Is fat the new black???

I think so! America, slowly but surely, has come along way and is now more than ever accepting of certain civil liberties. Maybe not as much as some of us would like, but blacks, gays and now fatties have come along way. Luckily for many of us, companies like ASOS and The Limited have extended their lines to the plus-sized market. The newest to join this fat venture is American Apparel and today I read a wonderful article by lovely ladybird and witty writer, Nancy Upton, who recently turned in some fabulous photos to American Apparel's "The Next Big Thing" campaign as a spoof, by taking seductive but crude photographs of herself stuffing her face like a pig. In true AA fashion, her photos made the cute, making her a front runner.  Though AA has offended much of the plus-size market, I think her shots were satirically genius photographs.

Finding it derogatory, many people have been turned off American Apparel's campaign.  But people have also been rubbed the wrong way by her lowbrow approach to it. Nancy even got some hate-mail from a real plus model, who took her work very seriously and thought that Nancy was actually giving the plus model world a bad name.  Tomato. To-mah-to.

I think her spoof has given well-needed exposure to plus-size markets. We will always have someone to hate what we are doing and have someone make fun of our size.  But we'll just have to roll with the punches and occasionally knock someone out with a good response like Nancy's, even if it is to mock our own selves. I happen to LOVE what she has done (albeit a spoof gone right) and think she looks beautiful and sexy in the photos.  Her cherry pie-eating/foodie concepts are totally indicative of American Apparel's edgy/unrefined/stripped style. And I am just plain old happy that companies like AA are extending their lines. Women like Nancy and "XLent" (as coined by AA) gals like us have been squeezing our fat asses into their clothes for years and it's about time they show a beautiful fatty, in all her glory, fat rolls and all, in their ads. Ya, they have ignored our market for years and probably were hesitant about what sort of image they would portray to their target skinny consumers, but it's about time they have made room for us chub chubs...even if only for extended revenue and profit reasoning.

So, with all that in mind, I give a double kudos to ladybird Nancy! Though you made it a joke, you have proved once again that fatties can be sexy too...even with a whole rotisserie chicken stuffed in your face, and a pie covering up your cookie! We deserve clothes from any major label in our size!

One of my fave concepts.

All photos of Nancy were taken by her photographer friend, Shannon Skloss, who did a killer job shooting this kickass editorial.  To read Nancy's article, click here.

How do you feel about Nancy's spoof shoot? I'd love to hear from you.

Peace, love and muscle-powered cars,

Joy*