I’m starting to think Sports Illustrated is pulling off borderline cruel tricks on some of their plus size models.
As a staunch defender of women’s rights, I have always fought for women to have the right to prance around in a swimsuit and pose for magazines. After all, we don’t live in the oppressed regions of the Middle East. We should celebrate our freedom at every turn and opportunity.
However, I think SI is starting to play games, and not the fun kind. The famous publication released a video on Instagram of Georgia Gibbs and plus size model Kate Wasley. Hold on because you’ve never seen me do what I’m about to do before.
I actually feel bad for Wasley, and I think SI knew exactly what they were doing when they released this video. You don’t have Gibbs and Wasley together in a video by accident. No, this is a coordinated attempt to draw a comparison between the two. It’d be like having me stand next to Matthew Stafford for ESPN, and then have the magazine run a story about how we’re equal.
It’s classless and wrong.
There’s no debate about where I stand on the plus size model issue. I think it’s stupid to promote them to a male audience. I also think having Wasley stand next to a smoke show is equally stupid.
Every guy who sees this video is going to have the exact same conversation I’ve had a few times today. I’m sure SI thought this would just fly over our heads, but not on my watch.
It’s mean and unnecessary to have a plus size model pose with a regular one. Shame, shame SI.