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Hot Or Not: V Magazine's Plus-Size Photo Shoot

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This shoot has been hyped for ages, ever since Glamour announced it was upping the ante by devoting a big photo shoot of its own to celebrate plus-size models. I think it's best if I just stay out of the debate out of this one and let you make the calls in the comments...

Here are the relevant photos, now you decide.

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(Personally, my biggest complaint about this shoot is actually something most people are overlooking: their faces aren't that attractive. Sorry. While I'm sure many of you will tell me how wrong I am, just remember that that reaction has nothing to do with their weight, okay?)

Images.

Comments ( 62 )

the photos are too glossy. Smooth looking big women end up looking slipery

dj commented on Jan 05 10 at 5:22 pm

Their faces and bodies are great. The clothes and the poses are fucking terrible, however.

John commented on Jan 05 10 at 5:32 pm

I think it's definitely a step in the right direction, but I don't think the pictures themselves are all that great.

MC commented on Jan 05 10 at 5:33 pm

The clothes are kind of 90s - though now that it's 2010, do the 90s get to start being retro? - but frankly I wish there were MORE of them overall. One of the reasons so many designers use to explain away their use of size-zero girls is because clothes can't look good on larger women, which one: stupid and two: so very stupid. But other than that, I was pretty impressed.

James Brady Ryan commented on Jan 05 10 at 5:44 pm

I love the girl with the black bra but I agree on the face thing. They all look very... average. I would have liked to see some more high fashion, avant-garde (sp?) poses.

little fiend commented on Jan 05 10 at 5:49 pm

Hot. Anything else is nitpicking.

asiago commented on Jan 05 10 at 5:56 pm

The women - beautiful, the clothes, not. I would have liked a more natural look for all of them, and the last photo, save for the make up - shows why all women are amazing in some way. Simply amazing curves, simply amazing skin. Too much lipstick.

Central Indiana commented on Jan 05 10 at 6:09 pm

I think they look great. And as a girl with a similar body, I can look at that and say, "Why, that's what my guy sees in me!" But, yeah, the poses = not so good.

MP commented on Jan 05 10 at 6:13 pm

Hot in concept, poor in execution. The poorly selected catalogue poses and products take away from the power of the editorial statement - this is an art direction, not a model problem. Surprising, considering it's coming from V.

In addition, the 'girl-on-girl' opening shot takes away from the potential power of these women by wandering into fashion ad archetypes which are a bit tiresome considering the concept has been pushed down our throats for 30 years at this point.

Agree with @Asiago: Hot. I'm just nitpicking and stirring Scanner JBR's pot. Nice post.

Stuckina Parkbench commented on Jan 05 10 at 6:15 pm

skinny girls need to tweak their bodies in fashion-y poses in order to accentuate their minimal curvy lines. these ladies don't need such contrived poses to show their bodies, so it looks weird.

i think they'd look much better in more natural poses.

d commented on Jan 05 10 at 6:39 pm

I'll take the one on the left in the top picture. With whipped cream.

Geebee commented on Jan 05 10 at 6:56 pm

Hot hot hot. Would happily do each and every one of them.

grr commented on Jan 05 10 at 7:53 pm

Totally would be hot - if it weren't so tacky.

M commented on Jan 05 10 at 8:49 pm

The leopard skin model has a very odd face... body wise though, all very sexy.

And I'd prefer less 'fasiony' poses and clothes and more just sexy/natural shots with an emphasis on beauty of face and form rather than them all looking half stoned

Simon commented on Jan 05 10 at 9:55 pm

They are hot...but...the reason you think they look "average" facially is because their faces have weight in them too--skinniness doesn't only emphasize the hip bones, it also accentuates the cheek bones and the chin. These girls are all gorgeous, but their whole bodies carry weight, not just their hips, thighs and arms. They look like girls you see every day because, guess, what, those girls you see every day are probably pretty gorgeous too (or would be if they had makeovers and fashion photo shoots). I agree with other posters who say the posing is unnecessary and the styling is last century.

alimum commented on Jan 05 10 at 10:16 pm

These girls are HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! Need to see more of this in Vogue and other fashion magazines

ON commented on Jan 05 10 at 10:42 pm

why are the clothes so boring?

rutabaga commented on Jan 05 10 at 10:51 pm

It's the middle of winter. It's really cold outside. The chance to curl up next to any of these women and hibernate for months on end? In a heartbeat.

OK, that begs the question - what if it were summer? And you were at the beach? Hey, find a nice air conditioned hotel room and hibernate some more.

jersey canuck commented on Jan 05 10 at 11:02 pm

Definitely the hotness.

