'People call me fat but I don't care - it's not an insult and I love my curves'

Several plus-size models have spoken out about reclaiming the insult 'fat' and why they're dedicated to promoting a message of self-love - not 'promoting obesity'

Four women have opened up about their long road to self-acceptance after receiving hateful comments from strangers.

While the world of plus-size modelling has evolved over the years, the road to self-love isn't always easy for those brave enough to put themselves in front of the camera. From overcoming industry limitations to battling stigmas over body size and reclaiming the word 'fat', plus-size models have revealed their personal journeys of working in the competitive industry.

Aly Avina, 30, from Virginia, who regularly models for brands like Unique and Fabletics, said: "There are always people who want to troll the plus-size community. It's going to attract those that want to tear you down.

"You’ll hear people say you’re glorifying obesity just because you’re in a larger body." She has seen this type of backlash and negative criticism after posting on her social media, where she boasts a following of 200,000.

But she hasn't let it stop her, as the reason she joined the industry in the first place was to share body-positive messages with other plus-size women. "I wanted to reach plus-size women who weren’t comfortable with how they looked yet," she added.

On how she deals with the criticism, she explained: "I've taken the power back and made my own videos to respond to them. If someone wants to use 'fat' as a negative connotation, that's their prerogative, but I'm not going to take being called 'fat' as an insult because that's who I am."

Despite the negativity, Avina stresses that body positivity is about accepting yourself at any size. "It's about loving yourself, whether that’s a size 2 or a size 22,” she declared.

Her biggest challenge is ignoring the hate, but she’s learned to develop a thick skin. "You just have to stand up for yourself and not let it get to you."

While the body positivity movement has made strides, Alex Aspasia, 30, a Fashion Nova Curve and OnlyFans model from Florida, believes that brands still overlook the larger end of the plus-size spectrum. "I wear a size 24, and I feel like we’re still missing representation," she explains.

"The average body for a plus-size model is a size 14 or 16, which is great, but there are also women beyond that size who need representation." Aspasia began her journey in 2019 by posting her fashion and lifestyle on social media, inspired by other plus-size creators. But she’s often accused of promoting obesity simply by existing in her body.

"I never once have said it’s okay to be obese. I tell people to love themselves and live authentically," she asserted. "Fatphobia seems to be ramping up again with things like Ozempic and diet culture, but I know people are just projecting their insecurities onto me.

"I tell people it's okay to live authentically and love yourself because the best way to go through this life is with self-love and to be a kind person to spread positivity," she added. "And that's literally been my message since day one."

Ivy Davenport, 38, from Florida, started modeling as a way to fund her education and now owns HFG Multimedia. "I started doing online adult plus-size modeling to pay for college," she said.

But after one of her videos went viral, she received hundreds of nasty messages, including, "You're disgusting," "You don't deserve to breathe," and "Get away from the refrigerator." While the nature of her work has sparked controversy, Davenport is unfazed by negative comments.

"There's always going to be people saying hateful things, but I just ignore it or laugh," she said. "Fat isn't a dirty word," she adds. "It's a descriptor." Through modeling, Davenport has developed a deep sense of self-acceptance.

"Modeling taught me to see beauty in everyone, regardless of size. Especially in plus-size modeling, it’s nice because it shines a light on people who might be overlooked in other settings."

Dutchess Jones, 39, from Alabama, faces unique challenges as a “curvy plus-size” model, straddling the line between traditional slim models and larger BBW models. “I’m a size 12, so I’m neither slim nor BBW. For me, it’s difficult on both sides because I’m neither of them,” she explained.

Jones, who models for up-and-coming designers in the plus-size community, highlights the lack of inclusive sizing from many designers. “There are still a lot of boutiques and designers that don’t cater to anyone over a size 8,” she noted.

“A lot of designers don’t want to invest in the fabric or use plus-size models.” Despite the hurdles, Jones is hopeful about the future of plus-size modeling. “As of late, the world is becoming more aware of the talent that plus-size models bring to the table — the pizazz, the energy, the talent. There’s more to come.”