One of the models in Calvin Klein's new "Perfectly Fit" campaign is Myla Dalbesio. The 27-year-old stunner happens to be a size 10, which is extremely normal, except when you're talking in modeling terms.
Calvin Klein didn't make any issue about including Myla in their new campaign that aims to be "more inclusive" and "cater to the needs of different women," but it's still causing a lot of controversy.
"It's not like [Calvin Klein] released this campaign and were like 'Whoa, look, there's this plus size girl in our campaign,'" she told Elle. "They released me in this campaign with everyone else; there's no distinction. It's not a separate section for plus size girls."
The sad truth that upsets people, however, is that as Elle pointed out in their article, in the fashion industry, a size 10 is considered "plus-size." So, while the blame is perhaps being misdirected at Calvin Klein, who never referred to her as a "plus-size" model, it did spark a very important discussion.
Why is such a derogatory classification being assigned to what is actually a very normal body and when will the industry reach a point where a normal body doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in their ads?
A lot of people took to Twitter to share their feelings on the subject:
this a plus size model? tf am i the triple plus pic.twitter.com/PV4jBr5YGC
- bec (@liImermaid) November 11, 2014
I wish I was as skinny as the new plus-size Calvin Klein model.
- Hannah Gale (@Hannahfgale) November 10, 2014
Genuine WTF moment. This woman is described as 'plus-size' and 'a bigger girl'. Aaaraagahagaagahahagahahag http://t.co/Z1yb0RgW8V
- Isabel Hardman (@IsabelHardman) November 8, 2014
The problem with this country is not how we define "plus size", it's that we even feel the need to define it.
- Madison Lawrence (@madisonlawrence) November 8, 2014
this woman being referred as a plus size model is everything that's wrong with society today pic.twitter.com/xsuCdjnFAP
- PLEASE LIAM (@amikagott) November 7, 2014
How are sizes 8/10/12 plus sizes? No wonder society has so many teens trying to 'fit in' being told those sizes are plus size is a disgrace
- ali (@alisarahx) November 7, 2014
We are so glad to see someone like us being included in fashion ads that don't distinguish themselves as "plus-size," but we still await the day that this becomes the rule and not the exception.