Meet the stylish influencers who wear their ‘big’ tag with pride and are making body positivity an accepted reality, one post at a time
#PlusSizeAndProud, #BigIsBeautiful, #FightBodyShaming… How many of these hashtags have you used? Body positivity as a movement has been going through various changes all over the world, but in India especially, the idea of “thin is in” is changing, particularly in the fashion industry. Multiple homegrown brands and online portals are launching lines for the bigger bodied, which is not just about providing clothes in bigger sizes, but clothes in bigger sizes that have a good fit.
(Clockwise) Sonal Somani, Amena Azeez, Tanvi Geetha Ravishankar, Dimple Mehta, Neelakshi Singh and Shubham Yadav show how style is about confidence, not weight (Location courtesy: Butterfly High, Mumbai; Make-up and hair: Ashu Mois)(Photos shot exclusively for HT Brunch by Shivangi Kulkarni)
Six fashion bloggers whose essence is self-acceptance above everything else (Shivangi Kulkarni)Tanvi was selected for India’s first plus size fashion show at Lakme Fashion Week in 2016. (Inset) Tanvi’s bikini post on Instagram received a lot of praise (Dress, Forever 21; bomber jacket, Stalk Buy Love; sneakers, Westside) (Shivangi Kulkarni)
“A neighbour once thought I was pregnant... I said ‘Yes I am pregnant, I have a food baby inside!’”
Sonal feels the Indian fashion industry is still far from making stylish clothes for bigger beauties. (Dress, Asos; jacket, SheIn; shoes, Nike Levi’s Jordan; neckpiece, Accessorize) (Shivangi Kulkarni)
“...Plus size is often associated with being unfit. but what about someone who isn’t big? Are you sure they’re fit!?”
Amena feels celebrating plus-size bodies means you are anti-fitness, which is a classic case of fatphobia. (Kurta, Amydus; jacket (kurta), Global Desi; bracelet, Aldo; watch, Kate Spade; rings, Accessorize; earrings, Bandra street shop) (Shivangi Kulkarni)
“We have plus- size athletes, and they are just as fit as non plus-size people”
Shubham thinks the plus and proud movement is yet to imbibe men and their comfort with their bodies.(Jacket, Octane; T-shirt, Copperstone; Shoes, Vans; watch, Fastrack) (Shivangi Kulkarni)
“I’ve seen plus- size men cry [including me] because we’re big but we’re not allowed to feel bad about it or cry, right?”
Dimple thinks being curvy should be out of choice, not convenience. (Dress, FabAlley; watch, Guess; footwear, Lulu & Sky) (Shivangi Kulkarni)
“My grandma altered my clothes because I love high slits!”
Neelakshi is body positive, not fat positive. (Dress, Shein; footwear, Lulu & Sky) (Shivangi Kulkarni)
“Being body positive means someone who is okay with their body at any size: Big, small, scarred disfigured, differently-abled, whatever!”
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