6 Inspiring Plus Size Models Redefining Fashion Standards
For decades, the fashion industry projected a single version of beauty — thin, narrow, and mostly unattainable for most women. But the rise of the plus size model has introduced a powerful and much-needed shift. These women are not just showcasing clothing; they’re reshaping cultural expectations, encouraging representation, and proving that beauty exists in every size. Below are six influential plus size models whose work and personal journeys continue to inspire women worldwide.
Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham is one of the most recognizable names in the plus-size fashion world. Her appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2016 marked a milestone for body diversity in mainstream media. However, what many don’t know is that Ashley began her modeling career at just 12 years old after being discovered in a shopping mall in Nebraska. She later spent years working behind the scenes, pitching herself to brands that initially refused to feature curvier bodies.
Beyond modeling, Ashley has released a book, A New Model, where she shares personal stories about confidence, body acceptance, and navigating industry pressure. Today, she continues to push for inclusive sizing in major fashion campaigns and encourages women to embrace their natural beauty.
Paloma Elsesser
Paloma Elsesser has become a muse for high-fashion houses such as Fenty, Alexander McQueen, and Marc Jacobs. Born in Los Angeles to a multicultural family, she later moved to London to study psychology. Interestingly, Paloma did not plan to become a plus size model — her career began after makeup artist Pat McGrath discovered her on Instagram.
Paloma is admired for challenging fashion’s elitist beauty history by bringing fuller shapes into luxury editorials. She speaks openly about the importance of showcasing bodies that reflect real-world diversity and often uses her platform to discuss race, identity, and emotional well-being.
Tess Holliday
Tess Holliday is known for founding the powerful movement #EffYourBeautyStandards, which encourages women to reject unrealistic beauty expectations. What many people don’t know is that Tess faced years of rejection before success. Despite being told she was “too short” and “too large” to model, she continued to audition until signing with a major agency in 2015 — making her one of the largest-sized models to be signed at that time.
Her work as a plus size model is deeply intertwined with activism. Tess highlights that confidence is not the absence of insecurity but the courage to show up in the world as you are.
Precious Lee
Precious Lee is one of the first Black plus size models to appear in the pages of Sports Illustrated and walk in luxury runway shows like Versace. Raised in Atlanta, she originally studied law before shifting to fashion, determined to advocate for better representation for Black girls who never saw themselves in magazines growing up.
A lesser-known fact: Precious once worked in a shopping mall store and used to rearrange the mannequins to reflect curvier silhouettes — a quiet precursor to the industry change she’d later represent in major fashion campaigns.
Candice Huffine
Candice Huffine made headlines when she appeared in the Pirelli Calendar — a publication historically known for featuring very slim models. This moment demonstrated that fashion was ready to shift toward broader beauty standards.
Candice is also an athlete and the founder of Project Start, a running initiative encouraging women of all sizes to begin running for physical and emotional health. Her message is clear: fitness is for every body, and movement should never be limited by size.
Denise Bidot
Denise Bidot was one of the first plus size models to walk multiple straight-size runways during New York Fashion Week without any retouching. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and Kuwaiti father, she often talks about how cultural expectations shaped her self-image growing up.
Before becoming a plus size model, Denise worked as a makeup artist. When designers saw her confidence and natural beauty behind the scenes, she was asked to step in front of the camera — a reminder that sometimes opportunity arrives when we’re not seeking it.
Why Their Representation Matters
The presence of a plus size model in fashion campaigns is about more than showing clothing in different sizes. It helps women feel seen, valued, and accepted for who they are. These six women prove that style, beauty, and influence are not limited by size. They advocate for inclusive sizing, authentic imagery, and mental well-being — shaping a future where fashion belongs to everyone.
Representation is not a trend — it’s a transformation, and these models are leading the way.