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Upton yesterday in NYC
We first heard about Kate Upton a little less than a year ago when Victoria’s Secret congratulated itself for employing her as a catalog model in the wake of those disturbing photos of Candice Swanepoel. Back then, we thought that “casting a hot teenager as moral imperative” was pretty silly and said as much.
Soon after the casting announcement, Upton landed a Sobe endorsement and a blogger called her fat. What’s more, some of our commenters actually agreed with this assessment! One commenter went so far as to say, “shes fat, sorry. This is not the normal world, this is fashion. I work in it, I see it every day. For fashion she is fat. Normal shes average.” Average?! We were disturbed. We’re still disturbed because every time Upton’s in the news, that old post gets a few new comments to that affect.
Now, Kate Upton has the Sports Illustrated cover–the undisputed holy grail for swimsuit/lingerie models. Though we’re not fans of the Swimsuit Issue in general, we do see it as a positive change that they gave Upton the cover (and also cast the beautiful Crystal Renn). This should be Upton’s brightest hour… but instead a bunch of people can’t stop cutting her down on account of her weight.
For example, yesterday Victoria’s Secret destroyed whatever modicum of good will we had by insisting they’d “never use” Ms. Upton for the Victoria’s Secret fashion show and went on to be breathtakingly nasty about her appearance, saying, “She’s like a footballer’s wife, with the too-blonde hair and that kind of face that anyone with enough money can go out and buy.” All in an article about Upton’s success!
Right along those lines, the always-classy New York Post filed a report on Upton’s weight just this morning:
“Meet the only supermodel who needs to be told to stop eating. Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Kate Upton’s concerned friends staged an intervention last summer — months after she was named SI’s rookie of the year — after she packed on enough pounds to jeopardize her career, sources told The Post.”
Yes, they devoted an entire post to fat*-shaming (*for lack of a remotely reasonable term) under the guise of “concern that her eating will jeopardize her career.” As if she were some promising young method actor going too far down the rabbit hole into needle drugs. Which is absurd.
According to the New York Times, Upton is 5 feet 11 inches and her measurements are 36-25-34. For comparsion’s sake, here are some measurements of presently reigning fashion models: Lindsey Wixson is 5’10” and 32-23-34.5, Arizona Muse is 5’10” and 32-24-34, and Joan Smalls is 5’10.5” and 32.5-24-34. Say what you want about the fashion industry’s frostier beauty ideals versus more male-oriented commercial appeal, but the only quantifiable difference between Upton and top tier runway models is… a bust. A few inches worth.
Upton may be technically bigger than a fashion model–she’s even bigger than Sports Illustrated cover models in recent memory–but she is not fat. If you look at Kate Upton and see “fat”–or “chubby,” or “sloppy,” or if you’re one of those awful fashion people that uses the word “healthy” as a synonym for “huge”–you need to shut up and sit down because your brain is fucking broken.
We’re always disappointed when condescending fashion magazines congratulate themselves for casting actual plus girls–by blasting it across their covers, by devoting special editorials to curves. This attitude, however, feels strangely privileged and out-of-touch in light of the scathing response to Upton’s ascension. Basically, we have a situation where we’re compelled to defend a tan, blonde, buxom 5’11” teenage swimsuit model because she’s being inexplicably treated like an outcast, if not–in certain comments–a leper. And our defense practically feels like a controversial stance!
In other words, this has gotten ridiculous. And we can’t really figure out why–moreover, it’s challenging to be articulate about this when we’re mostly just astonished. The only explanation we can fathom is that people actively want to sound like petty woman-hating idiots. So, possibly that?
(Photo via Getty)
[Update: this article has been amended to show that the differing measurement in question is Upton's bust, not hips, as stated previously.]
You have a very odd definition of “chubby”. I suppose by your standards, an anorexic girl would be considered normal. :/
Sounds to me like you have some messed up body image issues.
Oh come on!!! No way does she have a 25 inch waist. Swanepoel has a 23 inch waist and she looks about 4 inches wider.
