Plus-size models have been making major headlines lately:
Ashley Graham in
Sports Illustrated, Myla Dalbesio for Calvin Klein, and, most recently, Denise Bidot for
Target's Lilly Pulitzer collection, to name a few. As these plus-size campaigns become more mainstream in fashion and garner more media attention, the world is getting to know plus-size models—but only a fraction of them.
While there are a handful of top
plus-size models, there are a plethora of ones you've yet to hear about. You know the former because you've seen them. I know the latter because I was one: modeling for catalogs and e-commerce jobs, casting my butt off, and trying to forge industry relationships for a chance at the big jobs.
I know all too well that, while most of the industry's high-profile (and high-fashion) jobs are landed by a handful of the same models, there are hundreds of other models working in fashion capitals around the world. That cadre of diverse and rare beauties are working small jobs, playing with their career strategies, and hustling hard while waiting for their big break. With this month's
#ImNoAngel campaign from Lane Bryant, the mainstream was introduced to some of these new faces—and it got me thinking. It's about time that we start taking chances on new models!
I'm not alone in hoping that as the burgeoning plus-size market expands and becomes more "normal," we'll see a wider range of models at work. Until then, here are the ones I can't wait to see in the big leagues.
Jocelyn Nayeli Corona
