With plus-size ladies like Ashley Graham dominating the fashion and modeling industries, it certainly seems like body positivity is all the rage these days. But with women slowly seeing more and more diversity in their models, suddenly the men are asking — where’s our plus-size representation?
Well, it seems that the execs over at IMG Models heard them. Though the major agency is known for representing slim, toned hunks like Olivia Palermo’s husband Johannes Huebl, Gigi and Bella‘s little brother Anwar Hadid, and Cindy Crawford’s teenage son Presley Gerber, it’s now taking on a different kind of dude.
According to WWD, IMG has announced a new big and tall division called Brawn, and its already signed its first model: Connecticut-born stud Zach Miko, 26.
‘Brawn has a body positive message. Brawn is physical strength,’ said IMG Models President Ivan Bart. ‘The body positive messaging and size diversity is something that’s relevant and something that continues to be on everybody’s mind. We have to extend the conversation for men.’
Zach, who measures 6’6″ and has a 42-inch waist (compared to the typical 30 to 32-inch waists of IMG’s other male models) already has some modeling experience, having posed for Target’s big and tall line by Mossimo Supply Co. in 2015.
But he never thought he’d get this far, signing with an agency that has the potential to hook him u p with top designers and magazines.
‘Being a man of size, I never imagined for a minute that this would be a possible career,’ Miko told BuzzFeed. ‘Then, Ivan told me about his dreams for the fashion industry: diversity, inclusion, evolution. I knew then I hadn’t just found an agency, I had found a home.’
Ivan explained that he hopes opening up the agency to bigger men might have an impact on fashion, since he himself can find it difficult to shop for clothes.
‘I consider myself a beefy, stocky kind of guy or whatever buzzword you want to use. I’m in the fashion business and I’m required to dress fashionably but yet I have size issues,’ Ivan told WWD. ‘It becomes defeating when I don’t consider myself morbidly obese, but I go to certain stores they don’t have my size.’
Both he and Miko have noticed how plus-size women are making major headway in fashion and modeling — Ashley Graham, another IMG Model, covered the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue this year — and they want the same to happen for men.
‘Women of all shapes and sizes are beautiful and confident and sexy,’ Miko told BuzzFeed. ‘The conversation has changed from “This is what beautiful is” to “What is beautiful?” I am humbled to be able to raise that question for the men’s industry.’
‘In 2016 everybody has some vanity. Everyone wants to wear great clothes and everyone wants to look fashionable,’ Ivan added to WWD. ‘We have to start asking for more options.’
Besides a host of well-known male models, Miko joins an agency that represents Gigi Hadid, Gisele, Kate Moss, Miranda Kerr, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Bella Hadid, Chanel Iman, Lily Aldridge, Coco Rocha, and Joan Smalls.
IMG is also behind Sports Illustrated cover girl Hannah Davis and Victoria’s Secret Angels Candice Swanepoel, Elsa Hosk, Elyse Taylor, Erin Heatherton, Jasmine Tookes, Martha Hunt, and Taylor Hill.
‘You are beautiful the way you are right now,’ Miko said. ‘Who you are — no matter what shape or size or age or what have you — is attractive, desirable, and valid… We have been told for so long that beauty is this one thing, but times are changing. It’s a new conversation. Beauty comes in every variety.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3497047/He-s-real-hunk-Modeling-agency-Gigi-Hadid-Gisele-Kate-Moss-signs-plus-size-MALE-model.html#ixzz43F8LLW2r
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