Kate Is beautiful, my thoughts on the topic is she’s PERFECT the way she is, they need to cut off the Photoshopping crap granted. I love Kate’s size it is sexy and inviting. Kate size is what my dream goal would be for me all i would do is tone it up. I would never want to be thinner than that, but i have large hips and a small waist and DD, to me i was blessed with this natural size. some people are naturally thin but being sexy/classy/beautiful/ appealing doesn’t end at them. Some people are just cruel, why is it as an almost exact hourglass i find natural thin girls beautiful and i can find a size 16 beautiful too, someone please tell be why people even give a shit i mean really stop being so anal about others body types it doesn’t even affect you in all actuality. Someone please go get so common sense.
She is so skinny!! WTF is wrong with people! It’s disgusting that a woman who is so much thinner than average is being vilified as a model for being too “fat”. Obviously things need to change in the world of fashion!
And I also have to say people need to stop calling everyone on here stupid. Everyone has a right to their opinion. You don’t have to agree with everything that you read on a blog. But have some respect I yourself . Calling people stupid, or dumb is tacky! So stop already !!! Tic for tac ugh!
She is a pretty woman who is a little on the unhealthy side. She’s a model. And she is judged on appearance . Her body is her work. So I don’t know why she isn’t taking pride in her appearance. .she seems lazy to me. Body image is her job and she’s not being he best she can be. She need to get into shape and tone up a little and eat healthy. She is choosing that profession not me. So therefore take pride in what you do in your modeling career an work out! Eat right! Jeez it’s not hard! And everyone saying she’s not fat , well shes not fat she is unhealthy! And to all the rookie saying she’s thinner than you well you should workout too. That’s not a good thing. America is over weight; nothing to be proud about! Being a model you should want to promote healthy living. Not laziness. And yes if you put yourself out there for all to see people are going to take not period. So promote a healthy lifestyle please! Do your job well!!!
While Upton is not fat, no one seems to be pointing out that she HAS gained weight from just comparing this year’s and last year’s SI Swimsuit photos. Personally, I thought she looked healthier AND sexier in last year’s issue. Now you can see it in her face and midsection. She definitely has developed a mild beer gut or maybe it’s just from eating more. Not fat but I thought she looked better last year.
Honestly, I can say when a woman’s gorgeous and I though Sports Illustrated had sort of downgraded with her. She would be great in Playboy…but not Sports Illustrated, I thought she was a singer or something they decided to feature. I had no idea who she was and she looked like she didn’t belong in the magazine…it’s not a harsh statement just reality. She should stick with Guess and playboy or something of that nature ;)
She is photoshopped on the sports illustrated page. Look at her from a runway show she is not toned at all. Its not about the measurements or weight. Besides the big breasts she has nothing else to offer.
you basically said it all.
sorry but i also feel she is a bit too large to be a model.
I’m with you. She’s chunky and need to workout. Her body is her work and she’s slacking major!
1. I agree she is not fat by any means.
2. I also agree that she is not all that in shape either, so people who like more lean women have a right to not be into her look. Doesn’t make people stupid – makes them into a different type of girl.
3. While it is unhealthy for the plight of women to view her as “fat” – it is also just as unhealthy to photoshop her real body away. If SI was so proud of her – they should have left her real stomach – Im a guy, and I’m sorry guys, this girl has some love handles – I don’t mean that a a put down – this girl just doesn’t have a fit stomach – so if they are promoting “her body” – they should show us here REAL body and not photoshop her stomach away.
4. Just as unhealthy as photoshopping her is lying about her measurements – promoting this girl as a size 4 when she is easily a size 8 messes with girl’s heads like no other because a real size 6 girl is left wondering “wtf” – am i bigger than this girl?? If we’re really shooting for a healthy perspective, let’s be honest about measurements and size, so people can realize a size 8 is normal and beautiful.
5. So, while I would never call Kate Upton fat, she’s hardly at the forefront of breaking down barriers for women in modeling when she is being photshopped and lying about her size – she’s feeding into the very thing people claim she combats.
6. Also, while I would never call Kate Upton fat, calling people stupid simply for having a different perspective about her appearance is not exactly classy or respectful either. I’m a straight guy and I like curvy girls, but I’m not attracted to Kate Upton simply because I’m just not into her specific look/personality. That doesn’t make me stupid – it just makes me attracted to a different kind of girl.
