Opinion: Picking up the Crumbs

I Feel Pretty 

The latest in Hollywood’s attempt to ingratiate the ever growing fat market. Except it’s missing the mark so hard that it’s landed somewhere in Australia I think. The premise is a slightly chubby girl, or what we used to call ‘normal’ before we finally woke up and realised there is no such thing as normal, falls and hits her head, wakes up to think she’s gorgeous. 

Oh. Okay. Because without sustaining some kind of brain injury us fatties are unable to see ourselves as attractive? 

And to add insult to injury, this girl only thinks she’s attractive because she thinks she’s thin and gorgeous. Not because she can see her true beauty. Hilarious right? NO.

It’s really insulting and I’m so bored of trying to be grateful for society’s crumbs.

I’m Tired.

I’m tired of being told I should be grateful every time a brand expands its sizes. Because 9/10 times it’s a piss poor attempt at making money from the round pound. It’s waterfall cardigans and floral dresses, it’s jolly leggings and swing dresses and I’m. Over. It. 

As always, being the most positive negative person I know, I can see the tide changing, I see brands doing amazing things, I see shifts in the media, better representation. But that doesn’t mean we have to smile politely at every single thing. We are still allowed to stand up and demand more, be visible in every way possible, continue to fight the good fight so-to-speak.

Missguided doing it right with Enam Asiama

I want to be supportive, I want to applaud every new brand that launches, every existing brand who add a plus size section to their portfolio, but, that doesn’t mean we have to accept any old rope.

How can we continue to facilitate change? 

We can give feedback, email brands congratulating them, saying what you liked, and what you didn’t like. We can use our buying power. Support brands you love, spend your money with the brands you think are doing well. It’s not easy and it’s not an overnight thing (trust me, I’been banging this drum for over 20 years now), but I’ve seen real change and real progress and we have to keep supporting that.