Model Blasts Australia For Being Fatphobic, Calls On Brands To Do Better

A model has called Australia, and its retail industry, out for being fatphobic for refusing to acknowledge people over a size 14.

Curve model and body neutrality advocate Imogen Ivy was praised by her followers for an Instagram Story in which she said Australia's lack of inclusive sizing had led to a fatphobic society.

"If you are a size 14 in Australia, there is a slim chance you can walk into any store and buy clothes, let alone clothes you want," said Ivy in the post.

"Size 16 plus, even smaller chance. Size 18 plus, don't even bother. It's about time this horrendous fatphobia stops."

Ivy, who is currently based in London, said other markets, including the UK and US, have started to include bigger sizes among their ranges, but Australia was yet to catch up.

Her comments were levelled at mainstream outlets that often don't stock anything above a size 14, despite the average dress size of an Australian woman being 14-16.

From this lack of inclusivity, Ivy argued a trickle-down effect occurs that perpetuates fatphobic beliefs into the society, dating culture and more.

Following Ivy's post, she was inundated with loads of messages from her followers, many of whom supported her comments.

Many said they were unable to find clothes in their sizes, particularly among stores aimed at younger Australians.

"As a size 16/18 in Australia, I get so anxious about going to the shops now because I know that I won't be able to find anything that fits in 90 per cent of the stores, especially the stores for people my age," a follower said.

"Shopping with friends is just so embarrassing."

Another said they had a better experience shopping in New Zealand where choices were still limited, but more inclusive than in Australia.

Ivy has called out specific brands, including Zimmerman, Bec and Bridge and Sir The Label for their lack of bigger sizes.

Ivy has also shared her concerns about the fear of the word 'fat' in Australia.

She posted a message exchange between herself and a friend that says people in Australia 'jump' at the term fat and automatically assume it to have negative connotations.

She says people need to unlearn the connection they have between the word fat and a certain beauty standard or requirement.

"'Fat' is a describing word. That's all," she said in one post.

Australian brands are notorious for their sizing issues, with many not offering above a 14 and some choosing to label their clothing on the S, M, L scale to appear inclusive, while the top size (often an XL or XXL) is still a 14 or 16.

Designer brands like the ones called out by Ivy also often run smaller than their mainstream counterparts, meaning a size 14 in some labels is closer to a 12 or even a 10.

"They say the size is XL and will fit 12-14, when the hell did size 12-14 become XL?" said one commenter.

"Don't start me on brands who say 'we go to size 18' but they won't stock them in store but you have to order them and hope to hell they fit," they said.

"Thank god there are such amazing small independent stores who cater for larger sizes and modern and current styles, they get my money hardly shop in-store anymore."

Topics: Imogen Ivy, Fatphobia, News, Australia