Curvy women can celebrate their curves while still participating in the fashion industry at large. Plus size models were first represented by model agencies in the 1970s. Prior to this, models freelanced directly with retailers, designers and magazines. Now there is the plus-size industry. Fashion designers are starting to look more closely at the earning potential from plus-size clothing, and have used plus size models for their advertising campaigns and catwalks.
Currently the most popular by demand and exposure, here is a list of the top ten plus size models in the business today. This list based not only the hottest women, but also the most successful and ambitious. These healthy, full-sized hotties are riding the wave of public backlash against the walking coat hangers plying the runways.
10. Crystal Renn
- Age: 37
- Height: 5.9 ft
- Nationality: American
- Appeared for: Chanel, Jean Paul Gualtier, Vogue, Elle, Jimmy Choo, D&G
- Official Instagram: @crystalball1111
- Crystal Renn Net Worth: $6 Million
At the age of 14, Crystal Renn started her modeling career in high fashion. Renn is one of the most inspiring plus size models. She was told to lose almost a third of her weight to became a model. After years of fighting with anorexia, she reevaluated her diet and exercise habits.
She gained 70 pounds weight, and re-emerging her body (U.S. size 12), and was re-marketed as a plus-size model. Renn wrote a book “Hungry: A Young Model’s Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves”. She wrote about her experiences and struggles in the fashion industry.
See also; TOP 10 most beautiful women in the world.
9. Precious Lee
- Age: 31
- Height: 5.11 ft
- Nationality: American
- Appeared for: Lane Bryant, Glamour, Saks Fifth Avenue, Target, Sports Illustrated.
- Official Instagram: @preciousleexoxo
- Lee’s net worth $5 Million
Precious Lee is the next in our list of top 10 plus size models. It’s been six years since she became a full-time model, and Lee has created a hybrid advocate-activist-model niche for herself in the body positive community. She is a model and advocate for race, gender, and size in fashion. She is the first Black plus-size model to appear in Vogue.
In addition, she followed Ashley Graham to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated when they started embracing plus size models. Lee has walked high fashion runways, and has appeared in magazine spreads.
8. Candice Huffine
- Age: 38
- Height: 5.9 ft
- Nationality: American
- Appeared for: CR Fashion Book, Vogue, V Magazine, i-D, Glamour
- Official Instagram: @candicehuffine
- Huffine’s net worth: $5 Million
Candice Huffine is a plus size model represented by IMG Models. Starting her career as a teenage beauty queen, Huffine has been leading the charts of plus size models for the longest time. She was the very first plus size woman to be featured in the Pirelli Calendar. Also, the first plus size model to be on the cover of Elle magazine. Apart from being a supermodel, she inspires women to do what they can.
See also; TOP 10 most beautiful fashion models right now.
7. Fluvia Lacerda
- Age: 43
- Height: 5.7 ft
- Nationality: Brazil
- Appeared for: Vogue, Bust
- Official Instagram: @fluvialacerda
- Fluvia Lacerda’s net worth $5 Million
She is known as the the “plus-size Gisele Bündchen” and not just because they share the same homeland. Fluvia Lacerda is the plus-size model who’s set to bust out of her native Brazil and quickly take over the world. Already have been featured in Vogue Italia in July 2012 and the February 2012 issue of Bust. She is married and has a daughter now.
6. Tara Lynn
- Age: 41
- Height: 5.7 ft
- Nationality: American
- Appeared for: Glamour, Elle, Vogue, Time Magazine, H & M
- Official Instagram: @taralynn
- Tara Lynn’s net worth is $1 million.
Born on July 26, 1982 in Tacoma, Washington, Tara Lynn is next in our list of top 10 plis size models. She came into the spotlight after being featured in V and in the French Elle’s plus-size fashion shoot. Lynn drew attention in the fashion world after her appearance on the cover of Vogue Italia in 2011.
Being one of the most aspiring models, she has appeared on several other magazines like Elle-Québec and Time. She has also been featured on cover of Glamour and Elle. In addition, she appeared on the covers of various issues of Lucky Fall Jeans’ promotional magazine.