Hi. I’m a size 8. My measurements are larger than Kate’s. I’m not fat and neither is she.
I agree that photoshopping and lying about measurements aren’t helping anyone. Especially not if you look at her and think “…she is easily a size 8…”
She’s not. I am. And I’m bigger than her. My weight is below the national average.
We don’t have to all find the same body types appealing, that’s certainly true. But that’s not a reason to look at her and say “Oh, she’s fat” just because it’s not what we want to look at or look like.
Guys don’t understand sizes. Nor do we often get opportunities to wrap our hands around the midsections of bikini models to get an appreciation for their actual size compared to looking at 2D images.
I don’t think she’s lying about her measurements, but I think the fact that some people think she’s lying about her measurements is the problem, and is what creates this distorted perception that she’s fat.
She’s not fat, she’s a size 2/4. The only reason people think she might be a size 8 or whatever is because most models on the runway are so skinny that there isn’t even a size to describe them. They’re like a triple zero or something. I’m a size 4. Yes, I am larger than Kate. Yes, the camera adds pounds. Yes, having breasts adds pounds and makes you look heavier (even if you’re slim all over), because most skinny girls do not have large breasts.
But she’s definitely not a size 8. Not even close. If you saw a size 8 in a photo, you would probably think she was a size 16 or something.
LOVE the curvy body and height but have to agree a kinda average face (but great bod)
And I’m sick of people trying to shove FAT woman down our throats and calling them “voluptuous”. Prior to her “airbrushed” cover, Ms. Upton was most certainly fat. The video of her strutting down the runway in a black ruffled bikini shows her thunder thighs and noticable BACK FAT when she stops at the end of the runway. I’m a very thin woman, NATURALLY, and I am tired of people pretending that people aren’t fat so they can feel better about being fat. And there is NO WAY in hell that kate Upton has a 25 inch waist. i am 5ft 5ft and 100 pounds and I have a 24 inch waist. Her waist is more like 28 inches. I also get sick of these fashion magazines trying to “slim” down larger woman by claiming they are several sizes smaller than they really are. You want to embrace you curves then claim your REAL size and not the one you want everyone to believe you are. If I ever got as big as Ms Upton used to be i would hit the gym every day. She NEEDED that intervention considering she is supposed to be a model.
That’s wonderful for you. However, any guy is gonna take Kate Upton’s body above what you’re offering any day of the week cause it is flat out more attractive.
1) Regardless of the actual inch measurement of her waist, millions (read: millions) of people find this lady gorgeous. But even if they didn’t, she’d still be immensely beautiful. Her demeanor–at least, the one she projects–is confident and beautiful, as well as her appearance.
2) Keep in mind that taller women tend to have wider waists than shorter women. Considering she’s a 5’1″ model, she’s considerably taller than your 5’5″ stance.
3) Your attitude and mindset is ugly. Regardless of how much value you place on your waist in inches and whether or not you’re smaller than she is, ugly is as ugly does.
I agree. She’s a big girl. For a model, shes considered fat.
Straight men LOVE a body like Kate’s…only catty women and gay men think she is fat. Get real people – idiots in the fashion world hate voluptuous women – which is what straight men want. We hate the stick thin “fashion” models without any fun parts to play with.
hahah totally, that’s what my bf says.
straight men love ass and tits and hips, not sticks.
gay men are the ones in the fashion industry, selling 00 as the perfect size
Every time I start clicking around The Gloss I start hating myself.
I can’t stand that looking like “a real woman” just means having huge boobs according to every article I’ve ever read on this website. Sure, Kate Upton has a much thicker midsection than most models (great strides,I guess?), but if she had just that and an average cup size, there’s absolutely no way anyone would applaud her for being some sort of beacon of womanhood alongside the “the sickly, ugly, skinny” models.
