From the Managing Editor’s Desk—Let’s discuss plus dimension inventory images.
Consider it or not, however The Curvy Fashionista is my first large dive into plus dimension vogue. Although I’ve been a curvy gal my total life, I by no means thought I had a voice within the house. Nonetheless, I got here to be a author for the publication in 2024 and was graced with the chance to be the managing editor originally of 2025. In case anybody is questioning, because the managing editor, I’m answerable for most, if not all, of the content material you see on the web site and any corresponding editorial content material.
So sure, the images you see on socials are arrange by me. And sure, I see a number of the flack we get for sometimes utilizing AI images in our articles and on our socials.
I’m certainly not attempting to persuade somebody to go ChatGPT loopy, nor do I wish to “defend” using them. Nonetheless, I wish to get to the foundation of the difficulty and produce consideration to the challenges that plus size-centered publications, communities, and types wrestle with in attempting to deliver positivity to the plus dimension business.
Now, if by the top of this text, you continue to wish to cuss me out—be happy.
The Drawback with Plus Measurement Inventory Photographs
Sadly, the numerous points with plus dimension inventory images weren’t one thing I used to be conscious of till I started working with TCF. And to be utterly frank, the primary situation is that they barely exist.
Throughout my grasp’s program, I closely researched media photos, the science behind them, decide the correct one, their affect, and their significance. To the bare eye, the images you see in articles or on socials could also be only a illustration of what the article is about. Nonetheless, what some could not notice is that the photographs we affiliate with phrases and subjects grow to be photos that we affiliate with emotions, mindsets, thought processes, and so forth.
With that mentioned, it has at all times been my aim to current photos that not solely characterize the plus dimension group but additionally uplift. Everyone knows how vital it’s within the plus dimension group for us to see individuals with physique shapes much like ours—however for those who haven’t seen the choices for plus dimension inventory images, let me provide you with an concept.
Utilizing Canva, for instance, once you seek for “plus dimension vogue,” you get a couple of choices. Most of the time, a lot of the choices are white ladies, leaving out Black, Latino, and Asian ladies. For images which might be accessible, they have a tendency to not rejoice plus dimension vogue, however as a substitute be ashamed of their our bodies, or level out their garments don’t match. Moreover, extra area of interest searches like “plus dimension lady doing her make-up,” or “plus dimension lady getting her hair executed” give slim outcomes, however for those who take “plus dimension” off the search, many believable choices seem. Regular and mundane issues that plus dimension ladies take part in usually are not represented. And virtually each search I put in offers outcomes of plus dimension ladies figuring out… as if that’s the one cause a plus dimension particular person would must be represented with a photograph.
There could also be choices for higher outcomes, corresponding to Getty Photographs—however for an unbiased publication like TCF, the value of Getty Photographs is definitely not conducive. Sure, there are different choices free of charge inventory photos like Pexels or Unsplash, however we then run into the identical situation that Canva presents. To not point out that TCF is almost 17 years outdated with 1000’s of articles… with a small quantity of usable choices, we’ve used all of them.
In studying a number of the disapproving feedback, a few of you may have recommended hiring actual plus dimension fashions. Whereas this can be a pretty concept and what we might like to do, there are a number of boundaries to this. Firstly, photoshoots are pricey. Hiring a photographer, fashions, a stylist, a make-up artist, and a hairstylist can value upwards of $5000 (and that’s on a budget facet).
Secondly, and that is in all probability true for many, if not all, publications, on the present quantity during which we publish articles, we’d want a number of photograph shoots. I can assure that each one publications make the most of inventory photos. Nonetheless, some publications have entry to extra sources.
Thirdly, this could not be useful for instances when there’s breaking vogue and magnificence information or newsworthy articles.
Lengthy story quick, relaxation assured, we aren’t utilizing AI in lieu of hiring plus dimension fashions.
The place Does the AI Come In?
Once more, I wish to be clear, I’m by no means defending using AI photos, and our readers have each proper to carry us accountable. I just lately discovered about that Grok (X, previously Twitter’s, AI part) is severely affecting the water provide in a city in Memphis. As soon as studying extra, there was a direct discount in our use.
And to make clear, AI images had been by no means our essential supply for our plus dimension inventory images. It was at all times a complement and was typically reused the place applicable. But when I will be sincere, I typically really feel it’s a catch-22. If we start to solely use the inventory photos accessible to us, we’d be wiping out illustration for thus lots of our readers. I don’t simply imply race. Completely different physique sorts, heights, and kinds wouldn’t be highlighted. We additionally want to think about these with completely different skills… I’ve not as soon as seen a inventory picture of a plus dimension particular person with a incapacity or pores and skin situation. Certainly, we’d come underneath hearth for seemingly following the development of lowering DEI.
TCF’s aim is to empower plus dimension ladies by means of vogue, media, and group, creating house the place model is widely known, voices are heard, and illustration is actual—and we stand by that. Each transfer we make and each determination made is with that in thoughts.
We Want Business Change NOW
Although the plus dimension business continues to evolve, we’re nonetheless coping with discrimination on a big stage. Sure, AI is a matter value addressing. Nonetheless, the underlying situation for our use of AI is simply as essential to the dialog. Not solely do we want extra space and illustration for plus dimension folx, we want extra recognition. We must be the primary thought, not the after.
Plus dimension folx characterize greater than half of the inhabitants, but a inventory picture of a plus dimension lady doing her hair and make-up is unrealistic. The one “house” a plus dimension particular person must take up is on the fitness center, in keeping with inventory picture firms.
AI is NOT and has by no means been the answer for plus dimension inventory images. It’s a short lived band-aid for a much bigger situation. After all, as TCF continues to develop, a few of our sources can go in direction of this situation. However for now, know that we hear you and worth your suggestions. I hope that is only the start of such an important dialog.
