After Victoria’s Secret quietly changed its “perfect body” slogan, and Topshop came under attack for a skinny mannequin, the fashion industry has been hit with yet another controversy: Calvin Klein’s “plus-size” model.
The newest plus-size modeling star on why her body isn't a trend: http://t.co/TimRHJUvR9
The outrage was sparked after model Myla Dalbesio gave an interview in which she spoke about her claim that she is the biggest girl Calvin Klein has ever worked with.
In the Elle interview, she said Calvin Klein did not have a separate section for plus-size girls or a plus-size campaign, and that she's "not skinny enough to be with the skinny girls and I'm not large enough to be with the large girls".
"It's kind of confusing because I'm a bigger girl," Dalbesio told Elle. "I'm not the biggest girl on the market but I'm definitely bigger than all the girls [Calvin Klein] has ever worked with, so that is really intimidating."
Despite Elle magazine tweeting out that she was Calvin Klein's plus-size model, the fashion label has never actually stated that Myla Dalbesio – a US size 10 and a UK size 14 – was hired as a plus-size model.
Calvin Klein did say however that the images for the new line, modelled by Dalbesio and other models, are an attempt to be more "inclusive" for "different women".
A Calvin Klein spokeswoman told the New York Times: "The Perfectly Fit line was created to celebrate and cater to the needs of different women, and these images are intended to communicate that our new line is more inclusive and available in several silhouettes in an extensive range of sizes."
But that didn't stop the furious response from people on Twitter.
Genuine WTF moment. This woman is described as 'plus-size' and 'a bigger girl'. Aaaraagahagaagahahagahahag http://t.co/Z1yb0RgW8V
Calvin Klein's plus size, does it matter what size you are. Talk about making people feel even bigger! #PlusSize #calvinklein
Ah, okay, Calvin Klein. A size 38/10 is today 'plus-sized' http://t.co/gHgDBLNku4 hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Wake up plis
Others pointed out that in fashion industry terms, she is indeed a size that is deemed as "plus size" – even if Calvin Klein hasn't described her at that.
Can't believe the fashion industry are branding the new size 10 Calvin Klein model as plus size. No wonder girls have confidence issues <img src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v1/72x72/1f621.png">
is this why a woman who is a size 10 has been described as 'plus sized'? congratulations fashion industry for creating a shitty phrase
@ELLEmagazine size 10 is NOT plus sized. It's called healthy. The fashion industry (machine) is insane.
Myla Dalbesio is so gorgeous, she's a size 10 but considered to be a plus size model. The world and fashion industry is so fucked up