I’m Kate Upton’s height (5′ 10″), 20 years old, slim and in good shape (not model thin but close to it) with a B cup, and when i avoid websites like this, that are supposedly meant to “empower” women, I feel pretty okay about myself. But I read this garbage and the way people react to women’s body shapes that aren’t all tits in the comments section (models are unattractive, ugly, not feminine), and notice that it’s only women with CRAZY PROPORTIONS that are being celebrated (fat, thin, whatever, as long as they have gigantic t&a) and I feel helpless. I can see Dita Von Teese’s ribs, and know that she is extremely thin, but she, again, has enormous breasts, and so she’s a role model for me I guess: she’s a “real woman.” I can be thin, I can be fat, but I cannot be a DD, and that seems like the only thing that will make me a woman these days. I’m sick of hearing people call any woman’s body ugly, but especially sick of having an entire group of women singled out as “unattractive” because they’re slimmer than most.
Pear shaped girl here. I know exactly what you mean, but keep in mind that basically when they have a “fat” girl, she has to have huge breasts. Many people who have distorted images of women’s bodies think having large breasts is the same as being at a larger weight.
Basically, the media has no idea what to do with “chubby” girls, so they just pop them into corsets and try to emphasize as much t&A and go for the sexual market, since those women will obviously never be “thin, elegant waifs.”
Don’t worry too much. Go look at porn (of all things) and you’ll find out pretty quick that if you are a mostly healthy woman, someone is very specifically attracted to your body type.
Wow, I personally think she is the most beautiful girl to be on SIs cover, I love her body, I will be disappointed if she lost weight she has amazing curves, absloutly beautiful!!!
I can’t believe this needs to be said. Also, the term “a bit fat” is ridiculous because EVERYONE IS A BIT FAT. If you don’t have any fat on your body, you die. Quantifying “fat” as a trait is such an absurd thing.
On a side note, I think those are the measurements in Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me.” Don’t ask how I know.
I think the thing that bothers me most about those types of comments is the fact that people say “Sorry” or “That’s just how it is.” Is it not entirely too clear that the REASON THINGS ARE THIS WAY is because people perpetuate those ideas? There’s no inherent reason that beauty standards have to be that way: our reactions and demands make them that way.
There desperately needs to be more models that aren’t stick thin. It drives me crazy that there’s nothing representing the millions of us who are in-between “very skinny” and “plus-size.” I’m 5’7″, 135 lbs., and I cannot name a single famous model with my proportions. I’m not overweight, I’m not emaciated, so do I not deserve representation? And the whole “clothes look better on thin people” argument is null and void because (1)that’s something that we perceive, not some sort of universal law of nature (2)I want to know how those clothes look on ALL body types–since I’ll be wearing them, not them–not just ones whose BMI is lower than 17.
I love thegloss for pointing this ridiculous behavior out. Seriously. Because the fact that so many people act as though these are things we cannot and should not be altering then wonder why millions of people have eating disorders is ridiculous. If our standard of beauty is so ridiculous that its impeded our reasonable judgment, then it’s absolutely time to make a change which–of course–only we, the collective public, can do.
I’m happy to see a girl on the SI cover who doesn’t fit their typical build/style/editorial preference/whatever you want to call it. I’m not a fan of hers but of course she looks great on the cover, it’s the cover, it wouldn’t be published unless she looked amazing.
That said (and I realize most men aren’t looking above her neck but..), her face is seriously hurting.
I feel that people are in such an uproar over Kate Upton because she proves that being stick thin is not the only entrance barrier into the world of fashion. Many young girls who aspire to be models see starving themselves down to a size 0 as the ticket to the runway. Now that Kate Upton has proved this is not the case, those aspiring models who have yet to make it big have taken a huge blow–that even after all of their “hard work” there are still girls out there that are more successful than they are, despite being bigger.
Mainly, the critics of Kate Upton are the girls who are stick thin and have zero confidence. They latch on to criticism of a “bigger” girl because it is the only way to justify their self-destructive habits.
Sorry, but this is the way I see it. If you were to see Kate Upton on the street, compared to normal sized people outside of the fashion industry, you would immediately think she was a model. The only reason she appears “big” is because she is being compared to girls who are far, far too small. It’s like putting, for lack of a better comparison, one little person next to another: one may be shorter/taller, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are each considered “little” or “dwarf” by normal standards.