Danielle Vanier is a plus-size Fashion blogger with an Instagram following of over 26,000. She is most recently known for her appearance on #PlusSizedWars on Channel 4, but many already knew her for her confidence and ability to speak her mind openly and somewhat defiantly, something many plus-sized women struggle with due to a climate of body-shaming fostered by the Fashion Industry.
After the backlash from the first show from the Telegraph and Loose Women panellist Jamelia Davis there has been heated debate online about the issue of obesity and the its so-called promotion through using plus-size models and even selling larger sizes on the high-street. This also resulted in the trending hashtag #WeAreTheThey.
#WeAreTheThey & we won't be made to feel ashamed of our bodies cc @Debzjs pic.twitter.com/a3wcE9rO4t
— Danielle Vanier (@VanierDanielle) April 22, 2015
The question is whether or not bullying is really a reasonable method of negative reinforcement as many seem to believe it is the way forward on the issue of obesity. Should we respect people less because they take up more space? And is this really an issue of health?
The fact of the matter is aesthetics are more of an issue than these “health activists” would care to admit. If health was the real issue, then the Fashion Industry would have heard these same continuous cries over the anorexic, bulimic and just generally unhealthily skinny models they have shown on the catwalk for years. They didn’t.
There is a dangerous assumption that being bigger means being less healthy, or lazy. Plus-size bloggers challenge this by breaking down barriers and working hard to maintain their position in the Industry.
The EDIT was lucky enough to catch Danielle Vanier at London Fashion Weekend and Fashion journalist Naomi Mitchell interviewed her on her experiences.
Danielle has been blogging since 2012 after being inspired by other plus-size bloggers but also her own experience in the Industry.
“My inspiration was the fact that I’ve always loved Fashion, I’ve always been involved in the Industry. I used to work as a Designer so I’ve just always had a love for it and I started on Instagram posting my outfit pics and that seemed to have a good reaction so then I started my Tumblr and that kept on spiralling and getting better.”
She doesn’t aim to “promote obesity” as the media seems to suggest, so we asked what WAS the purpose of her blog?
“My main aim really is to show women no matter what size they are that you can look fashionable. You can enjoy your Fashion, as well as everybody else. I think it’s important that you are not limited to the size label.”
The vilification of plus-size bloggers in the media makes this body-positive movement lose some of its momentum. Fortunately retailers focus on responding to their existing environment and are helping promote body-confidence over bullying. Danielle was at London Fashion Weekend with a brand many will recognise.
“I’ve come with George from Asda, we’ve been looking at the Trends catwalks later we’ll be seeing a Designer catwalk just taking in the Fashion atmosphere. I think there is still a long way to go, obviously the fashions you see going down the catwalk are still based on mainstream sizing, I think the fact I’m here with the high-street brand George at Asda, that they are willing to put my face to their brand, that is a really good sign because I’m plus-size.”
At the end of the day perfection is unattainable for most and pressuring people to be what you want them to be rarely works. Health is important, but so is supporting young women in their development. Don’t make a #PlusSizeWar make the assertion that everyone deserves to be happy. One size does NOT fit all.
Featured photo credit: Danielle Vanier’s Facebook page.
