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The Ozempic Effect: How Weight-Loss Drugs Are Shifting the Fashion Industry’s Body Positivity Movement
- Qui Joacin
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Plus-Size Models Share Their Struggles Amidst a Changing Fashion Landscape with a Body Positivity Movement
The fashion industry has long promised progress in terms of body inclusivity, but it seems like we’re taking steps backward in recent years. Models who once soared to fame as part of the body positivity movement are now facing challenges and feeling sidelined, especially as trends shift in unexpected ways. One significant factor contributing to this shift is the arrival of Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs, which have sparked a noticeable change in the fashion world. Here’s what plus-size models and activists are saying about this unsettling shift and what it means for the future of inclusivity in fashion.
A Step Backwards After a Promising Start
Back in 2021, Skye Standley was on top of the world. She had made a name for herself in the fashion world, working with big brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Savage X Fenty. But just a year later, things started to change. Standley saw a noticeable decline in the number of gigs she was booking, and she wasn't the only one. Models who had once been celebrated for their curvy bodies began to find themselves pushed out of the spotlight as the fashion industry seemed to revert back to its old ways of favoring thinness. “It’s been tough,” she shares, “I noticed less work, fewer castings, and a general regression from the brands I used to work with.”
She believes the fashion world has regressed to its old, fatphobic habits, despite the initial push for more inclusivity. While the body positivity movement made waves and gave curvy models a platform, it now feels like it was more of a trend than a long-term change. “A lot of what we saw wasn’t real inclusivity,” Standley explains. “It felt more performative, like brands were doing it to look good, not because they truly wanted to make a change.”
The Role of Ozempic and Weight-Loss Drugs
One of the major turning points in the fashion world, according to models like Felicity Hayward, was the rise of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic. “Once Ozempic came into the picture, everything shifted,” Hayward says. As these drugs gained popularity among celebrities and influencers, the fashion industry followed suit. Hayward, who tracks the use of curve models in fashion shows, noticed a sharp decline in the number of plus-size models on the runway in recent seasons. She points out that New York Fashion Week, which once showcased 70 plus-size models in 2023, saw only 23 in 2024. Other major fashion hubs, like London and Paris, followed this trend, using fewer plus-size models than ever before.
It’s not just the shows that are affected. According to Hayward, more and more models are being asked to slim down to stay competitive. Models who once wore sizes 16 or 18 now find themselves fitting into a size 12 to keep booking work. This pressure to lose weight in order to be employed is a reality many plus-size models face. It’s a painful reminder that the fashion industry still values thinness over diversity.
Models Speak Out About the Backlash
The introduction of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic isn't just impacting models’ careers; it's also igniting a backlash from the public. More and more, models are facing online hate and negativity, something many thought had diminished in recent years. Felicity Hayward, for example, says the level of online abuse she’s been receiving has increased. “It’s as if we’ve gone back to the way things were pre-2016, when hatred towards bigger bodies was the norm,” she says. Brands are feeling the heat too. Snag, a clothing brand that prides itself on body inclusivity, has been bombarded with complaints about its plus-size models.
Even brands that were once champions of inclusivity are pulling back. Emma Matell, a casting director known for her inclusive practices, has noticed that the plus-size models she works with aren't getting the bookings they deserve. “It’s heartbreaking to see,” she says. “I’ve worked with these models, and they’re amazing, but it’s hard to get them jobs when the industry is backpedaling.”
The Impact on Mental Health and Body Image
As the fashion world pulls back from its commitment to size inclusivity, models like Skye Standley are grappling with the mental and emotional toll this shift has taken. Standley admits that it’s been difficult to keep fighting for inclusivity when she feels like the industry isn’t backing her up. “It’s exhausting,” she confides. “We push so hard to see change, and then it feels like it’s all slipping away.”
For models who don’t fit the conventional beauty standards, the struggle is even more intense. Plus-size models are often asked to change their appearance to conform to the industry’s narrow standards. This pressure to lose weight in order to work has a profound impact on their mental health, leading many to question if the fight for body positivity was ever truly embraced by the fashion world. “It feels like the inclusivity movement was just a trend,” says Standley. “And trends don’t last.”
The Future of Size Inclusivity in Fashion
Despite these setbacks, there’s still hope. Models like Nyome Nicholas-Williams, who once experienced a surge in work during the body positivity boom, continue to advocate for change. “I will never lose weight to fit into their mold,” she says firmly. “They should accept me as I am. I am not going to change for them.” Nicholas-Williams, like many other models, believes that the shift toward inclusivity isn’t over—it’s just evolving. Consumers have started to demand more representation, and as they continue to push for diverse bodies to be celebrated, it’s possible that the fashion industry will listen.
In the meantime, Standley continues to use her platform to represent the larger-than-life models who aren’t often seen. “I feel a responsibility to keep pushing for change,” she says. “We need to change the narrative about what it means to be plus-size in this world.”
While the fashion industry may be shifting, the fight for inclusivity isn’t over. It’s just entering a new chapter.
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