If she was accused of something fashion more than anything in years for the weight of his models. The so-called skinny or “size 0” from the “swinging 60s” and Twiggy until a few years ago seemed to be the only way the industry perceived the female body.

And when the era began to change and such concepts as inclusiveness inclusiveness and diversity diversity took up more and more space in our everyday vocabulary, then fashion, in turn, turned its eyes to richer silhouettes. Somehow they appeared plus size models that we began to see more and more presented even on the catwalks of major fashion houses. The stamp of this new direction can be attributed to its cover. American Vogue question March 2017 when between models like Kendall Jenner And Gigi Hadid, she posed Ashley Graham The “queen” of plus size modeling and the first model in this category to be featured on the cover of a historic fashion magazine.

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This post was posted by ASHLEIGRAM (@ashleygraham)

Now the fashion seemed find them from both “ends”, even if the ratio was one Ashley Graham to six skinny models. Although, a bad lie, most women are somewhere in between. We search the shelves of clothing stores by numbers 36-38-40-42-44. The fact that the first three sizes tend to “spread their wings” speaks for itself about the average female body, while the other two sizes are rarely found in major fast fashion chains, highlighting a significant gap in the fashion industry for adequate representation (on the other On the other hand, it is problematic that in one store you can be 36 years old, and in another you are struggling to fit into 40, but we leave this conversation for another article).

Very simple, fashion pays the least attention to the average woman. It was on this basis that a new category arose: the average size. The one that comes to cover the numbers 40-46 and claims its dynamically developing market share.

Already medium-sized models such as Jill Kortliv found their place in the high fashion universe: a 29-year-old Dane with proportions of 94-80-106 became the face of Alexander McQueen but also her Chanel. However, the “medium size revolution” has begun where all the trends of recent years begin: TIK Tak. Above 4 billion views hashtag #the average size it was enough to cause movement through mobile screens. By switching tabs and going to Instagram, you will also find many medium-sized models, as well as an account. @ average team which has more than 46 thousand subscribers.

Check out this post on Instagram.

This post was posted by Jill Kortleve (@jilla.tequila)

However, in order not to remain only on the big catwalks and in the world of social networks, Is there a medium sized modeling business in Greece? Yes, and it is even masterfully presented.

OUR Alexia Kuvel she grew up as a “naughty and funny” child in the family, which did not at all predict that she would begin modeling as early as her student years. When she entered the agency, she believed she would have equal representation with skinny models, “which, of course, never existed,” she explains. As a plus-size model, she noticed that in her work, she mostly saw “the same five girls” all the time, and she and her peers “were hidden, in a special category and, of course, we never moved on.” Instagram.

It was then that the gap she saw in the market “knocked on the door” and she decided to open it. Bodé, the first agency in Greece to specialize in plus size, medium and plus size models. based in Thessaloniki.

Among the Bode models we also find Xenia Jambiri, who has been modeling for the last four years. She started working on her own, and when she met Alexia Kuvela during a joint photo shoot, she joined the agency’s roster.

Her weight has always led her to what we call the average size. Something that Xenia Jabiri herself put up with. But not necessarily others. At her previous agency she was advised to lose about 10 kg so he can go into the skinny category. The logic that generally exists in fashion for girls who are “in the middle”: or lose to be skinny, or gain to be big.

However, the model to which she belongs, liked the model, she did not consider it necessary to lose weight in order to be in space. As the saying goes, sees a market open for girls like her especially in the last year. Alexia Kuvela, again, dates this market opening back to 6 years ago: “Companies started to open only for large numbers, some had thin lines, and now they are opening curved lines as well. I see investments in this area, and basically the green light is coming from abroad for this. When you see Gucci or Versace come out in plus size, you know that’s what’s left.”

As for the medium size, Bodé’s inspiration highlights another reason why these models should have their own separate space: “Mid-sized girls may need outfits even more because for plus size girls, the picture of where they will shop is pretty clear. Average sizes are harder to imagine.

Even if, as we said above, this size applies to the largest part of women. “This is the most ‘real’ body type, not the one we’re used to as a ‘model’.” Xenia Tsiapiri will also say.

But are client companies asking for these models? There is a market, but they do not always ask, the agency confirms. However, Alexia Kuvela believes that medium-sized bodies perfect for swimwear and lingerie which they can highlight. It’s not that they can’t also pick up clothing collections, it’s just that there customers tend not to pick them up as often because “they won’t ‘fill in’ clothes like a plus size girl” who has big breasts. and girth.

What Xenia Tsiapiri certainly needs to comment on is how this could exist. representation of medium size and in more modern clothes, something that currently doesn’t happen that much.

Variety is important in fashion, but let’s not forget that this is a huge industry that often speaks of the dictates of its time on the altar of profit. Even if for this reason the brand chooses a model of medium or large size, the importance of the models themselves lies in the fact that their message that fashion should suit everyone spread.

Even if in Greece the steps in fashion for plus size models are small, they do not cease to be “small-big”. Finally, Aleksiy Kuvel reminds us the following: “We are not given opportunities, we create them. Because when we strive to show our personal style, we prove that we can create fashion.”

Especially when these models are women like us.