...to La Maison Simons for pulling 500,000 copies of its Fall 2008 catalogue after receiving many complaints about the models being too skinny. Link

...to a Major Canadian Book Retailer for changing how it displays a plus-size fashion magazine.

After Liis inquired many times why Figure magazine – the only major North American magazine in distribution catering to women with curves – was constantly being put in with the diet magazines at every location she visited, she finally asked to speak with a manager. She explained how important it was to have this magazine showcased with other fashion magazines to show equality in fashion for all sizes and to not promote the ideology that a magazine for larger women implies the need to diet. The silent messages linked to its placement were vast. The manager discovered that the classification nationwide had the publication being put in the wrong section –perhaps simply because the name was misleading. The manager sent out a message to stores nationwide thus reclassifying the magazine’s location in the magazine racks and it has been showcased in the fashion section ever since – far away from the diet magazines! (Update: Sadly, this magazine has ceased publication)

...to Jean Paul Gaultier for choosing curvy model Crystal Renn to wear the most important garment in his prêt-à-porter, Spring 2006 runway show - the finale dress which garnered worldwide press and attention.

...to Ben Barry Agency Inc for redefining how a modelling agency can operate and changing beauty perceptions in the process.

...to the creators and caring hosts of the TV show How To Look Good Naked – both British and American versions, for helping women see the beauty in their bodies and having the viewing audience learn to appreciate their own in the process.

...to the Creative Italian Elle Team that shot an editorial for the December, 2007 issue in which curvy model Crystal Renn wears small sample sizes whether they fit her or not.

The result of photographer Ruven Afandor’s photography and inventive styling is that some photos show the model holding up the garment in front of her nude body or wearing it in any manner that fits thus creating beautiful photos which cleverly and artistically work around the constant problem of small sample sizes limiting which model is chosen to model them.

...to Whitney Thompson for being the largest (size 10-12) competitor to ever win America’s Next Top Model, claiming the top prize in Cycle 10.

Whitney has taken her pro-active stance on being happy with her curves and has channeled this positivity through the press to impressionable youth eager for diverse role models. Manufacturers and the media – especially magazines - have stood up to take notice as she gains the respect of countless consumers happy with her curvy figure and the confidence and inner beauty she projects.

...to the Spanish Government for creating true change in fashion from the foundation up and for holding clothing companies accountable.

Responding to 2 eating disorder related deaths in 2006 of models, and the problem with self-esteem issues in women related to the perceived size they think they should be to match the images provided by society, the Spanish Health ministry created a “beauty charter” and implemented several smart changes in January 2007:

• It reached an agreement with major fashion designers including the owner of Zara to cease using window displays featuring clothes smaller than a European size 38 ( North American size 8). They have 5 years to phase in the change.
• It reached an agreement with major fashion designers to standardize women’s clothing sizes to promote healthy body images. Designers such as Cortefiel, Mango, El Corte Ingles and Inditex, which owns Zara, agreed to take part in the program. The Health Ministry's program aims to end a situation in which a woman who buys a size 40 (North American size 10) dress from one designer may not fit in a size 40 garment from another designer. The ministry said the differences sometimes lead women to feel compelled to lose weight.
• The agreement also stipulates that European size 46 (North American 16) be place in easy view in stores and have a generic label “larger sizes” thus keeping it within the other sizes.
• As part of the effort to standardize sizes, the ministry plans to measure 8,500 Spanish girls and women between the ages of 12 and 70 to determine the true shapes of Spanish women's bodies.

...to Canadian designer Cheri Milaney for showcasing real women models in her March 2009 Toronto Fashion Week show. The ages of the models ranged from their 20's to 60's and they were not required to fit the strict height requirements of the fashion world. Most importantly, her line was created using 3 sample sizes - a refreshing change thus allowing diversity on the catwalk. Samples in sizes 4, 8 and 14 allowed Cheri to truly represent her consumer not only on the runway, but through print and television press sending out a positive message to the general public.

...to UK Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman who in June, 2009 sent letters to the world’s most renowned fashion designers asking them to make bigger sample sizes. Her letter, shown to a Times reporter, pointed out that Vogue fequently had to retouch photos to make models look larger – the complete opposite of most magazines that have been accused of airbrushing to decrease a model’s size. Shulman wrote, “We have now reached the point where many of the sample sizes don’t comfortably fit the established star models.” The actions of such an important editor, representing one of the world’s leading magazines, were duly noted not only in the fashion world but by the international press.

...to homemakers magazine and Roots for working together almost 2 months before an editorial shoot date to create a larger leather jacket sample size. Because of this planning, Liis, a size 14, was able to wear a gorgeous leather jacket in her size for the October, 2009 issue and the magazine was able to showcase fall fashions on a larger size model. More praise goes out to the magazine for having no mention of size in any wording within the article – it was not a “size story” but rather a fashion editorial.

...to Glamour magazine for posting a realistic semi-nude photo of a size 12-14 model and creating a buzz worldwide. Model Lizzie Miller was shown in the September, 2009 issue in nothing but a g-string, in a confident pose showing her belly with no airbrushing to the photo. She became known around the world as “the woman on page 194” and women celebrated this bold step towards accepting the perfection in all bodies.

...to All Walks Beyond the Catwalk for creating an initiative that breaks down fashion barriers. In September, 2009, this project was launched during London Fashion Week in the United Kingdom. It brought together 8 cutting-edge designers with 8 diverse models ages 18-65 and sizes 8-16. The aim was the same as Walk the Catwalk – to encourage diversity on the runway by creating sample sizes that would fit various sizes as well as showing that age should not determine who walks the catwalk. The project was a smashing success especially after Canadian knitwear designer Mark Fast put 3 size 12-14 models on the runway and opened the show with one of them.