Social media uproar over Calvin Klein's size 10 'plus-size' model

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Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Calvin Klein received criticism over Myla Dalbesio, a model who many believed the fashion brand labeled as 'plus-size.'
Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein is receiving criticism over their size 10 model who people think is the fashion label's plus size.

Model Myla Dalbesio recently spoke with Elle magazine regarding her new Calvin Klein Underwear ad.

In the interview, Dalbesio claimed "I'm not the biggest girl on the market but I'm definitely bigger than all the girls (Calvin Klein) has ever worked with, so that is really intimidating." Dalbesio is a size 10, below what is generally considered to be in the range of a plus-size model, and the remarks sparked outrage directed at Calvin Klein on Twitter.

However, Calvin Klein has never actually stated that Myla Dalbesio was hired as a plus-size model. Dalbesio is a model for Calvin Klein's "Perfectly Fit" line which was launched last September, which includes thin supermodels like Jourdan Dunn and Ji Hye Park. After the outrage broke out, Calvin Klein released the following statement.

"The Perfectly Fit line was created to celebrate and cater to the needs of different women, and these images are intended to communicate that our new line is more inclusive and available in several silhouettes in an extensive range of sizes."

Dalbesio commented too on the uproar that occurred over the "plus-size" comments

"I love that after working in the fashion industry for nine years, I have finally found my place, right in the middle. Neither plus, nor straight size, I love that I can be recognized for what I am, a healthy size 10.

I love that as the conversation on the internet explodes and brings greater awareness, I am receiving emails from 15 year-old girls, telling me that I have given them hope and that sharing my story has made them feel less freakish, less weird, and that they can accept their size 8 or 10 frame.

I love that I get to be a part of this conversation, about size and body image and that I get to represent a brand like Calvin Klein. They didn't introduce this campaign for shock value, they simply included what some would refer to as a "normal size" girl in their advertising, right next to other girls of varying sizes and shapes.

I love that by opening this discussion, I can also (hopefully) open some doors for other models, friends of mine, that have always straddled the line between straight size and plus. True body diversity doesn't mean only sizes 0's and 2's then jumping to size 16 and up. There is a middle ground."

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