‘ This is my body’
Model Woods talks ‘ plus size’ and loving her curves
Now that I can be a role model for them, it’s inspiring because there are so many girls like me that are looking for someone that’s relatable. And, it’s cool that me genuinely being me can be ( inspiring) for other people.”
Jordyn Wood
Wondering aloud about the ongoing plus- size versus straightsize conversation, Jordyn Woods asked, rhetorically: “What is ‘ plus size?’
“The whole ‘ plus- size’ thing is interesting, because we were all born different and we are all created different,” she says over the phone from Toronto, where she was attending a media event with Canadian retailer Addition Elle.
“I admire fashion and I admire people who are plus size. I admire people of all shapes and sizes. But, I just don’t think it’s fair to put people in categories.”
While the true meaning of plus size differs around the world, in the fashion industry, it’s often used to refer to anyone over a size eight. At the retail level, however, it typically involves anything over a size 12 ( for added perspective, a recent study found the average American woman now wears a size 16.) And it’s this relative ambiguity that further turns Woods off of the term.
“I don’t think there is a proper definition for it, so we shouldn’t be categorized,” she says emphatically. “What’s ‘ plus size’ in fashion is what the average- sized woman is in real life. And, fashion should be made for real people. Real people are the ones who are buying the clothes.
“So, we should just push fashion toward reality.”
The only time when Woods — who has become known for her sexy style through both her modelling career and her social media presence ( oh, and she’s also Kylie Jenner’s bestie) — won’t shy away from the plus- size moniker is when it’s attached to the term role model.
Because, for many of her 4.1- odd million Instagram followers, that’s exactly what she has become.
“I think it’s awesome that I can be a role model to people,” Woods says. “Growing up, I didn’t really have someone that I felt was a role model for me. Because there wasn’t anyone killing it that looked like me, or was relatable, or showed any sign of struggles or real life — or had a body like me.
“Now that I can be a role model for them, it’s inspiring because there are so many girls like me that are looking for someone that’s relatable. And, it’s cool that me genuinely being me can be ( inspiring) for other people.”
At 20, Woods says the opportunity to have so many people watching her every move as a model and online influencer has its perks, one of which is the ability to document her ever- evolving style.
“I feel like I’ve just started figuring out my style within the last year or two, and there’s so much more room and so much more trial and error to do,” she says. “My confidence has evolved ... I’m learning to love my body and develop the body that I want. Everything is kind of setting into place now.”
Woods, who describes her personal style as “effortless” and “urban- eclectic,” admits finding clothes can sometimes be a struggle, even though she knows what she likes.
“A lot of plus clothing is meant for people who want to hide their body. Just because I have curves, what makes you think I want to hide it?” she says. “I’ve worn some plus- size clothing and there’s too much fabric. And, I’m like, why should I hide it and make myself look different from what I look like?
“This is my body.”
It was partly this frustration that inspired Woods when she was creating pieces for her latest collaboration with Addition Elle.
“There are different kinds of curves. You can have someone who is super tall and curvy, but they have a small butt or small boobs. Or, someone who is super short but has huge boobs,” she says. “We have to try to target every kind of curvy girl. Every girl has different curves.
Her latest collection for the brand’s activewear line, NOLA, features streetwear- inspired pieces that can easily be dressed up or down.
“It’s super wearable, it’s super 2018,” Woods says of the designs. “You can make whatever you want of it. You can wear it in the house, or you can wear it out.”
The 12- piece collection is available in sizes 12- 26 and ranges in price from $ 26-$ 158. For more information, visit additionelle. com.