5. Chloe Marshall
- Age: 32
- Height: 5.10 ft
- Nationality: England
- Appeared for: Macy’s and Torrid, Plus Model magazine, Lane Bryant
- Official Instagram: @chloemarshall01
- Chloe has a net worth approximately $5 Million
Born in England, UK on 27 March 1991, Chloe Marshall is an inspiring English plus-size model. After winning Miss Surrey in 2008, Marshall became the first size 16 model to reach the finals for the Miss England Tiara, where she came in second place. Because of her motivation and confidence, the Models Plus agency signed her in the same year.
She then appeared on the cover of Plus Model magazine and signed a three-year contract with Ford Models. She’s one of the awe-inspiring curvy girls and has been placed in the list top 10 plus size models. Marshall has worked with notable plus-size clothing clients including Macy’s and Torrid. She also walked in Lane Bryant’s runway show in Las Vegas.
4. Robyn Lawley
- Age: 34
- Height: 6.2 ft
- Nationality: Australian
- Appeared for: Elle, Vogue Italia, Marie Claire, H & M, Ralph Lauren
- Official Instagram: @robynlawley
- Lawley’s net worth $5 Million
Robyn Lawley was the first Australian curvy model to appear on the cover of Australian Cosmopolitan and Australian Vogue. From the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia, Lawley is best known as one of three cover models of Vogue Italia’s June 2011 issue.
Also, she is the first Australian plus size model to be on the cover of Madison, an Australian fashion magazine. She has graced numerous magazine covers, including Vogue Italia, Marie Claire and Elle France. Moreover, she is the very first plus-size model to star in a high-end designer campaign.
In addition to her other appearances, Lawley became a Sports Illustrated “Rookie”, in 2015, making her the first “plus-size” model to be featured in the magazine’s annual Swimsuit Issue.
3. Justine LeGault
- Age: 37
- Height: 5.10 ft
- Nationality: Canadian
- Appeared for: Elle, Torrid Fashion, Catherines Plus Sizes
- Official Instagram: @itsjustinelegault
- Legault net worth: $1.5 Million
Justine LeGault is a plus size model with gorgeous blonde hair and a size 14 bod. From Canada with love comes this French femme fatale. Perfect skin, alluring curves, luscious legs and a beautiful face makes Justine a quadruple threat. How refreshing it is when major fashion magazines take the plunge and put a beautiful model with a fuller figure on the cover.
Elle Quebec did just that when it cast LeGault for its May 2013 cover. She has also graced the covers of several popular magazines and has done endorsement work for numerous brands like Torrid Fashion and Catherines Plus Sizes.
2. Jennie Runk
- Age: 34
- Height: 5.10 ft
- Nationality: American
- Appeared for: H & M, Marie Claire, Vogue, Seventeen
- Official Instagram: @jennierunk
- Jennie Runk Net Worth: $2 Million
Born in Georgia on June 13, 1989, Runk is pretty new to the modeling scene, but she is already making headlines. In April, she modeled for H&M’s swimsuit line and became the company’s first plus-size model to sport its clothing. Pretty impressive, especially considering she was modeling the typically curve-resistant category of swimwear.
1. Ashley Graham
- Age: 35
- Height: 5.9 ft
- Nationality: American
- Appeared for: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Glamour, Levi’s
- Official Instagram: @theashleygraham
- Ashley Graham Net Worth: $10 Million
Not a single list of top 10 plus size models is complete without Ashley Graham. A supermodel from Lincoln, Nebraska has appeared on the cover of fashion magazines such as; Latina, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, and Elle. Ashley is the first plus size model who grace on Sports Illustrated cover three times.
Ashley has served as a backstage host for Miss USA 2016, Miss Universe 2016, Miss USA 2017, Miss Universe 2017 and Miss Universe 2018. She also appeared in the films like; “Boys Klub”. In addition, she is official judge of America’s Next Top Model – a reality show transmitted by VH1. At just 31, Ashley Graham has made history like no other model has before. And that’s why she is at No. 1 in our list of top 10 plus size models.
See also; Top 10 Inspiring women who have challenged beauty standards.
Hope you enjoyed our list of top 10 plus size models. Sometimes, it seems like everything is about getting skinny, juice cleanses will cut calories, yoga will accumulate you in tip-top shape and there’s consistently a new diet to try. But all the absorption placed on being thin is exhausting, not to mention dangerous. That’s why we are so inspired by the ascent profiles and embrace of plus size models in the fashion industry today.