Model Nina Agdal got real on Instagram. The Danish model shared a photo of herself, sporting a fitted pair of Oscar de la Renta jeans, red pout and nothing more. At first glimpse, it seems like your run-of-the-mill photo of a glamorous model on the set. Then, of course, you get to the caption.
According to Agdal, this picture was apparently part of a rejected spread in a magazine photo shoot. In a few small paragraphs, the model explained that the magazine, which was not named, dismissed her photo because she was too big for the sample-size clothing. Agdal called out the ridiculousness of the situation.
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“When my agent received an unapologetic email concluding they [the unnamed magazine] would not run my cover/story because it ‘did not reflect well on my talent’ and ‘did not fit their market,’ the publisher claimed my look deviated from my portfolio and that I did not fit into the (sample size) samples, which is completely false,” read part of her caption.
The fashion industry has been under scrutiny for decades for its false depiction of adult women’s bodies. Body positivity has been hard to come by, though some brands are beginning to come on board. As Refinery29 has explored through the 67% Campaign, more than half of the women in America are considered plus-size. However, these women only represent 2% of the women we see in media and advertisements. As Agdal highlighted in her caption, as a model, even her size fluctuates.
“Some days I’m a sample size, some days I’m a size 4 (UK size 8), some a 6 (UK size 10),” she said.
While rejection for any number of reasons is par the course for both the fashion and entertainment worlds, many men and women who have been shamed as a result have come forward with their stories on social media. Here’s hoping models continue to call out shaming for what it is.
Check out Agdal's full message below.