The latest October 2018 edition of UK’s Cosmopolitan magazine has garlanded a massive attention from the audience for featuring a well-known plus-size model Tess Holliday on the cover page.
Donning a green swimsuit and blowing a kiss, Holliday’s bold image is accompanied by the words, “A supermodel roars: Tess Holliday wants the haters to kiss her ass”.
The American model who weighs around 136kg celebrated the “incredible opportunity of gracing the magazine cover” by taking it to her respective Twitter account with the message – “If I saw a body like mine on this magazine when I was a young girl, it would have changed my life”.
Phew, I’m literally a COSMO GIRL!! Can’t believe I’m saying that! ??
Thank you @CosmopolitanUK for this incredible opportunity ?? If I saw a body like mine on this magazine when I was a young girl, it would have changed my life ?
Issue hits stands 8/31! ???? pic.twitter.com/sBYWY7nEwZ— Tess Holliday ? (@Tess_Holliday) August 29, 2018
Though the decision to feature 33-year-old Tess on the front of the iconic women’s magazine has been appreciated by many claiming that it is a huge step forward for body positivity, there are equal number of critics claiming that “it’s a dangerous attempt to normalise obesity.”
Controversial media personality Piers Morgan is one among the critics who captioned the cover feature saying “As Britain battles an ever-worsening obesity crisis, this is the new cover of Cosmo. Apparently we’re supposed to view it as a ‘huge step forward for body positivity.’ What a load of old baloney. This cover is just as dangerous & misguided as celebrating size zero models.”
Not just Morgan but the public too criticised the attempt with many saying –
This is not healthy, either for you or the young girls you’re teaching that being significantly overweight is ok.
— Dernhelm, query-slayer? (@Eowyn_the_Fair) August 30, 2018
Many have claimed that there is no difference between featuring anorexic models — something the fashion industry has long been criticised for — and severely overweight celebrities such as Holliday.
Models starve themselves and do a lot of other unhealthy things that keep them underweight. Young females follow them more often. This helps represent body positivity. It’s not saying “eat until you look like me”.
— Terrance Hartley (@T_Alexander_H) August 30, 2018
Instagram user batman43 wrote, “It’s quite obvious she’s not healthy and its no different than a woman with anorexia. Promoting either is wrong.” Janeysays added, “Being overweight like this is an epidemic, and I think it’s irresponsible to glorify an unhealthy lifestyle.”
The cover has also attracted a huge outpouring of support, with many claiming it was an important way of fighting back at “unrealistic beauty standards”.
