A CLOTHING boss has hit out at critics who complain that her models are too fat.
Brigitte Read, who founded online brand Snag, features women ranging from size four to size 38 in her advertising campaigns.
But some people disagree with the decision to include plus-sized ladies because they think it promotes an unhealthy lifestyle.
She said: “Shaming fat people does not help them to lose weight and actually it really impacts mental health and therefore their physical health.
“Fat people exist, they’re equally as valid as thin people, they buy clothes and they need to see what they look like on people that look like them.
“You are not worth less the bigger you are. Models of all sizes, shapes, ethnicity and abilities are valid and should be represented.”
Snag was referenced in an online discussion over whether or not adverts should show overweight women – after a Next advert with an ‘unhealthily thin’ model was banned.
The UK’s advertising watchdog banned ads using models who appear unhealthily underweight rather than overweight due to many folk wanting to be skinny.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 61 complaints about models’ weight in 2024, with the vast majority being about models who appeared to be too thin.
Sophie Scott, a plus-sized model from Lossiemouth, has received nasty comments from trolls about her weight.
The salon owner, 27, has worked with Snag on campaigns and tries to focus on the positive remarks about her appearance.
She said: “I get either ‘you’re so beautiful’ or ‘you need to lose weight’.
“When I started modelling I was a size 30. Having lost weight since then I’m still on the receiving end of hate comments because it will never be enough for some people.
“People say ‘you’re glorifying obesity’ but I don’t think anyone is looking at me and saying ‘I want to look like that’.
“Perhaps some people are looking at me and saying ‘she has a similar body type to me’.
“When I get a message from someone saying ‘we are the same size and you’ve inspired me to wear what I want’, it takes away from every hate comment I get.
“If I’ve helped one person accept their body then the hate comments don’t really bother me.”
