A New York-based writer who has grown tired of the battle between fat and skinny, is blaming plus-size retailer Lane Bryant for continuing to perpetuate the weight war — and has published candid photos of herself wearing the brand's lingerie to illustrate the problem. In an essay published on xoJane, Amanda Richards hit out at Lane Bryant’s recent I’m No Angel lingerie campaign, which was widely perceived to have been a rather blatant critique of popular lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret. The clothing store, which carries US sizes 14 to 28, has been applauded for the new campaign, which shows plus-size models looking sexy in the brand's lingerie. But while many people responded that it was encouraging to see women of different sizes being portrayed as sexy, offering a counterpoint to stick-thin models like Victoria's Secret Angels Candice Swanepoel, Behati Prinsloo, and Lily Aldridge, Amanda takes issue with its message. Regular girl: Writer Amanda Dobbins says Lane Bryant's new I'm No Angel ad campaign doesn't show plus-size women of different proportions . 'I don't think it's particularly healthy or progressive to pit fat bodies against thin bodies,' she says. Amanda explains that part of the problem is that Lane Bryant's ads don't actually show women of all sizes, but rather a subset of overweight women who still have 'correct' proportions, with flatter stomachs and larger busts. 'I have never once seen a Lane Bryant customer with a body that is represented, even a little bit, in any of Lane Bryant's advertising campaigns, myself included,' she said. So the self-described 'body-positive' blogger has taken to social media, posting photos of herself in Lane Bryant underwear to her Instagram account in a 'small offering of solidarity' with other women of varying sizes who feel unrepresented in fashion ads. At size 18, Amanda admits, 'I'm no model' — but adds that her body type is also not so unusual. Body positive: Amanda hopes to promote positive body image and wants more retailers to advertise toward women of varying sizes . No retouching: The New York-based blogger posted photos of herself that showed off her figure and stretch marks . She continues to say that she hopes brands like Lane Bryant will learn from women like her, as well as other plus-size women on social media, that customers want to see diverse models in their ads campaigns. Lane Bryant, however, insists its I'm No Angel campaign is diverse and represents 'the woman who unapologetically celebrates herself'. 'This campaign is intended to celebrate all women coming together to redefine the ideals of beauty,' Lane Bryant representative Toyin Graham told Bustle. 'This campaign message is all inclusive. Our issue is not with certain sizes of women, it’s with media’s definition of ideal beauty' But Amanda believes it is not enough, saying: 'We don't derive self-worth from seeing diverse images, but we do find power and solidarity and learn to appreciate our own individuality in relationship to others.' Taking charge: Amanda says she's tired of being told to settle for plus-size fashion taking 'baby steps' 'I can't imagine what the legions of other women, the ones who are strikingly different from these models, must feel,' she adds. Since publishing the photos of herself in lingerie, Amanda has started sharing images of other plus-size women stripped down on her Instagram as well in the hopes that an influx of images of diverse body types will help to spark change. 'I'm so tired of being told that I should be happy with #plussize fashion and representation taking "baby steps",' she wrote on Twitter. 'We are women. We are big women. We should not be taking baby steps. We should be taking BIG LOUD RUMBLING GROWN A** WOMAN STEPS. [sic]'
Amanda Richards, from New York says she doesn't campaigns which widen the gap between ‘fat’ and ‘thin’
She says plus-size store Lane Bryant's new ads celebrating women don't actually show varying shapes, but rather 'correctly' proportioned plus-size women.
To show solidarity with other plus-size women, she posted photos of herself in Lane Bryant lingerie online.