Fashion Nova under fire for using size 2 models for plus size line

By

Kate Dingwall

Published
Apr 6, 2017

Womenswear brand Fashion Nova is under fire this week for using size 2 models to show off its plus-size and curvy collection. In addition, fans of the brand have taken to social media to point out the brand's obvious photoshopping. The brand has been over-airbrushing models and shrinking their waist sizes to make the models look curvier.

The controversy was sparked by plus-size model Tabria Majors, who took to social media to ask the brand “Why do you use size 2 models to represent your plus size line?” The post quickly gathered over 14,000 likes and hundreds of comments.

In response to this, Fashion Nova issued a statement, saying that since launching the plus-size and curvy section three months ago, the brand has not yet had time to properly photograph the collection using plus-size and curvy models. Fashion Nova continued that the brand has scheduled a time to photograph the collection using plus-size and curvy models.

Another point of contention that the public has raised against the brand: Fashion Nova's overuse of photo editing. Fashion Nova has clearly been altering of images to make models look curvier than they are.

This photoshopping controversy is surprising given fashion’s shift to more size-inclusive collections and photo-shop free campaigns. Aerie has always been at the forefront of this – the brand has been running photoshop-free ads for years, which has been well received by critics and consumers. Plus-size retailer Torrid has looked to social media-sourced models to show off its intimates offerings. Even Target has joined the bandwagon, launched a photoshop-free swimwear campaign featuring a cast of models of varying sizes.

Fashion Nova has blown up over the past few years, thanks to the celebrity support from the likes of Kylie Jenner, Amber Rose, and Khloe Kardashian. While it was only three months ago that the brand launched a curve and plus-size specific section, the brand has always put an emphasis on extended sizes and garments fitted to more curvy silhouettes.