchanted women everywhere who wrote into the magazine, referring to her as "the woman on p.194," to express their gratitude for Miller's natural look.
Ford model Marquita Pring was featured in Vogue Italia's June 2011 issue (just not on the cover). Pring walked in Gaultier's Spring 2010 show in Paris. She has appeared in V Magazine and in campaigns for Evans and Levi's. Pring is an articulate advocate for expanding the industry's size standards and her portfolio testifies to her cause.
CANDICE HUFFINE
Candice Huffine was one of three musketeers Vogue Italia chose for its blowout June 2011 cover. She's clearly a pro. Huffine started as a plus size model when she was only 14. She has featured in W, V Magazine, and i-D, and is one of just a handful of plus size models who has truly transitioned into the high fashion market.
KAELA HUMPHRIES
This aqua-eyed beauty is the big sis of an NBA star (who?). Once a professional swimmer, Humphries has since stepped out of the pool and into a contract with Ford Models. She also appeared in an ad campaign for the Limited's Eloquii line.
ANANSA SIMS & BEVERLY JOHNSON
In 1974, groundbreaking model Beverly Johnson was the first African American woman on the cover of American Vogue (see the cover). Her daughter Anansa Sims also breaks beauty boundaries in ads for Forever 21, Kmart, Kohl's and Vassarette.
CRYSTAL RENN
Crystal Renn shot to fame for her curves after spending the early part of her career as a straight size model, struggling to overcome an eating disorder before finding success at a larger size (find her scathing memoir). She later lost weight, which she faced criticism for (read about it).
This British beauty was known in the '90s and '00s for her curves, which graced the pages of fashion magazines. She went on to marry a singer (who?) and embarked on a career as a writer of both fiction and non (find her cookbook).
HAYLEY HASSELHOFF
David Hasselhoff's daughter Hayley has found success as a plus-size model, as well as an actress on the ABC series "Huge" (how old is she?).
H&M received much attention for featuring a plus-size model on their website without calling attention to that fact. The model was American Jennie Runk, who later wrote an editorial about size diversity in fashion.
