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Social and Psychological Aspects

Size inclusive and body positive? Key discrepancies between U.S. female body measurements and current models represented by fashion modeling agencies

Authors
  • Hannah Johnson (Kent State University)
  • Catherine Amooso Leslie (Kent State University)
  • Kim HongYoun Hahn (Kent State University)

Abstract

This study aimed to discover what challenges and opportunities the modeling industry faces to support the body positivity/size inclusivity movement. This study focused on publicly available quantitative data to explore the diversification of size ranges amongst both "women"and "curve" models represented by three top agencies in Miami, FL.Each category's current model waist measurements and frequencies were coded to their designated size based on the Standard Tables of Body Measurements for Adult Female Misses Figure Types (ASTM, 2021). Then, a comparison to percentiles of the U.S. female population published by the National Center for Health Statistics (2021) was made for this study. By identifying and revealing the fundamental discrepancies between the current U.S. female body measurements and the models represented by modeling agencies, this study shed light on current modeling industry practices that do not reflect the U.S. fashion consumers' needs for body positivity and size inclusivity. 

Keywords: fashion, body positivity, size inclusivity, modeling agencies

How to Cite:

Johnson, H., Leslie, C. A. & Hahn, K. H., (2025) “Size inclusive and body positive? Key discrepancies between U.S. female body measurements and current models represented by fashion modeling agencies”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 80(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.17176

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Published on
2025-01-21

Peer Reviewed