America's First Top Plus-Sized Model

She did it!

Whitney won ANTM last night - making her, as Tyra put it, "The first girl with some booty to win America's Next Top Model."

Paulina commented (quite nicely), "This [type of body] should not be called 'full-figured' or 'plus-sized.' This should just be called 'beautiful.'

Upon winning, Whitney (a size 10-12 according to the show) said, "...in middle school, in high school, [I was ]always being judged and thinking, 'Am I different? Is there something wrong with me?' No! I'm here because I DO feel good about myself and I want other women in America to feel better about themselves. I honestly think that girls will look up to me and say, 'I could do that. I could be that. I don't have to starve. I don't have to have plastic surgey. I can really be like that. I could be on that billboard. I can be in that magazine. Why? Because I'm beautiful from the inside-out.' I have breasts. I have hips. I have a butt...and I am so proud of those things. I'm here and I'm not going to change myself."

Youuuu better work!

Did you watch?

(If not...I suggest watching at around 1:20.)

And of course, vintage Zoolander. It's in another language, for full effect (OK, I'm exhausted from a three-hour kayaking trip...more on that later...and can barely lift my arms to type anymore....)

Comments

Although ANTM has pretty much failed to launch any successful models, this is pretty darn cool. Yay! Can't wait til this season starts here in Oz, we've got our own version on at the moment where the plus size girls are American 6s.

(cant wait for the more!)
Im still always "huh?!" at the notion that size 10-12 is plus sized but *excited* for Whitney (and can not seem to cease watching ANTM no matter how hard I try. or dont :))

love Zoolander.

Love when he talks about giving the eugoogooly at the funeral.

comedy gold.

Just found your blog-- very cool!

That's great! It usually seems like they keep the plus sized gal around to appease people, then drop her when the competition starts getting harder. With some crappy excuse.

Wow! I didn't get to watch last night...can't believe she won. Up until now I didn't think her pics were as good as the other two. She must have done really well in the final challenges. Kudos to her. It is really odd to consider her plus sized though - she might be a 10-12 but she's probably 5'10 or so as well. A 10-12 on someone that tall looks very different than it did on me at 5'4. She had a flat stomach and stuff too when they did the gladiator shoot so I'm like - she's plus-sized how?

I have to admit, I was suprised when she won. Not becaue she is plus-sized, but I just thought anya was better. Although, when she talks, everything kind of goes downhill.

Anyways, yes it is exciting and good for her. Too bad we never hear from any of these girls again, except adrianne curry, but that just because shes a reality tv whore.

Can I say whore on here?

Now this is interesting. Not sure how old the pics are but Rich at Four Four (funniest Top Model recaps ever) linked to skinny pics of Whitney. It is possible that she was not always a "plus" gal. Doesn't diminish her win but quite manipulative on the parts of production if it is true.

http://fourfour.typepad.com/fourfour/2008/05/a-damn-good-job.html

I, too, watched the finale and found myself rooting for Whitney-altho size 10 is a plus size-really now. But, I was not surprised that she was chosen since there has been such an outcry in the modeling world concerning weight, that maybe Tyra wants to get on a positive bandwagon. Anyway, I could not understand a word that the other girl said, which may have contributed to her loss.

unrelated to ANTM, but last weekend a new store opened up in my mall, one that i shopped at in a different location when i was younger, so i was excited to get in there and buy some ridiculous clothes. much to my confusion, when i entered the store was divided into "juniors" and "plus sized" which.. wait, what?
i thought juniors clothing was for little girls and tweens, and plus sized was for bigger (and still beautiful, of course) women.
so, okay, maybe i was wrong in thinking that juniors sizes were for younger kids, but on the plus sized size there weren't any size xl's on the wrack at all, making me think that there appears to be a demand for xl clothing items.
i could go on, but i don't think i need to.
just, what. the. fuck.

That's awesome! Makes me so happy. "This should just be called 'beautiful' "- I like that.

Yay for Whitney and normal women everywhere! Forgive my cynicism though for wondering how long she'll stay curvy. It seems like all the "big" girls seem to slim down when they get famous - America Ferrara, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks. They're not anorexic or anything but they have all definitely slimmed down from their glory days. Wonder if Whitney will follow suit?

Don't ask my why I already knew she won, but yes, sadly I saw it on TV last night. I'm going to play the cool card and say it was because my wife had it on.

It's weird... size 10-12 isn't plus size at all.

This one, Charlotte, makes me particularly sad:

America Ferrara

Man, I slimmed down from a size 28 to a size 10 and I looked emaciated and overthin (I'm now a curvy, healthier looking size 16.) I would never consider a size 10 or 12 plus sized. 14 is even pushing the limit, but at least she's not a size 0.

I just saw the finale! Good for Whitney, I say! I hope she stays true to herself and doesn't let Hollywood drag her down with negative thoughts about her body image!

'Tis a bit scary that a size 10 is considered plus sized. Not surprising, but scary. That is one beautiful girl.

I have to agree with those who wondered when a size 10 became a "plus" size--the modeling world is so screwy! It amazes me that people pay so much attention to it, and actually think that the photos in magazines have anything to do with real life.

Her win is refreshing--wonder if it will mean anything in terms of overall trends in body image and acceptance of larger sizes. Kinda doubt it.

Have you guys seen all the press now about her pre-ANTM pics where she's a super-skinny bikini model? The rumor is that the producers found her and asked her to gain 10-20 lbs for the show. The pics are pretty interesting. I don't know what it all means (I mean she's "plus sized" now so maybe it doesn't matter she was a skinny minny before) but it just adds to the whole sham that is ANTM.

Char - you're right about her prior skinny pics. As Keyalus pointed out above, they can be found here http://fourfour.typepad.com/fourfour/2008/05/a-damn-good-job.html

Yea for Whitney for winning, but to promote that they chose a plus size model who is a size 10 is such a mixed message. 10 is not plus sized except in the distorted world of fashion designers.