A FASHION chain is using a size 12 model for its new swimwear line in the wake of the size zero debate.
John Lewis sought out curvy South African Lauren Moller to be photographed for its 2007 collection.
The fashion chain said 80 per cent of its own-brand swimwear sales were in sizes 12 and above.
It previously used a size 10 model for swimwear publicity but chose a model who reflected customers' "real life body shape" for the new collection.
John Lewis chose 5ft 8in Ms Moller from Cape Town who has a 26in waist, 34C bust, 37.5in hips and a body mass index (BMI) of 19.8.
John Lewis PR manager Mark Forsyth said modelling agencies contacted by the chain said size 12 was considered a `plus size'.
The size zero debate hit the headlines during last week's London Fashion Week after organisers decided not to ban models with a BMI of under 18 from the catwalk.
A US size zero - UK size four - has become the target size for several high-profile female celebrities.
WOULD you rather see a more average body in adverts? Have your say.
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Fantastic, she looks healthy and real, i hope it catches on in the fashion/modeling industry. Size 12 a plus size? Pah! I don't think so.
and here's me thinking that the average size for a woman in the U.K was 12 to 14. How is average a plus size??
Good on you John Lewis. But somehow size 12 is not plus size! It's a good start and I hope these other fashion chains follow (swim) suit. I saw a pic of Posh today and I just want to feed her up on a nice big Sunday Roast!
Good for them. Am I right in thinking most men would prefer a few curves to the walking twigs we have today on the catwalk ?
I know some girls who are naturally thin (bit like Keira Knightley), and thats just the way they are. And a friend of mine showed me some photos of when she was a teen, stick thin. i also know what I prefer, and Ms Moller is a prime example: In the immortal words of Leslie Phillips "Ding dong!!"
Manchester Online is not the place to publish explicit photographs of a voluptuous woman clad only in a swimsuit which is barely covering her modesty. Teenage boys may read this article and be shocked to the core by it. Shame on you.
lol, oh yes alec, I'm sure those teenage boys will be just horrified by the sight of this girl's picture...... have you ever been to a beach? She happens to be wearing a full swimsuit and a wrap covering the tops of her legs for pity's sake. Totally off the point in my opinion. I've seen much larger girls wearing much less
I happen to be a size 8 (uk) but i am only 5ft tall, I'm not underweight just small. I would love to be taller and more voluptuos as i think it looks healthy (i have jell filled pants for wearing in jeans so i have bottom! and never go out without heels on) but you can't have plastic surgery to make you taller unfortunatly. good on John Lewis for refusing to bow to the size 0 models, I don't think a size 12 is big at all and i would not consider it a plus size, i think the average size in this country is a 14-16 so why not use a mixture of models of all different sizes? why do you have to be a certian size to be a model? I thought it was about beauty not size
This is hilarious, so the model is more representative of the stores customers, really. Most size 12+ women I know have curves, but not in the same places. Typical UK attitude, half the population is overweight so lets now accept that is normal. How long before we accept that maybe size 16 is the normal UK size.
I think walking around being a size 0 is like walking around without flesh or muscels, but insead walking around as a skeleton.
Women who are over size 12 are beutiful... they have curves and look great.Size 0 celberties are destroying their health.Women shouldnt even have the need to copy.
Im a size 12 at the age of 15, and beleive it or not im happy, looking at the picture of the size 12 model, really makes me think. She looks great, she has curves and really looks fit and healthy.
I think people should just except who they are, they shouldnt try to be something their not. Im happy being an induvidual and so should other women, we shouldnt worry about our weight!!!
If u want to be like everyone eles go for it but remember its not whats on the outside that counts its the inside.
And my friends food should be on the inside to.
Id rather be a size 12 thena size 0 anyday. Women are getting larger not thiner, im happy that size 12 models are allowed to be on the catwalk. Everyones got differnet shapes and sizes, thats what makes us unique...
So lets face it, Be who you are, not what u want to be.
WE BIGGER WOEMN KNOW HOW TO BE A SIZE 12 AND KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD!!!
:)