Maybe the folks at Unilever caught on first when they launched their "Campaign for Real Beauty" Dove soap ad campaign back in 2005.
Or maybe Kohl's was ahead of the game by signing Daisy Fuentes in 2003 to design a clothing line that would appeal to "women with curves."Whomever first saw the trend and acted on it, it seems that the appeal of the full-figured woman has moved into the mainstream these days.
Sisters, take a bow!
This past March, Vogue magazine -- one of the fashion world's style leaders -- had voluptuous Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson on its cover, coincidentally coinciding with the runways in Milan and Madrid setting weight guidelines for models.
Hudson's far more typical of "real women" than fashion models. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average woman is 5'4" and wears a size 14. The average runway model is 5'11" and a size 0 or 2.
That might help explain the popularity and growth of Lane Bryant and the plus-size brand of Charming Shoppes as well as Dress Barn.
Even Hollywood is jumping on the big girl bandwagon, with Latifah currently staring in Hairspray, Hudson being hand picked by Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, to play her in an upcoming film, and Jill Scott currently shooting in Africa her debut film.