The Next BIG Thing In Modeling: Self Respect

Nancy Upton is awesome. She is also a member of the community of plus sized women who kick ass. American Apparel is not so awesome.

Their worlds have collided thanks to Nancy and a ridiculous contest created by the delusional minds of American Apparel. They decided to play down their sexist, sizeist image by creating a contest looking for plus-size model. So far so good.

Their call-out begins: “Think you are the Next BIG Thing? Calling curvy ladies everywhere!” They have managed to stretch their hipster line all the way to size 12, and are looking for women who need “a little extra wiggle room where it counts.”  The models, who sent in photos “photos of you and your junk” are ranked on a five-point scale from “Not Quite” to “XLent.”

I can see it now. American Apparel realizing how unfriendly they have been to the “bigger” brand of potential buyers, deciding to show their new understanding via a contest for a plus sized model. So, they do just as American Apparel would — it has to be funny, right?  Cut to Dov Charney and his (literally) little “helpers” laughing it up in his office as they look through the contestants and giggle.

Oh boy. The average American woman seeking apparel may be a size 14, but their target customers are clearly not.

Nancy Upton, a size 12 woman full of confidence looked at the contest entitled “The Next Big Thing” and had the same reaction of most of us — she was pissed. She decided to join in on the fat fun and enter the contest, mocking the whole idea entirely. And now she is currently winning the contest. Oh, yes, this is awesome.

“I’m a size 12 and wanted to show American Apparel my fresh face (and full figure),” she wrote on her website. “My good friend Shannon Skloss came over to take come “booty-ful” photos of me… but I just couldn’t stop eating.”

These range from munching on potato chips in a pool, pouring chocolate sauce all over her nearly naked body, holding a pie in front of her naked nethers, and the pièce de résistance: bathing in a tub full of ranch dressing. Yummy.

While some worry that the women who really entered the contest may be hurt by the fact that the woman who won did it as a gag, the bigger picture is bright. Turns out that looking at pictures of a fat chick are funny, but only if she isn’t the punchline.

Looks like their competition has found the most “XLent” model, although probably not in they way they intended. Apparently, being body-positive is “The Next BIG Thing.”

Contact the author here: crazycolleen@morningquickie.com