This Brand Used Size 2 Models in Plus-Size Ads, and People Are NOT Happy (2024)

Fast-fashion retailer Fashion Nova garnered a seal of approval from none other than Kylie Jenner, but now the company is receiving major backlash for imagery promoting their plus size and curve collection.

Customers — including noted plus-size model Tabria Majors — are calling the brand out for using size 2 models to represent the plus size line. Tabria's Instagram post from just a week ago is already going viral with plenty of disappointed followers joining the conversation. It reads: "@fashionnovacurve why do you use size 2 models to represent your plus size line? #questionsthatneedanswers" along with a thinking face emoji. Commenters agree that while it's great to see a wider range of sizes available online, it's counterproductive to not include diverse body types in the campaign.

Yahoo Style reportedly reached out to the online retailer, but representatives have yet to release an official statement.

UPDATE Fashion Nova CEO Richard Saghian released the following statement to Teen Vogue, explaining that the brand will hire plus-size models in the future:

"We launched Fashion Nova Curve for the curvy and confident woman only 3 months ago. We dedicate the @fashionnovacurve page to re-post all of our customers who wear the term "Plus-Size" confidently. The Fashion Nova brand as a whole believes that all women should feel both confident regardless of today's body standards. Our curvy Nova Babes have always been re-posted on our @FashionNova page as well as our curve page.

Unlike most companies, the same products that are offered to our straight size customers are also available to our plus size customers and we strongly believe that our clothing empowers women of all shapes and sizes. We launched our Curve line to become more inclusive with all of our styles and are actively strengthening the Collection. That will soon be represented on our website alongside the straight size models. Also, our Plus Size Collection has had an exceptional response from the moment we launched. In fact, we plan to offer a wide range of products in plus by the end of 2017."

The brand is also running a body-positive campaign encouraging women of all shapes and sizes to post pictures in Fashion Nova jeans using the hashtag #BodiedbyNova. For now, it's a step in the right direction.