As plus-size models share their shockingly-open stories about their career, many people have started to question not only the idea of plus-size models but also the model industry as a whole. Model industries claim to promote body positivity; however, their advertisements say otherwise. Seemingly “plus size” models look anything but “plus size.” The model industry has created an unrealistic portrayal of the ideal body health, harming the world’s perception toward all body types.

On April 25, 2015, plus-size model Ashley Graham opened up about her journey to accepting herself and her body.

“My body, like my confidence, has been picked apart, manipulated, and controlled by others who didn’t necessarily understand it. Once I reclaimed ownership over my body, I discovered a greater purpose as a woman who was defying preconceived standards of feminine beauty,” Graham said in a Ted Talk she gave in May 2015.

Generally “plus size” for women is considered a dress size of 14. For men, plus size is considered XL. Clothes sizes and BMI are often used to determine the health of a person; however, these methods of health measurement are extremely inaccurate. BMI does not take into account waist size (which is often a clear indicator of obesity level), or the proportions of bone, muscle, and fat. Based on BMI, the most fit and healthy athletes would be considered overweight or even obese due to muscle being denser and therefore heavier than fat. When it comes to clothing sizes, someone who is not overweight, but just a tall and bigger person could also be considered “plus size.” Just a quick Google search of plus size models will reveal pictures of surprisingly healthy or “normal” looking people. The way that the model industry portrays healthy people is also harmful to people who fit those standards.

“Being skinny shouldn’t be glorified, because sometimes it’s a real health problem that people can’t control. People tell you that you’re so lucky and you aren’t allowed to have problems with your body because you’re the ideal body type,” sophomore Estrella Diaz said.

The problem that this presents is that one’s health and level of attractiveness are being classified by whether they fit into a size 0 or a size 12 when it should be neither. The standard is set at small sizes that could potentially be dangerous to some people’s health if they tried to achieve them. When clothes and even people are labeled as plus size because they have different proportions than the models and celebrities that the media portrays, an inaccurate illusion of health and beauty is created.

“I honestly think that it sets a standard that doesn’t really have a reason to exist. I don’t have a problem with models initially, normal and plus size and everything in between, but the image that it creates is this fake image that doesn’t show what someone’s common ‘real’ body looks like. Most of the people who are models have a very specific body type and follow this weird checklist of what it is to be sexually attractive, ignoring the procedures of their diet and such that they do just to maintain it. It causes so much anxiety for both men and women alike from what I can tell,” sophomore Allie Geurts said.

The model industry fails to take into account the wide variety of differentiation in body types. Often times, these expectations not only cross the minds of people and create low self esteem, but they can even cause people to go to extreme measures in order to achieve what society perceives as “healthy.” In order to amend the model industry, there needs to be a balance between realistic advertisements and the promotion of good health for men and women.