Calvin Klein is known for its advertisements featuring sample size models, so when word got out that the brand would be working with a "bigger" models for its women's underwear campaign, there was some celebration.
However, after the women's underwear advertisement for plus-sized women surfaced, disappointment and criticism circulated amongst social media users and various media outlets because the gorgeous model in the ad, Myla Dalbesio, is actually not a plus-size model at all.
"I'm a bigger girl. I'm not the biggest girl on the market but I'm definitely bigger than all the girls [Calvin Klein] has ever worked with, so that is really intimidating," the 27-year-old told Elle.com, according to NY Magazine.
Although Dalbesio is "bigger," she is only considered so compared to the other women in the modeling industry. Also, Dalbesio is a size 10, whereas plus-size models reportedly traditionally fall in the 12 and up range.
Consumers are reportedly claiming that the publicity that Calvin Klein is receiving for hiring a plus-size model is almost unethical because they actually didn't hire someone that is fully considered in that range. Although Dalbesio has clearly broken through as one of Calvin Klein's "bigger" models, the criticism towards the popular underwear brand has yet to stop.
"Have you seen Calvin Klein's new plus size model? It's ridiculous! Today I praise full figured women!," wrote Twitter user Ben Aaron.
Fellow social media user BABBY commented, "If this is plus then I'm morbidly obese."
Backlash towards Calvin Klein's advertisement comes soon after Victoria's Secret's bra campaign that featured a group of Victoria's Secret models modeling the brand's news bras with the tagline "The Perfect Body." The recent Victoria's Secret ad reportedly led to three young women leading the #IAmPerfet movement out of the U.K., which led to the lingerie brand changing their tagline to "A Body For Every Body," according to The Huffington Post Canada.