Body Positive Catwalk At Times Square: Models Of All Sizes Come Together In A Unique Initiative

By Mayukh Saha

The ironic fact about body-shaming is, and this I say from personal experience, that people often indulge in it thanks to years of conditioning – without even knowing that it is something which should be condoned.

Many young people, of various ages, spend a major part of their adulthood enmeshed in the throes of mental disorders like anxiety, low self-esteem and the like because of being subjected to incipient or malignant body-shaming at some point in their childhood. Not to mention, their lives as children was far from savoury.

And this is harder for women because sad as it may seem, oppression has always been worse for them, from witch hunts to the circumstances that gave rise to the #metoo movement

For the longest time, the world of high fashion was considered a place of worship by many young women. Sadly, it was never as inclusive when it came to body-size diversity.

Victoria’s Secret, for example, was one of the many brands that were notoriously wanting in this department.

And what you must understand here is that high fashion is a huge deal when it comes to talking about things that can be done in order to achieve gender equality. Because the notions of ideal body shape trickle down from that field and emulate. So, if that sphere is made inclusive, tolerant and diverse, it can really make an impact, changing many lives in the process.

Something that happened recently at Times Square might just be one of the many stepping stones towards that positive change.

Ed Razek, chief marketing officer at L Brands, the company that owns Victoria’s Secret, had very infamously shot down the idea of transgendered models walking the ramp for VS, in an interview with Vogue. Khrystyana Kazakova, a plus-size model was all but appalled when she heard the big-shot’s thoughts on diverse casting, as she informed the New York Post.

As a result, she thought she should do something about it and she went all-out, organising an all-body-inclusive fashion show right in the death of winter. And she welcomed models of all genders from all over the world.

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The turnout was equally heartening, showing how women and people of alternative sexuality care about the examples they set for the world.

More than 200 models from all over the world flew in for the event and plus-size brands like King Size, Swimsuits For All and Woman Within sponsored the wardrobe for the models.

 

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Ok .. sharing these last ones for today !!!! Way more to come tomorrow. First pic is me surrounded with the real cat walk show openers and closers 🤗🤗🤗 .#therealcatwalk veterans @seanasteele and @couvertier_louis both doing the show for the 3rd time. They strut it when it was 7 of us.. later with 34 of us and now over 200 more of us! This LOVE we are expressing is contagious !!! Every one of us is on our individual path of self love and self expression, and I am happy that this platform that we collectively created serves as a safe space and home for us to just be, celebRate our being. Yesterday’s real catwalk was opened by @iamjarijones , whom I kept running into over #nyfw months and who impressed me with her beautiful kind energy !!! —- special thanks to two incredible people behind the scenes @kristyn.elyse and @dyacyk ( of course many of of you amazing souls I will continue to list ) for putting so much work into making this happen! Also thank you @norahlovesmakeup_mua for my makeup , I usually look like a hot mess that didn’t sleep for days planning the event !!! PAhhh u saved me!!! Thank you @swimsuitsforall for giving me your swimsuit and @ellosusa for the red jacket !!! And @pacificabeauty for sending gifts to our models !!! Im so thankful and can’t wait to share more of the images with you (these pics are from @hollygotgrace ) !!!! #togetherwestrut #timessquare #models #together#onelove#people#onefamily#oneworld#bikini#show#fashionshow#loveyou#loveeachother#kindness l#inclusivity #therealcatwalk #catwalk (help me TAG the models PLEASE by typing in CAPITAL to T A G then if I missed anyone you know )

Post udostępniony przez KhrystyAna (@khrystyana)

 

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#therealcatwalk when : 12pm SAT Dec 1,2018 (we will go live on my IG) / guests arrive 11.45AM/ volunteers between 11AM -11.30AM to help our wonderful artists to set up the space for this flash mob pop up show. We will need your help to create a runway space for our brave super inspiring muses to strut and show off their amazing selves for you! Your cheers will be welcomed . Some of our models haven’t shown their bodies during summer beach times for years, so they are doing something incredibly unique and brave for Their self love journeys ! Some are flying in from Italy, London , Canada, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado, Texas, Connecticut and more . These people are here to tell you THEIR message and reasons why they are doing it ! Your welcoming love and smiles for ALL of our models is much appreciated! The Real Catwalk takes place on broadway/7th ave between 43rd-44th streets (same as seen on this photo). Our official hashtags for those planning to post about the event are : #therealcatwalk and #TogetherWeStrut . Our official sponsors are (thank you !!!!) : @womanwithin @swimsuitsforall @roamans @kingsizedirect who will help as many as possible models to get cute linegrie or bikini (it’s over 120 of confirmed models now and the numbers are growing ). It is NOT mandatory to wear lingerie : we will have people walk in beautiful hijab or a coat or cover up of the choice! Are you guys ready? People of Earth, are you ready for true diversity in the media to match up with the real life ? I personally am. Let’s go. – love you , KhrystyAna – #onelove#togetherwestrut#change#inclusivity#freeFBBstuff#selflove#people#runway photo @aceofny_