Ian commented on Jan 05 10 at 11:49 pm

So are there any people that disagree with the hotness assessment but are just afraid to speak up? Because personally, I think they're all pretty, but nothing fantastic. It looks to me like most of them don't have a more extreme waist-to-hip ratio than the skinny girls a lot of the magazines feature. Plenty of skinny models are attractive too, I think.

nn commented on Jan 06 10 at 3:04 am

No one is saying that skinny models aren't gorgeous...it isn't really an argument of fat. vs. skinny. These women are hot, just hot, the photos are hot, the clothes are fine, the faces are great. this is sex all over. Remember that this is just the first of hopefully many many plus sized features in Glamour, so instead of saying "this is too much" "this is wrong" and so on, how about we say "next plus size model shoot should be more natural" "next plus sized model shoot should be more avant garde"?? Right?
All in all, all of these women are hot, and fuckable.

Olivia commented on Jan 06 10 at 6:30 am

I was struggling for a word to describe this, and I'm going to go with gimmicky. It doesn't feel real. I know, this is fashion photography I'm talking about here, but at the same time, I like a little viscerality / tangibility in my art.

CW commented on Jan 06 10 at 7:59 am

The girl in the second pic wearing the silver bra is plus sized? What the fuck! And I have to agree with CW on this. Gimmicky. The photographer and the magazine aren't fooling anyone. This smacks of gimmick and I bet dollars to doughnuts (pun intended) that these super sexy girls wont be gracing the pages of this magazine again anytime soon. So have the large fries girls. Oh and Geebee...why just one? I'll take them all with extra gravy thanks.

Jack commented on Jan 06 10 at 9:13 am

those women are gorgeous but the magazine makes them look cheap

maud commented on Jan 06 10 at 11:06 am

Hot, but the makeup is horrendous. It makes their faces look plastic.

profrobert commented on Jan 06 10 at 1:23 pm

hot. bad photos and styling.

borgia commented on Jan 06 10 at 1:24 pm

The ladies are hot but the styling is AWFUL. As someone above said, why style curvy girls in the same poses as skinny girls? And why put them in jeans that cut them in an unflattering way? I read a fair bit of avant garde fashion and sometimes those models look good and somethings the clothes look shitty. let's stop pretending that all clothes look better on skinny girls. I can't tell you how many shoots I've seen since the true waist came back in vogue where stylists are trying desperately to create the illusion of boobs, butt and hip. Kudos for V for trying it on. Let's see some more and do it better next time.
And yeah, girl on girl shot - soooo tired.

Julia commented on Jan 06 10 at 5:29 pm

Their confidence is sexy; their size almost irrelevant though, as I am with all the other posters who noted the over-glossed, over-made up plasticity, and the unflattering skinny jeans. Note to V: use clothes that flatter a little more, and let these women shine.

Cher commented on Jan 07 10 at 2:26 pm

This is reality, not plus-sized in any way. The models need a photographer who can see the art in there beauty, not someone who is obviously trying to get them to fill the mold of a thin model. I agree with the faces/makeup comments ... a bit morbid but if you crop off their heads the photos become more appealing.

carrie commented on Jan 07 10 at 9:54 pm

Denim tuxedos on anyone are god awful.

Islander commented on Jan 07 10 at 9:59 pm

Sorry, just don't get all the "hot" references. Just a personal preference I'm attracted to a more curvy woman but, I'm just not getting the "hot" vibe. I'm sure they're wonderful human beings though.

curly commented on Jan 08 10 at 11:48 am

They are attractive women, and they look great. the poses are not very cool and neither are the clothes, but it is a step in the right direction. i have a feeling this going to be a novelty shoot though. the images have been airbrushed a bit too much so now they look like they have some sort of greasy plastic skin, but that is the same for other fashion shoots nowadays.

B commented on Jan 08 10 at 12:36 pm

These women are so attractive. The young lady on the bottom is in my opinion more attractive than a run way model. She has alot to offer a real working man,beauty,curves and overall beauty in her eyes.

david j commented on Jan 09 10 at 8:58 am

I think that people would most likely want to be in clothes that "skinny" people would wear because everyone wants to be skinny...
Right? Im sorry if I come across in a way that is bad but I'm just saying it from a marketing perspective.

Mikayla commented on Jan 09 10 at 10:54 pm

God, the poses are terrible. The photographer should have known better.

Laura commented on Jan 11 10 at 6:14 am

NOT NOT NOT and AIRBRUSHED AIRBRUSHED AIRBRUSHED

Katie commented on Jan 11 10 at 9:57 pm

also, their faces arent attractive because they have too much fat on them. if they lost weight their almost pretty faces would actually become attractive because their bone structures would become accentuated and actually visable, and so much makeup wouldn't be required to give definition

Katie commented on Jan 11 10 at 10:02 pm

Their faces are all very similar... you know that faux exotic face? They have those faces. I like faces that are a little bit less tarty, they seem so much more sincere. I hate that so many plus-size models look like that, and the skinny ones get to have the unique faces.

Sheridan commented on Jan 12 10 at 10:38 pm

I think something moved.

