According to some preconceived notions, women with curvy hips and fuller figures should limit themselves to modest swimsuits and try to hide this flesh that the eye cannot see. While the "summer body" continues to dominate the conversation, both in magazine pages and through hashtags, plus-size model Erin Marley Klay reminds us that a body doesn't need validation to be seen on the warm sand. The model, who graces the pages of Sports Illustrated, vindicates all those women who have felt pressured to alter their figures to fit into a bikini.<\/p>\n
The era of the body positivity movement seems a distant memory. A few years ago, bodies were freed from societal norms and the gaze of others, fueled by supportive hashtags. This brief respite was followed by the renewed censorship of body shapes and the condemnation of natural curves. This positive mindset has not endured.<\/p>\n
The pressure to conform has returned to the forefront of discussions, more radical and unwavering than ever. In a society that reduces bodies to fleeting trends, thinness asserts itself as the original ideal, the most acceptable version of the female physique. As every summer, to qualify for a string bikini or a micro-swimsuit, nothing must be visible. The body must not cause a stir under these beach coverings, at the risk of being condemned by accusing eyes or mocking faces. The media and social networks, the stage for these dictates, promote a slender appearance under the sun and consider any excess weight as something to be eliminated.<\/p>\n
This pervasive fatphobia and intolerance towards so-called "curvy" figures that defy the hourglass figure is something Erin Marley Klay experienced firsthand at the beginning of her career. She didn't exactly follow a path conducive to diversity. Working within the highly selective world of modeling, where difference remains a foreign concept, she was discovered by the agency Zion Models. Becoming a plus-size icon without much effort, her more realistic physique landed her at the forefront of SKIMS, Kim Kardashian's brand. The young woman, with 759,000 followers, has also modeled for Wet n' Wild, Selkie, House of CB, Casablanca Bridal, and YMI Jeans. <\/p>\n
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