There are an army of amazing plus size women leading the charge for body diversity in the media and fighting for equal access to style for all. Gone are the days when being anything larger than a size 16 meant you needed to dress like a frump – glamour doesn’t know size, age or race – it’s achievable by all who seek it out and embrace it. We’ve rounded up our favourite plus size style icons that embody sheer fabulousness.
1. Ashley Graham
After becoming the first full-figured model to appear on Sports Illustrated’s cover in 2016, Graham’s career has soared, and she’s widely regarded as the world’s foremost plus size supermodel. She’s shared catwalks with Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber, and been the face for Revlon, Lane Bryant and Marina Rinaldi. Graham, who has over 10 million followers on instagram, continues to smash barriers with her highly acclaimed podcast, Pretty Big Deal. The model, who recently became a mother for the first time, is no stranger to glamour, with her January 2020 cover of Vogue Magazine being a dazzling case in point.
2. Tess Holliday
The Los Angeles resident, a US size 26, is a well know body positivity activist, model and author. Recently she made waves around the world as the largest woman to ever grace the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine. Throughout her expansive career, she has also modelled around the world for brands ranging from Benefit Cosmetics to David LaChapelle to Torrid, written a book, starred in a documentary, and amassed over 2 million followers on Instagram. With her classic Hollywood starlet looks and flair for hair and makeup of vintage eras, glamour comes naturally to this megababe.
3. Fluvia Lacerda
This Brazilian bombshell got her big break while working as a cleaner and nanny in New York, and she hasn’t looked back. The size 18 beauty has travelled the world modeling for brands including Monif C, Kmart, and Torrid. She has been featured in Vogue Italia, Glamour Magazine, and was the first plus size woman to have a feature in Playboy Brazil. Although she does favour a swimsuit over a, this model, mother and influencer knows how to pull out all the stops when the occasion calls for it.
4. Precious Lee
Precious was discovered in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, and has been working as a professional model since then. She has walked the runway at New York Fashion Week, graced the pages of American Vogue, and starred campaigns for Lane Bryant, Old Navy, Target and Saks Fifth Avenue amongst others. She is currently signed with IMG models, and boasts a collaboration with upmarket lingerie brand Fleur du Mal – does it get more glam than that?
5. Gabi Fresh aka Gabi Gregg
This body positive activist, designer and influencer started off as a blogger – and went on to slay the world with her street smart larger than life marketing strategy. She has since designed popular size inclusive swimwear collections for Swimsuits4All and a seductive lingerie collection with Playful Promises, as well as a plus-size apparel line called Premme – revolutionizing glamour for plus size women of all sizes across the globe. Fresh, who describes herself as an ‘OG Fat Girl’, is based in Los Angeles and has over 755k followers on Instagram and has hit the jackpot in the plus size world much like someone who wins big playing NZ slots for real money.
6. Felicity Hayward
After being scouted in a London pub with friends in 2012, Hayward was snapped up by a modelling agency. She went on to do campaigns with brands from Mac Cosmetics and L’oreal Elvive, to TK Maxx, Ann Summers, River Island and Accessorize, amongst many others. She has also been featured in Glamour, Schon!, and Numero, and worked with some of the world’s foremost fashion photographers. She is widely regarded as a pioneer in the body diversity and self-love movement in the UK, and is currently chairing a global digital body positive movement called #SelfLoveBringsBeauty.
If this round up of inspiring, successful women shows us one thing, it’s that beauty – and glamour – comes in all different shapes and sizes. So, a round of applause for the women leading the charge and paving the way for the rest of us to lead our best, stylish lives.