The Fashion Industry Through The Lens Of Plus-Size Models

Vivian Eyo-Ephraim

Who's That Girl:

@Vivss_x

Model/Student

Where You've Seen Her:

ASOS

Her Story:

I think we can sometimes be our biggest critic. When we don't see ourselves represented in the media, we think we are not what society thinks is beautiful and that's just not the case. I am on the same journey as everyone else trying to find my inner confidence and learning to love my body and all the amazing things it can do. It is hard when you receive criticism. I have seen negative comments and responses to some of my ASOS pictures online and it is hard to take because it is so easy to focus on the negative, but the support I have also received has completely outweighed that, and it's been amazing! I want to make others feel as amazing as I do.

"I am on the same journey as everyone else trying to find my inner confidence and learning to love my body and all the amazing things it can do."

[Not seeing models that look like you] affects your confidence and makes you wonder where you fit in this industry. That's why working with my agency to help BRIDGE the gap is so important to me. We need to see more diversity and women and men of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities represented because we are a diverse world. Let's celebrate that.

The media is quick to jump to one extreme or another; if someone is slim, they are too skinny and you're promoting eating disorders, if someone is what the industry calls 'plus size,' you are apparently promoting obesity. We need to get away from the vision that health is a size, its not, healthy people come in all shapes and sizes and the media needs to recognize that.

"We need to get away from the vision that health is a size. It's not."

The average woman in the UK is curvy size 16+, so being confident and happy in my curves means I can inspire others to feel the same way.

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