Storm in a G-cup: lingerie firm in bust-up over thin models
A LINGERIE company that caters for women with larger busts has been heavily criticised after telling a customer that it does not use plus-size models in its promotional material because they are not “confident” enough.
Bravissimo posted the comment on its Facebook page after a customer, who described herself as “a chubby size 16”, left one of its shops feeling “like an alien” because of the thin models featured on the posters.
The underwear company was set up in 1995 by Sarah Tremellen, a British entrepreneur, after she found it difficult to find bigger bra sizes on the high street.
The customer wrote that she found it “utterly bizarre” that the brand builds itself around large-busted women, yet uses so few plus-size models. She also said the poster models were not diverse enough, criticising the “appalling lack of people of colour”. Bravissimo replied: “We would love to use a wider range of models, but this can be a real challenge due to the difficulties in finding models with bigger boobs that are comfortable and confident in front of the camera especially when wearing underwear.”
The comment provoked anger amongst many of Bravissimo’s customers and social media followers. Chloé Jeüdi wrote: “Are you for real? You are blaming plus size women for not being ‘confident’ enough and that’s the reason you don’t hire them? Get real. There are plenty of plus-size models perfectly happy with their own bodies and literally looking for work.”
Bravissimo said the response “isn’t correct” and it would make sure it did not happen again. A spokesman later said: “We are saddened by the comments we are seeing and understand some of our customers feel quite passionately about the topics mentioned.
“Our apology about our initial post was real, because we always want to be honest when we think we have got something wrong. This wasn’t the view our organisation has. Our relationship with our customers is important to us, we do listen to them and take on board their comments.
“We do embrace diversity and recognise its importance, we have a wide range of customers in age, race, body shape and size; the only thing they have in common is big boobs.”