Curve Modeling: A Journey of Fashion Liberation
Curve modeling tells women that they are deserving of love, respect, and recognition, regardless of their size or shape. Curve models are leading the charge to promote body diversity in fashion. Ashley Graham became the first size 16 model ever featured in Sports Illustrated; Iskra Lawrence refused to have her modeling photos retouched and are working together against fatphobia behind the camera.
Growth curve modeling is an approach used to describe developmental change using latent variable models and estimate predictive models.
6 Hot Curve Models
Here are 6 curve models that can inspire you:
Alva Claire
South London model Alva Claire has come a long way since working at “a yummy mummy candle shop”. Now 22, Alva Claire is one of the most stunning faces on both runway and magazine covers; but at first, she was told she wouldn’t make it far. When she began modeling she was told she couldn’t walk runway shows as she was too fat for high fashion modeling.
Now, however, this New York-based model has made her mark in the industry, garnering bookings with Balmain, Calvin Klein, and Savage x Fenty among others. Additionally, she made history alongside Jill Kortleve and Precious Lee by becoming one of three first curve models ever to walk the Versace SS21 runway this past spring.
She found the experience gave her a sense of validation and sent a powerful message: there is space in fashion for women of all sizes and shapes. And she hopes others can take comfort in knowing seeing themselves represented can give them a sense of self-worth and legitimacy in everyday life.
She acknowledges that, despite this surge of support, there is still work to do for fashion to truly become inclusive. Jamaican-American model Angelina talks with us about her hopes for the movement’s future and the long road ahead toward real representation on runways.
Precious Lee
Precious Lee has long been one of the most iconic faces in fashion. Now more than ever she seems to be making her mark.
Lee made history this spring by sitting front row at Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein fashion shows, walking Rihanna’s star-studded Savage x Fenty show-fashion hybrid last fall, appearing in Kim Kardashian Good American campaign and Khloe Kardashian SKIMS campaigns respectively, and being featured as the first black curvy model to ever appear in Vogue magazine pages; additionally, she has graced Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Porter covers.
Beauty industry giants have taken notice, too. She’s secured highly desirable beauty campaigns (like Makeup For Ever’s Rouge Artist lipstick collection) and made her acting debut in the Starz comedy series Run This World.
Lee made history when she and other models Paloma Elsesser and Jill Kortleve made history at Versace’s live-streamed Spring 2021 runway show in Milan. This casting marked a historic achievement within the fashion industry and marked a clear demonstration that designers are accepting female models into their fold.
Iskra Lawrence
Iskra Lawrence is taking on unattainable beauty standards in fashion. The British model, who refuses to have her photos retouched, has amassed an enormous online following as both an influencer and body activist on Instagram and other platforms such as TED talks or campaigns with American Eagle and Chromat.
Curvy model Amber Le Bon is an exceptional role model for females. Mother and CEO of an international self-funding planner/skin and body care line with over five million Instagram followers and 1 million TikTok fans, she freely discusses mental health issues, diet culture, and body image struggles on her platforms; for instance what she eats each day or stereotypes she wishes to combat within modeling world and more.
Although over 57% of British women have BMIs higher than what’s considered normal, most high fashion campaigns only feature straight-size models. That is why it was so inspiring when Iskra Lawrence, an iconic plus-size model with four million Instagram followers and regular NYCFW walks such as Michael Kors and Prabal Gurung shows, became the first curve model ever to walk for Michael Kors at Fashion Week this season before, on Sunday night walking alongside Gigi Hadid for Prabal Gurung show!
Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham has transformed the fashion industry and become an advocate for body inclusivity. As one of the world’s most successful curve models, Ashley Graham has worked on numerous campaigns with Proenza Schouler, Fenty Beauty, and Glossier; additionally, she walked runways at Lanvin and Fendi. Ashley Graham remains a style icon and her Instagram page provides plenty of fashion inspiration.
American Beauty was born in Lincoln on 30 October 1987 and currently hailing for 35 years. She was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD when she was young, attending Scott Middle School and Lincoln Southwest High School for education before becoming a model at 12 for such brands as H&M, Target, Liz Claiborne Nordstrom Macy’s Hanes as well as being a backstage host for both Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants as well as judge on America’s Next Top Model competitions.
Curvy model Camille Rowe has become known as one of the faces of lingerie brand Addition Elle and designed her swimsuit line, as well as featuring in music videos for DNCE’s Toothbrush song and Glamour magazine’s October 2009 issue cover. Additionally, she maintains an active social media presence, including recently publishing her memoir entitled, A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Look Like.
Paloma Elsesser
Paloma Elsesser is an emerging star in the fashion industry. She was recently featured on the Vogue cover alongside Ashley Graham and has graced runway shows at luxury brands including Fendi, Chloe, Lanvin, and Coach as well as appearing in major advertising campaigns for Marc Jacobs and H&M among others.
She has also amassed an impressive social media following, broadcasting daily updates of her day and the things that interest her to over 550,000 Instagram followers. Through these channels, she has attained media credibility that allows her to address larger cultural issues like body diversity in fashion.
Elsesser’s rise is more gradual; she achieved success as the world is shifting and demands for the representation of natural curvier bodies are intensifying.
Elsesser’s rise has been propelled by a wider social movement of women demanding more from society, particularly in fashion. She represents a new generation of supermodels who not only bring their unique voices to the industry but also use their power to encourage others to speak out and demand more for themselves and create an equitable fashion landscape in doing so.
Ariish Wol
Ariish Wol has had an extraordinary life since starting her modeling career at age 16, which can only be described as both a fairytale and horror film. Hailing from South Sudan where she was diagnosed with epilepsy at 12, Ariish relocated to Canada where she quickly found work as a model – even appearing on runway shows for H&M, Alexander McQueen, and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna! Additionally, she’s shot editorials for Dazed and Vogue Italia among many other publications.
Ariish spends much of her free time traveling the globe and speaking about epilepsy and issues faced by women of color in fashion. At London’s Spring/Summer 2021 fashion season, Ariish saw more women of color walk the runways than ever before: Simone Rocha cast Precious Lee for Tommy Hilfiger; Roland Mouret invited Karmi Parris Goebel; 16Arlington booked Natalie Nootenboom into its show.
Recent shifts in beauty standards have seen curve models dominate runway castings in London, Milan, and Paris. Jill Kortleve and Paloma Elsesser were the first of these models to appear during London Fashion Week for the Fall 2022 season (for brands including Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard, and i_D). Roland Mouret chose Karmi Parris Goebel for their show and Ralph & Russo appointed Ruby for Ralph & Russo shows; in Milan, Kortleve was booked by both Alexander McQueen / Fendi and Lanvin/Chanel respectively / Elsesser.
Conclusion
The influence of curve modeling extends far beyond the runway and photoshoots. While the curve modeling movement has made significant strides, it still faces challenges.
In recent times there’s been tremendous momentum generated within the fashion industry by Curve modeling which is helping reshape once-stereotyped notions around standards of beauty while promoting inclusivity too; these moments deserve applause from us! The trend continues to positively upend traditional norms on size/shape allowing diverse bodies that were once shamed into hiding or covered impeccably within black tent clothing styles to now be encouraged on open display everywhere.
This movement goes beyond just influencing clothing choices but actively boosts self-confidence among young female audiences universally – inspiring them to love and cherish themselves. We appreciate the impact curve modeling has brought on fashion and beyond, creating a message of body acceptance, and positivity, and building confidence in women everywhere. Our goal remains to continue amplifying this message of empowerment so that all female variations can feel beautiful.
