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Bravissimo models and body image
A thought occurred to me whilst I was reading the post on the bravissimo nude bra email. The point was raised a coupe of times in the discussion that the bravissimo models were 'quite thin' and that the catalogue didn't reflect body size diversity. And this got me thinking. Coz I've never thought the bravissimo models were thin. And I got to thinking why.
I came to several conclusions. Firstly, in comparison to the models were used to seeing in lingerie advertisements in the UK, the bravissimo models are not thin. Even brands like Marks and Spencer's seem to favour gazelle like models with endless legs. So compared with standard advertising, the models are actually more 'average' sized. In fact I once found an online forum bemoaning the fact that the bravissimo girls had great boobs but 'thunder thighs' and 'flabby bellies'. (I know crazy!)
I've always felt as well that the models did have bodies like mine. I'm a UK size 12-14 and have been since I was 15. I've always been the chunkier one of my friends and struggled finding clothes to flatter me, so in my head being like me will never equal thin. Ever. I'm curvier and as I've got older I've got more proud of it, but I know I'm not thin, and I'm at the higher end of healthy bmi for my height. I also know that in some UK modelling agency's a size 12 is considered a plus size. These models do not get work modelling for other high street chains, quite simply because there are models out there who are a lot thinner than them.
I also got to thinking why bravissimo use this look of model. I think a lot of it is to do with being a UK brand- if they used models a lot slimmer than currently, I do feel like this would alienate a lot of women. For example, I know I used to be very cautious about shopping at topshop- I was very intimidated by the waiflike models from there promos, but I came to realise that a lot of their clothes are very curve friendly, but the initial impression of it being a thin persons brand is still there. On the other hand, I think that if they used bigger models, this could have the opposite effect. The UK still does have the mentality that to be above a D cup your basically, need to be fat. And that big boobs on a slim woman automatically equals a D cup or implants. It awful really, but to use bigger women in they're adverts and catalogues, could possibly put slimmer women off from shopping there and getting properly fitted, as they would equate it with being a plus sized brand. By using the models they use, they basically say ' we cater to average size women, and you can be a size 8-16 and still have D+ boobs'.
It is a sad sign of the society we live in where we are so used to seeing very slim that when we see average we actually see 'chunky' or 'heavy'; and where women feel either intimidated or embarrassed by seeing a diverse range of bodies used in a brands advertising. It needs to change! I'm terrified of what will happen if I ever have a daughter and I come to help her navigate body image.
NB I wish to point out that I am not talking about pepperberry models who seem to get thinner with every catalogue- that is ridiculous!
Filed under Boob and body issues
10 comments
Argh! Some of my grammar in this is awful! Sorry!😥
You bring up a really valid point. I hadn't thought about that. Well... Why don't they have a HUGE billboard with women ranging of all sizes? A plus size woman with relatively small boobs, a really non-curvacious thin lady with huge boobs compared to her hips for example, some in-between curvy ladies and ofc, a plus size lady with huge boobs and a really thin lady with really small boobs.
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