Plus-sized Whitney wins Top Model crown

Posted on May 16th 2008 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson

Filed Under: Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products

Tyra Banks' and her America's Next Top Model panel of judges just crowned another winner. Her name is Whitney Thompson, and there's nothing skin and bones about the girl who says she feels validated after so many years of being judged.

The 20-year-old Thompson is the first plus-sized model to win Top Model honors and the first of the show's winners to kind of resemble the average American woman. Media reports peg Thompson as a size 8/10.

Thompson said she's already heard from boys and girls all over the world who are struggling with weight and eating issues. "They're thanking me for standing up and saying, 'I am a plus-size model and I am beautiful,'" says this Florida gal who is the lucky recipient of an Elite modeling contract and a fashion spread in Seventeen magazine.

Source

15 Comment

Tags: Americas, Jacki Donaldson, JackiDonaldson, Model, Next, plus, size, Top, Tyra Banks, TyraBanks, Whitney Thompson, WhitneyThompson, winner

Around the Web

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

deborah jay 5-16-2008 @ 2:37PM

What is "plus" about size 8/10? The women who are truly "plus" size could never fit into an 8/10, they fit into the "womens" size. I am 6' tall, wear a size 12 and considered skinny....I could take offense to this "plus" size status but considering the source, the idiots who make bizarre and ridiculous looking clothes and the women who actually purchase such tragic comedies....it is ALL a great amusement. People watching gets better all the time.

MMD 5-16-2008 @ 2:36PM

Calling her plus-sized is offensive. You participate in everything you complain about when you use that label.

reyn1969 5-16-2008 @ 2:20PM

It's pretty sad when being a size 8/10 is considered plus size. I thought it used to be size 14 and larger. I must be gigantic then since I wear a size 16. She is not plus size she is the size of the average American women and I am happy that she won so all girls have a normal sized model to look up to.

Alex 5-16-2008 @ 2:20PM

Did you seriously just call that woman "plus-size?" Since when does being a size 8 mean you "struggle" with your weight. She looks very healthy to me. Shame on you.

Jennifer 5-16-2008 @ 2:20PM

Seriously. I read this story, looked at the picture, and thought, "huh, I wonder why they have a picture of a skinny model instead of the 'plus-size' model who just won?" What is this world coming to when a woman who is a healthy, average weight is considered plus-sized. What does this say to our daughters? You need to be a size 0 or 2 to be considered normal?? This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time. Of course, I think America's Top Model is a pretty ridiculous show, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised.

Nova11 5-16-2008 @ 2:20PM

Arrrrgh.......so terrible!! 8/10....plus size??? In whose world?? Oh thats right...in the vapid modeling world! Tyra is probably about that size and there is no way she would say she is plus sized. Seriously folks. Talk about screwed up body image. I'm a size 8 and am NOT plus sized. Thank you.

Nova11 5-16-2008 @ 2:19PM

I also want to add that this girl whitney was a size 4-6 when she initially tried out for the show. They told her she wasnt thin enough and that she should put on 20lbs and join as a "plus-sized" model. So its kind of weird to hear her comment about having struggled with being judged all her life based on her weight...um, i dont think so!! I SAW the pictures of her in a bikini...way skinnier than the above pic. That whole show is ridiculous.

thatrobyn 5-16-2008 @ 2:19PM

i agree it's ridiculous, of course. but, remember, she's not plus-sized by normal standards. this title is forced on her by the modeling industry. i read that the average american woman is a size 14 and around 5'5"ish, so the fashion industry is not even remotely dealing with reality. i hope that whitney's win (i'l admit i watch the show, it's a totally guilty pleasure) starts the ball rolling toward change. i almost cried when she won because i thought it was a huge victory for looking healthy rather than emaciated. plus, if young girls can put a size 8/10 up on a pedestal, instead of a size 0, then maybe we can start improving on the horrible rate of eating disorders and body image issues in girls and women. i think we women need to stand up a demand that a new normal be implemented by the fashion/beauty industry. we are their customers, so let's force them to serve us!

derbyshire62629 5-16-2008 @ 2:19PM

Geeze...give me a break! Plus size is not 8/10; I am an 8 and 130 pounds, it is an average size, there is nothing plus size about it. A plus size is 16 and above. And she looks fabulous and it is something everyone should aspire to being!!! Normal - NOT a -0 or a 2!!!

Andrea 5-17-2008 @ 9:30AM

Did any of you watch the show? She was clearly much larger than the other models. She's overweight- maybe only slightly, but she is. That's just a flattering photo.
Plus size models are size 8- that's how the industry works. Thus, a model who is a size 8 is by default "plus-sized".

And yes, a size 14 or 16 may USED to be the low side of plus, but sizes are different now. Sizing used to be much smaller, so the same size who wore a 14 then would wear close to an 8 now. The sizes have changed more than the expectations- it's called vanity sizing.

Lastly, I knew from the beginning that Whitney was going to win, since the media went crazy over Tyra being fat. She was in such a frenzy to prove it is okay, Whitney had it in the bag before the show even started.

ajs 5-18-2008 @ 2:47PM

the only reason whitney won is because she's plus size and tyra is obsessed with people being beautiful no matter what size. whitney's so commercial and we all know that anya is going to be the one making it big. even tyra said she was the most high fashion girl they've had and she can take a fierce photo. just because you're a size 0 doesn't mean you're not healthy and just because you're a size 8 doesn't mean you are.

Carrie 5-18-2008 @ 6:46PM

An 8/10 for a plus size? Who is this industry trying to kid? A plus size model should be shopping in the plus size dept! A plus size model winning AMTM is a big step for women of all shapes, but labeling 8/10 as plus, may be in the wrong direction. Designers need to use more models of different sizes, telling a healthy girl to gain/lose 20 pounds to be of any use as a model is ridiculous.

lunaj 5-19-2008 @ 10:35AM

OMG!! Ok, when you go into a PLUS size store the sizes begin @ 14/16 NOT 8/10. No it is not the new plus size in the fashion world. Just because all of the Hollywood women are an emaciated size 0, 1 or two does NOT make 8/10 plus size. I'd rather be an 8/10 any day over an emaciated looking 0, 1 or 2.

Andrea 5-19-2008 @ 2:49AM

It all started with Jaslene being the "1st Latina" top model. Now Whitney is the "1st plus size" top model. Next, the first "handicapped" top model. Look out for the high fashion runway wheelchairs, out next cycle. This cycle really disappointed me. Neither of the finalists could act, model, or walk. This was my fav show. But it is going down the drain.

ajs 5-19-2008 @ 10:22AM

people need to realize that this is the modeling industry not every day, therefore it's different. face the facts, it's about who makes the clothes look appealing and i personally don't want to buy clothing from some overweight model