George commented on Jan 13 10 at 11:19 pm

I hate to say it but thesze pix. are horrible. the girls a- have ugly faces and b- they nned to pose better so they looks thick and curvy and not rolly, rolls on your bgelly will never be attractive. i am an adverage size woman, models are modles because they are EXCEPTIONAL!! ifr every fat chick wanted to be a model it wuld take away from what it really is. we "normal" woman are not models. cloths look best on the rack, thats why models should HAVE NO CURVES OR BODY!!! trying to make4 "adverage" woman models is a freaking joke, its ruins what it really is

Amansa commented on Jan 14 10 at 2:02 am

beautiful bodies. way too much makeup and wrong color lipstick for skin tones. large women are gorgeous.

amanda commented on Jan 14 10 at 4:11 am

As a man who married a size 26/28 wife (and who thinks she is still gorgeous after she lost 150 pounds of it) I would have to agree with what is mostly said here...the photographer should be brought up on charges for such bad pictures. They do have to much make-up on, and posing in such weird stances is all wrong. Every time my wife goes out she always gets compliments on how wonderful she looks and she spends a lot of time getting it just right. Not a lot of make up and clothes that give her the hour glass shape to accentuate her curves. I think they went a bit to far here, but I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM TRY AGAIN!!!!

JasonTFike commented on Jan 21 10 at 3:35 am

Too much make up, I agree, and the poses look peculiar.

Keith Whitener commented on Jan 26 10 at 12:05 pm

I find it interesting that we think because they are plus size we should put them in more "everyday" clothing and situations. Maybe the fashion wasn't quite right but fashion can be hit and miss with anyone. I would like to see them do the same photoshoot with thin women and see what people think. Different body types need different things, especially when it comes to fashion and design. It is a learning curve and unfortunately its probablly going to be a while before we adapt to having bigger, curvier bodies in our photo shoots. I say this as a photographer and a plus size woman. Knowing the body and knowing how it moves and what will transition onto film thats all part of design. Eventually we will get there but.. overall I think it was a good shoot, everyone is beautiful and it is a step in a forward direction, I believe.

MissMoriarty commented on Feb 04 10 at 5:02 pm

Does fat have any meaning any more? These girls are as hot as a guy with a beer gut. Nice faces for fat chicks. I suppose in the U.S., home of the fatties, these women may be considered hot - by fat guys. Or some sort of fetishists. Or men with fat moms. But in most of the world, they are just women who could be attractive if there were not so bloody fat. FAT FAT.FAT. But I suppose I could close my eyes and think of England.

truthful guy commented on Feb 06 10 at 6:25 am

They are all fuckable....Send me the one represented by the last photo to "spoon up" with for at least a week. I am sure she will get a few pounds off.....

antonio commented on Feb 08 10 at 6:10 am

The whole idea of a fat photo shoot is retarded... There is nothing glamorous about a lazy glutton. Yeah people should be able to look past peoples looks but with the increasing problem of obesity in this nation, it seems to me this whole gimmick is promoting laziness and gluttony and targeting the weak. Ok, maybe fat people need a warm fuzzy sometimes but this is just definite counter-productivity.

Bob Barker commented on Feb 09 10 at 4:47 pm

in the bottom image the model looks too much like a whale for my taste.

i don't understand how this is a step in the right direction.

thin is in. a majority of americans are obese. they are called models for a reason.

i don't think this is a phenomenon unique to the united states--look at how greek and roman goddesses are portrayed on statues. these were representations of the archetypal human form, and for that they were idolized [pun intended].

swarley commented on Feb 17 10 at 4:58 am

Just in reply to jersey cunuck's comment... so what if you're at the beach? Yea its a public place...so are you saying you wouldnt want to be seen in public with any of these absolutely stunning women because they have curves?

and swarley and bob barker... i dont see why people always have to relate to 'whats in' sure they are called 'plus size models' but did you know that these women are actually in a healthy weight range and are completely normal. they are no where near obese. putting these pictures out there is saying that its ok to be normal, not everyone has to be a skinny anorexic or bulimic size zero to get on with their lives. when young girls see size one models in magazines...it can go 1 of 3 ways... they can think..i wanna be like that and they become bulimic or anorexic..they can think..why dont i look like that? then they et depressed and eat more therefore causing obesity..or they can completely ignore..therefore...one good outcome and how many young teenage girls do you know who would ignore this? not many in my opinion.

I think these photos are fantastic and these women look absolutely stunning. too much makeup tho imo.

Sam B commented on Feb 21 10 at 10:56 pm

modelling seems to go from one end of the scale to the other, while these girls are probably more "normal" in todays increasingly overweight society, it isnt healthy, mind-due neither are the more traditional stick thin run-way models. at 5'3, and a standard Australian size 8 (55 kgs)I think that there should be more inbetween sizes modelled. lets face it, we shouldnt be promoting women who are overweight, and not all of us are 5'10 and weigh 48 kilos. lets see some young women who are normal, healthy and set a good example to the rest of us growing up in todays weight obsessed society!

commented on Feb 22 10 at 3:40 am

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