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These Models Are Shattering Body Image Stereotypes in High Fashion

From Harper's BAZAAR

The days of promoting a thin, white beauty ideal are over, says Straight/Curve director Jenny McQuaile, who, to celebrate her upcoming documentary, decided to go a step further in challenging the "current unrealistic standards of beauty" with a new photo exhibition celebrating diverse women.

"At a time when 90 percent of women say they do not feel represented by fashion or the media, we absolutely have to change the imagery we are seeing," she explains of the Straight Curve: Fashion Reimagined by Anastasia Garcia exhibit, which opened in New York last night. "We hope to hammer home the point that if we can do it, then so can the fashion industry. There are no more excuses. This is a call to action for the fashion industry and media."

Photo credit: Anastasia Garcia
Photo credit: Anastasia Garcia

Above: Plus-size supermodel Robyn Lawley posed for the exhibition Straight Curve: Fashion Reimagined by Anastasia Garcia

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Featuring the likes of Robyn Lawley, Philomena Kwao, and Erica Krauter, the exhibition aims to showcase "highly polished fashion images we're accustomed to seeing, with models we aren't so accustomed to seeing," says McQuaile.

If the Spring 2017 collections taught us anything, it's that the fashion world is becoming increasingly inclusive in terms of body type, age, race and sexuality; but it still needs an extra push to fully embrace diversity. The Straight/Curve project aims to be that push.

Photo credit: Anastasia Garcia
Photo credit: Anastasia Garcia

Above: Sports Illustrated Swimwear model Nicola Griffin, 56 years old

Spearheaded by McQuaile, alongside Emmy Award-winning producer Yael Melamede and former model Jess Lewis, the upcoming documentary (release date yet to be confirmed) sheds light on the lack of body diversity in media-from runways to magazine covers to ad campaigns-and seeks to highlight why inclusive representation matters.

"We live in a melting pot society and most people are simply not being represented. Perhaps some men and women don't care about fashion, but everybody has to wear clothes," McQuaile says. "Women over a size 4, older women and oftentimes black or Latina women are not shot with a high-end aesthetic in high fashion clothes, with amazing lighting or through the same lens we are so accustomed to seeing straight size models."

Photo credit: Anastasia Garcia
Photo credit: Anastasia Garcia

Above: Plus-size Ghanaian model Philomena Kwao

Stylist Jenesee Utley, who has dressed everyone from Amy Schumer to Daniel Radcliffe, weighed in on how the fashion industry continues to make it difficult for real women to be featured in campaigns.

"Dressing such an array of different sized bodies [for the exhibition images] was a challenge because of how the fashion industry is built," she revealed. "Most designer runway samples are a size 2 while most plus fashion brands samples are a 14-16. There is not a lot in between 2-16."

Photo credit: Anastasia Garcia
Photo credit: Anastasia Garcia

Above: Former Sonia Rykiel muse Erica Krauter

Model Iskra Lawrence, who also participates in the documentary, summed up her feelings about body image in an essay she penned for BAZAAR.com.

"When we think about our bodies, we often think about the way they look, as opposed to what they accomplish for us everyday. It's easy to forget how powerful our bodies actually are. For me, I feel empowered when I use my body to exercise, play sports and explore the world. My body allows me to sing, dance, talk, feel-and eat a damn good piece of cheesecake,"she wrote. We couldn't agree more.

See the trailer for Straight/Curve below:

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