I couldn’t help but notice the recent media attention over Chloe Marshall, the first size 16 contestant to make it to the finals of the Miss England beauty contest. Last Wednesday the 16-year-old beat her other thinner competitors and was named Miss Surrey, placing her on the path for the national competition in July.
At 5 foot 10 and 176 pounds, Chloe definitely does not resemble your typical beauty queen but with or without the tiara, the modeling agency she recently signed with, Models Plus, insists her success with fashion companies is imminent.
Chloe herself is proud of becoming what she considers to be an advocate for curvier women, pointing out that there are more size 14-16 women in England than any other size. To some, however, this isn’t a fact that should be celebrated and many parents are quick to point out that a plus size model is just as dangerous a role model for their children as one that is a size zero.
Size 16 though she may be, she will still stand in her bathing suit later this year to be examined and scrutinized just like every other contestant in the competition, requiring a confidence that many size 2’slack. Chloe explains to the British Daily Mail that this inner strength came over time:
Something happened in my head to make me accept that it really didn't matter about a few dress sizes. I was happy with me.”
Whether Chloe’s entry into the Miss England contest is for right or for wrong remains to be determined, but if she truly is as confident with her body as she may say, then I can’t help but admire her. Is anyone truly happy with themselves anymore? Perhaps instead of looking at obesity as the problem plaguing our society, we should be looking at it as a symptom of a more severe diagnosis, societal insecurity. Some people are dealing with this by eating less, some by eating more, and many others have turned to the wonders of plastic surgery to attain what they’re sure is the solution to this low self esteem. Clearly, in today’s photo shopped world, any woman that can be comfortable with her own body is someone that should be celebrated.
Chloe, best of luck!
