Why Fat Shaming Ashley Graham’s Sports Illustrated Cover Shouldn’t Be A Thing
Hey beauties, it’s your girl Maui!
I don’t know if you have heard but plus size history was made a few days ago. Yes, Ashley Graham became the first plus-size model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated while Precious Lee became the first African-American plus-size model on the inside pages. This is a huge accomplishment for both of these curvy beauties as well as the plus-size community. However, a cloud of negativity followed that which has me really disenchanted about some individuals within the plus-size community.
Both of these models have worked hard and used their platforms to empower other beauties in the plus-size community. They have both been a part multiple Lane Bryant body-positive campaigns and they both represent the diversity that we have been asking for. With all of those facts being obvious, my question is what issue should anyone in the plus-size community have with these major (in my DJ Khaled voice) accomplishments.
When it was broadcast that there was a possibility of Ashley being on the cover and it was stated that Precious would have a spread, I was happy for them but I knew that there would be some ignorance and trolling. However, what I didn’t predict is fat on fat shaming and bashing but that is exactly what followed.
It’s embarrassing that so many plus size beauties made comments that were negative about Ashley and Precious. Saying that they weren’t plus size and/or not plus size enough. Reading the comments, all I could do was shake my head at the sad reality is that we (the plus size community) are hustling backwards. So much time and energy has been spent to assure that society respects us and we don’t have the respect that we are demanding for one another.
As I say all the time…
You can’t expect love and respect from others when you’re not willing to give it to yourself. The sad truth is that the plus size community is filled with women who represent those insecure fat girls that society says we all are. Women who are unsure about themselves so of course they are indecisive about what they expect from others.
Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way trying to bash anyone, I just feel obligated to express my feelings about an issue that needs to be addressed. That issue is not with society, that issue is with ourselves. For as much noise as we have made about diversity and inclusion, how dare you open your cake eaters (read: mouth) with negativity about a step in the right direction. It is bad enough that there are still outsiders who attempt to shame them but THE NERVE of some of you to pick apart women who stand as a representation of you, all because they are not as fat as some of us.
No, neither are nearly as round as I am, neither of them have a bottom stomach like me and Ashley isn’t Black but they are plus size women who’ve paved the way for other plus size women. With the foundation laid, there could one day be a model who looks more like me on the cover rocking a fatkini…Who knows!
My word to my plus size sisters is to not become what you hate because you are better than that. We have fought too hard for these moments to have a dark cloud cast on them, especially if we create those clouds. Let’s celebrate with our sisters and remain optimistic about even more doors opening.
Enough about how I feel because I could go on and on (in my Erykah Badu voice), how do you feel about the cover and the bashing by other plus size beauties? Chime in beauties, I really want your opinion on this one.
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