When Did "Plus" Become "Less"?

As we approach the annual EDCT "Fashion for EveryBODY" celebration, I have been pondering how our societal views size. (http://www.fashionforeverybody.org/) There have been several incidences in the news lately where "plus- size" models were the topic of conversation. Surprisingly, the context of the conversations were positive! When Lizzie Miller graced the pages of Glamour recently a tidal wave of grateful responses flooded into the magazine applauding the photo of this plus-size model. Women were grateful to see someone who looked real, had curves and appeared to be genuinely happy in her skin. So ... why do the words plus-size wreak havoc in the minds of my clients struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating. When did plus become less. Less acceptable? Less beautiful? Less desirable?

In an interview on "Good Morning America" this past week a 23 year old model told her story of recovering from an eating disorder to becoming the highest-paid plus-size model in America. Her name is Crystal Renn and her new book is "Hungry: A Young Model's Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves". When she was a 14 year old small town girl in Mississippi she was approached by a scout for a New York modeling agency. She was 5'9", athletic and fit. He promised her he could make her a top run-way model and she would have all the fame and fortune she could handle. The catch was that she would need to lose about 9 inches from her hips! Crystal embarked upon this endeavor with great enthusiasm, lost over 70 pounds and arrived at the magical size of 00 along with the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. She did have a few modeling gigs. Thankfully,0 she woke up one day and said "enough". She quit abusing exercise, started eating and weight restoring. She appreciated the return of her curves, her energy and her personality. At size 12 she has achieved far more in her modeling career than when she was starving. In her words "And I did it all at the weight my body wanted to be." Plus-size has meant more of everything for Crystal not less. More work, more fame, more LIFE!