#ImNoAngel
This body positivity ad was released by Lane Bryant, a plus-size underwear store, as a response to an ad released by Victoria’s Secret (left). Many were outraged by the ad released by the company as it obviously was only showing positivity to society’s standard of beauty−tall, skinny, and light-skinned. Lane Bryant responded to this seemingly absurd attempt at body positivity by releasing their ad that included women of color and women of different shapes and sizes.
#1. Body
Arguably, the body types that are represented in Lane Bryant’s ad are the most powerful aspect of the image. These are bodies that have never been represented in advertisement or media until recently. These women are beautiful in their own way, showing off their bodies (which are much more normal than any of the models for Victoria Secret) and rocking it. By presenting their bodies in such a normalized, yet idolized setting, they are able to show young women everywhere that they are beautiful and worthy enough to be a model. Simultaneously, Lane Bryant is able to advertise their line of clothing and truly showing that they have “a body for every body.”
#2. Hair
A subtle, yet important thing that Lane Bryant incorporated into their ad was the girls with short and natural hair. This is something that might normally be overlooked, however I find it to be very important and powerful. If you look at any Victoria’s Secret model, you’ll notice they all have long, shiny, straightened or softly curled styles. Long hair has always been romanticized as the majority of men prefer longer hair on women; this has been a common theme for decades. However, several of the Lane Bryant models have pixie cuts and are rocking their natural hairstyles. This showed a more natural beauty that shows young girls that they don’t have to take heat to their hair or keep it long and take the effort to keep it maintained.
#3. The Choice of Lingerie
Maybe this isn’t as important as the first two arguments, but it is still something that needs to be covered. The Lane Bryant models are wearing a variety of different kinds of underwear, some sexy, some more comfortable. Victoria’s Secret models, in contrast, wear the tiniest and sexiest bras and panties since they run their whole advertisement strategies around providing ways for the customers to feel as sexy as possible. Lane Bryant paves a different path, where comfort and sexy can meet halfway. While there is a time and place for lingerie, the purpose of underwear is for practicality and comfort the majority of the time.