Plus sized people are regular people with desires and needs for clothing, just like everyone else. Recently, a TikTok star named Leo Skepi went viral for making a video about plus sized people and fashion.

“A brand not making your size in something does not give you grounds to degrade the brand. Brands are allowed to want a certain look and image with their product,” Skepi said.

This video has faced very harsh criticism by individuals with all different body types, and  rightfully so. The mistake Skepi made was implying that brands can make an image that plus size people just do not fit into. That in itself is unfair. 

Plus-sized people deserve to be able to express themselves using clothing, just like people that are not plus sized. Skepi, a formerly self-proclaimed fat person, seems to be sharing internalized fatphobia. In his apology video, he said that he meant it with good intentions, as he himself struggled and still struggles with finding clothes that fit. His exact argument is contradictory to his point because no one should struggle with finding clothes that fit, which are a basic necessity. 

Of course brands can embrace certain ideas, looks and concepts. However, a bigger or taller person should not have to beg the brand to make clothes that fit their body. On a larger scale, nearly all brands make extra small sizes, while those same brands do not always include bigger sizes. It is extremely frustrating to give in to the idea that exclusion is not only allowed, but embraced, as the world has been exclusive for years. Makeup brands have a similar issue where they tend to be less inclusive in adding shades and ranges to their products that cater to people of color.

Of course with freedom of speech and social media having so much diversity, everyone has a right to state their opinion and in that process potentially talk negatively about a brand. It is hard enough as a bigger person, I say with experience. It can be so embarrassing to walk into a store with your thinner friends and realize they all have their sizes available, while I do not. I have heard the argument “you made yourself that way” one too many times. Sicknesses, medication and more are all factors contributing to weight gain.

Every person of every color, shape, size and height should feel that they can trust brands with their money and attention. It is even harder to understand the thinking behind a brand thinking only skinny people are attractive, or only thin people can look beautiful in their clothes. Swimsuit brands, lingerie brands and more are starting to open their eyes to what they have been missing out on by being exclusionary. It is  so important to recognize the ever changing trends in fashion and include all people in that.

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