THERE’S A CURVY revolution happening, according to Irish ‘plus-size’ model Louise O’Reilly.
The size 16 model who has featured in Vogue Italia, told Ryan Tubridy on 2FM that attitudes are changing towards plus-size models.
She explained that even five years ago she felt she always had to explain herself when she told people she was a model, but nowadays people are a lot more accepting.
Vogue Magazine
O’Reilly said this has been helped by curvier women being more in the spotlight more these days, such as Kim Kardashian and plus-size models being featured in Sports Illustrated Magazine.
“Two curvy models in Sports Illustrated was a very big moment for the curvy industry,” she said, adding that there is more of an outlet out there now for curvier women.
When asked had she ever been asked to slim down, she said she had been approached to be a model when she was a teenager.
“He told me I had a pretty face but that I would have to lose a significant amount of weight.”
“I knew my body frame was bigger, that it wasn’t meant to be a size 8,” she said, adding, “I knew that was never going to happen”.
“I have broad shoulders, broad hips, a bum – that is just how I am made.”
The 26-year-old model said that a common misconception about curvy models is that they don’t have to do the things that “normal” models do.
She said she has to go to the gym regularly and she has to maintain her measurements, just like any other model
Speaking about the term plus-size, she said she prefers the term “curvy model”.
“I am considered a plus size model in Europe – they use terms curvy model, while in Greece they use the term ‘supersize’ model…I suppose curvy would be the most appropriate.”
While she said she was not badly bullied in school, she saw herself as different.
O’Reilly said there was some fat-shaming is school, which is still common today, she explained.
The model is also a successful blogger, with her Style Me Curvy blog, which was voted Best International Fashion Blog by Cosmopolitan UK in 2013 and 2014.
“I set my blog up just to help young girls growing up who are looking for fashion inspiration, so that they didn’t have to feel at a loss or left out in anyway.”
Appearing in Vogue Italia was one of the highlight’s of her career, stating that the call came out of the blue to do the shoot, but that it will no doubt be framed in pride of place at home.
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