WUNRN
Website Link Includes Video.
Plus-Size Models Create Fashion Campaign Promoting Diversity, Healthy Body Images, Positive Role Models for Girls, Women
By MAYBELLE MORGAN FOR MAILONLINE
18 August 2015 - A woman who gave up her modelling career after
years of gruelling exercise and diet regimes has rediscovered her love for the
industry in the plus size sector - and now she's helping launch an initiative
called Models With Curves.
Monique Bentley, 27, from Norfolk, along with a group of her more
voluptuous colleagues, are hoping to provide an alternative to the conventional
notions of beauty.
Helping to promote their cause, the models - Marte Boneschansker,
Alva McKenzie, Aglae Dreyer and Laura Catterall - put on a smouldering show in
nothing but black pants and soft jumpers and cardigans for plus-size fashion
retailer, Navabi.
From left to right: Marte Boneschansker, Alva McKenzie, Aglae
Dreyer, Laura Catterall and Monique Bentley have launched plus-size campaign,
Models With Curves
The women, who are from around the world, want to inspire healthy
body image among others - revealing that they have not always felt so
comfortable in their skin themselves.
In other images for the plus-size retailer, the models show off
on-trend exaggerated culottes, vibrant tribal print dresses and floral suits.
Monique reveals that aspirations to be a model from a young age
saw her life temporarily 'put on hold', consumed by maintaining an unrealistic
physique.
'I first had the idea of wanting to model when I was approached by
an agency when I was 15,' she said.
'I was around a size 8 to 10 at that time but there was a
condition for me if I wanted to be taken on by the agency: I needed to lose
weight.
'I was 15 and it was a top London agency, I was going to try. I
went to the gym five or six times a week with swimming sessions that followed,
I ate well and I cut out anything bad.
'This went on for one or two years, but even after I dropped a
dress size, I was still half an inch 'too big' around my waist and they
wouldn't take me on.'
But Monique eventually lost patience with the unrealistic goals,
adding: 'I just remember saying to my mum that I can't do it anymore.
+6
'I was young and my life was on hold, it was revolving around
diets and exercise when I was already fit and healthy; I had simply had enough
of trying to be something that wasn't naturally me, and that was that.'
But years later the she has finally achieved her dream of becoming
a model - this time within her own boundaries.
As well as inspiring women to be comfortable in their own bodies,
the initiative was designed to shatter the misconception that plus-size is
unhealthy.
Monique says: 'People would probably be surprised by the fact that
I go to the gym three or four times a week and enjoy healthy food.
+6
'I'm probably fitter than a few of my friends that are half my
size, it's just the difference in your body and what you push yourself to
do.'
Aglae, 27, who has starred on the cover of Belgian Marie Claire,
believes that rather than making young girls feel inadequate, her job is to
inspire future generations.
She adds: 'We want to inspire women around the world to be who
they are and love their bodies.
'The biggest thing I love about my job is inspiring other girls to
be confident in their own skin and realise beauty has nothing to do with
size.
'I hope if I have a daughter one day, she grows up loving her body and feeling good about herself.'