by Reena Daruwalla, guest writer for Nancy Hayssen.com

While Nancy keeps everyone informed about the plus size modeling industry in the US, I was reading about the plus size modeling industry in Australia, and it seems that when it comes to plus size models down under demand outweighs supply!

According to one article, Melbourne has a shortage of plus-size models, according to specialist modeling agencies and the fashion companies who use them. Abby Valdez is one of the most well known and popular plus size models in Australia and it seems that they want more like her around!

There seems to be quite a swing in favor of plus size models in Oz recently; there was even a study conducted there which explored (and exploded) the myth that models need to be thin in order to effectively sell products. The study concluded that people’s response to thin models does not translate into buying behavior. Add to this the fact that the study found that women felt better about themselves when they saw plus size models!

The average size Australian woman is a size 14-16 and to there is the attempt being made to show models who have a realistic build and size. Dream diva is a retail brand that caters to Australian women who are a size 16 and above. Maria Muratore is the general manager of Dream Diva and she said that while there were lots of size-12 models around she considered a plus-size model to be a size 16. According to her “I’ve got the best one and she’s on contract,” Ms Muratore said. “I don’t know whether they don’t have confidence in Melbourne . . . I don’t think there’s less talent.” So there is an indication that perhaps there is a requirement for more plus size models.

Australia’s leading modeling agency for fuller figured models, Bella, says that they are constantly on the lookout for fresh faces for their catwalk and photographic model gigs. After all plus size models sell well!