Why is the average size of a woman considered plus size in modeling?

Question

Why is the average size of a woman considered plus size in modeling?

Answer 1

Anything bigger than size 8 which is sad when you think about it. Because size 10-14 is't really fat at all, but yea i do think it is sorta big.

Answer 2

10-12

Answer 3

I'm not sure about this either. I mean, we're average and if you walk into a store that sells true plus size clothing, everything is too big. The fashion world is a bit distorted if you ask me.  

Answer 4

i think they consider 12 plus sized for modelling

Answer 5

The modeling industry does not reflect real life, it provides an ideal that helps to sell products.

Plus size models run from size 8 through 18/20. Straight size models run from size 00 to size 6 or 8 (there is some overlap). Plus size clients hire women sizes 8 through 18/20 to model their clothing. the most requested sizes are 10-14.

Does that mean a size 8 is "plus size?" Only in the modeling world. Why? because that is what the industry allows for and abides by, plain and simple. It's not done to make size 8 women feel fat. A size 2 model represents the norm in modeling, and most women are fine with that size in Vogue, Elle, etc. and have accepted that as a good way to represent fashion to the masses of small to average women out there. But how many women reading Vogue are a size 2, really?  A plus size model performs the same function, but at a bigger size - she represents the bigger female in the real world, and compared to a size 2, well, she's huge. The size 00 model and the size 8, 10 or 12 model are beauty ideals, and each one represents a different cohort of the female population as the fashion industry sees it. That might not be right in your eyes but that's the way it is.

The average female clothing size in the U.S. is 14, so in "real life" that is average (not small or big). Now ask people what they think of that, and half will say 14 is huge, and half will say 14 is in the middle. Okay, a few will say that is small. It's all so arbitrary and subjective. The one thing you have to remember is that the modeling world has its own set of rules and standards, and unless you're in the industry, it should make no difference to you if you're secure in yourself.