Archive

Absolutely Flabulous

Lizzi Miller’s belly roll in Glamour caused a sensation. Marisa Meltzer on why the 180-pound beauty is leading a plus-size revolution. Also, VIEW OUR GALLERY of hot and heavy models.

galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/plus-size---miller_f3umeo
Walter Chin for Glamour
galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/plus-size---miller_gqzubp

The now famous “woman from page 194” of Glamour’s September issue, 20-year-old Lizzi Miller is bringing a new face to plus-size modeling, appearing on the Today show to address her newfound celebrity. “When I was young, I really struggled with my body and how it looked because I didn't understand why my friends were so effortlessly skinny," Miller told Glamour.

Walter Chin for Glamour
galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/fatshionistas---mia-tyler_roauy1

Half-sister of actress Liv Tyler and daughter of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Mia has been one of the most ubiquitous plus-size models of the past two decades alongside Emme. This year, Tyler launched her own plus-sized clothing line, Revolution 1228.

Evan Agostini / Getty Images
galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/fatshionistas---crystal-renn_l1v1jb

Model Crystal Renn’s career has extended beyond the plus-size niche, from numerous photo shoots with Steven Meisel in Vogue to campaigns alongside “regular” models for Spanish retailer Mango. Her memoir, Hungry, is due out September 2009.

Remy de la Mauviniere / AP Photo
galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/fatshionistas---velvet-damour_vtizco

The roles were reversed when fashion photographer Velvet D’Amour stepped in front of the cameras as a plus-size model for her walk down Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring/Summer 2007 ready-to-wear show in October 2006—Gaultier cast her as part of his 30-year retrospective, which included plus-size models in the past.

Jacques Brinon / AP Photo
galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/fatshionistas---kate-dillon_mqn7si

Dillon originally started her career as a traditional model in the early ‘90s, but after battling anorexia, she determined with her doctor that it would be healthier to add more pounds to her 5’10” frame. She eventually left modeling, but made a comeback in the late ‘90s as a plus-size model, appearing in Vogue and French Vogue. She was named one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful” in 2000.

Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage / Getty Images
galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/plus-size---lemons_pgpatw

Twenty eight-year-old Lemons has been walking the runway for the past decade, for designers like Marc Jacobs and Chanel. She will appear in the November issue of Glamour with fellow nude full-figured models, but has already graced the cover of Harper’s Bazaar.

John Spellman / Retna
galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/plus-size---sims_jluj95

The daughter of the pioneering black model Naomi Sims, Anansa Sims decided at 13 that she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps on the catwalk. She’s since been a proud plus-size model, providing a guide for women with big feet in Essence’s “Voluptuous Issue.”

Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images
galleries/2009/09/02/absolutely-flabulous/plus-size---thompson_gdbmwv

After becoming the first plus-size girl to win America’s Next Top Model (Cycle 10), Thompson was also named one of MSN Lifestyle’s Most Influential Women of 2008. She has since been an unofficial spokesperson for un-svelte girls around the country, telling The New York Post of her figure, “ This is what people look like rather than skin and bones, which is disgusting and sends a bad message to people everywhere.” Thompson was also named the official face of Fashion Bug’s Right Fit, a denim line intended to look good on women of all shapes and sizes.

Jerritt Clark / Getty Images

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.