Post udostępniony przez KhrystyAna (@khrystyana)

 

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SO! As a proper ESL person … learning English is great but sometimes i make up words to express what I want to say and somehow you still understand me… thus these series I want to name a new word … you know how there are words like Sisterhood and Brotherhood (all great words)… but I wanted a word that could express what it means to be a part of this togetherness .. —- “ A SIBLINGHOOD” —- a word that includes all genders :))) yes yes ???? … ( I know some of you will think that the word SIBlings speaks to me because of the first 3 letters to remind me of my home SIB-eria … who knows ?) thoughts ????? therealcatwalk with the eyes of @hollygotgrace #beauties #models #strut#together#onelove#laughter#happyfaces#onelife#oneworld#togetherness#supermodels#runway#beauty#love#inclusivity#diversity#life#madeoflove HELP ME TAG ALL the MODELS bY TYPING IN CAPITAL to tag a person Tag them and which photo please !! I want everyone to be credited

Post udostępniony przez KhrystyAna (@khrystyana)

 

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Happy Anniversary, The Real Catwalk 3.0 !!!!! We included everyone , we celebrated everyone, we accepted all walks of life , we cried tears of joy in the eyes of love, we felt the power of healing together !!!!! Happy birthday , the real catwalk !!! Happy BIRTHDAY to you every day , to each moment of our lives !!! Happy birthday 🎊🎁🎂🎈🎉 —— #therealcatwalk images with the eyes of Isabelle @imvonarx #togetherwestrut (PLEASE help me TAG The models by typing in CAPITAL “TAG and @ their IG we had over 200 models i want to make sure everyone is credited ) and thank you our sponsors ( @kingsizedirect @roamans @swimsuitsforall @womanwithin ) for helping so much each person yesterday feel special and loved!!!!! #runway#runwaymodel#supermodel#onelove#oneworld#acceptance#celebrationoflife#together#real#bodyempowerment#love#friendship#family#bikinimodel

Post udostępniony przez KhrystyAna (@khrystyana)

 

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DEC 1,2018 !!! Mark it in your calendars! The Most exciting celebration of diversity, inclusive body image, representation and acceptance!!! The Real Catwalk has been to South Africa, England, TX, MA, CA, Italy, and now is coming back it it’s origins : Times Square, NEW YORK !!! It’s Happy birthday #therealcatwalk woot woot !!! FAQ: Q: can anyone take part ? A: yes! And there is No limit to participation ! Q: where do I sign up? A: send a DM to @kristyn.elyse who is helping me keep count of everyone. Please introduce yourself : name , IG name, city , your email , your What’s APP number for the group chat (free app and makes it easy to communicate) and your role : Real Catwalk model, photographer, videographer (we really need your help!!!) , or volunteer. Q: I don’t have Linegrie/bikini A: we might have gotten an amazing sponsor who will supply everyone with something beautiful. It’s Ok to have a backup of your own too. Q: do I have to wear this little cloths? A: not at all. We have people walk in hijab for example, some will walk with accessories to style up their lingerie/bikini outfits, or robes, faux fur jackets, pretty dresses . Q: last Catwalk was all about being raw and natural and authentic. What’s the theme this year? A: always do you! But I want to bump it up a notch! So think festive! Holiday spirit! Make it FUN make it your own !!! —- I just want YoU to feel comfortable and empowered, either you walk it or support the show from afar – your being matters sooooo much not only to you but to thousands and thousands of people! Trust me 💋💋💋💋💋 Please ask more questions below I’ll happily answer them !!! Can’t wait to see your glowing faces !!!! Photos by @rodneypedroza

Post udostępniony przez KhrystyAna (@khrystyana)

Kazakova was later interviewed by The Independent and she made an excellent point. According to her, the thing is that plus-size models and their whole essence is subsumed by the patriarchal fashion hierarchy under the broad term, being “curvy”. But it is not about that. The walk wasn’t about that either.

It was about promoting the fact that people deserved to feel safe and comfortable under their own skin.

If anything, this walk should help those young people bullied for their body shape and sexuality realise that life is not just a series of running-away sprees. It is about being patient and finding the courage to love the person they see in the mirror. It is all about acceptance!

Source: https://www.goalcast.com/2018/12/03/models-sizes-don-lingerie-transform-times-square-body-positive-catwalk/?fbclid=IwAR336rEm447rAyK_FL7jbzddBpa9x8oHSLKUTb0xog0KQbmZQ1CQoT32WAk

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