It has sparked a debate on advertising “unhealthy” body standards.
The online clothing brand Snag receives 100 complaints a day about their models being “too fat.”
Speaking to the BBC, the company’s Chief Executive Brigitte Read, said that the models of her clothing, which ranges from size 4-38, are targeted with “hateful” comments surrounding their weight.
Twelve of the 100 staff at the company are dedicated to removing these hateful comments and “big up those promoting body positivity.”
Read said: “Fat people exist, they’re equally as valid as thin people, they buy clothes and they need to see what they look like on people that look like them.
“You are not worth less the bigger you are. Models of all sizes, shapes, ethnicities and abilities are valid and should be represented.”
Last month, a Next advert was banned due to the model appearing “unhealthily thin.”
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 61 complaints about models’ weight in 2024, with the vast majority being about models who appeared to be too thin.
However, Snag’s advertisements have raised a debate online, with some people criticising their adverts for showcasing models that are “obese.”
Speaking to the BBC, Catherine Thom, said she was “bombarded with images of obese girls in tights” after she purchased from Snag.
She added: “I see Snag tights plastering these morbidly obese people all over social media.
“How is that allowed when the photo of the Next model isn’t? There should be fairness, not politically correct body positivity.
“Adverts normalising an unhealthy weight, be it obese or severely underweight, are equally as harmful.”
However, users on Reddit discussing the controversy have weighed in with a different take.
One user wrote: “If you’re advertising clothes that are for very large people, your models are going to be very large. If you don’t like it, turn the page.”
Another asked: “Even if I felt that way, who takes the time to complain about the size of a model?”
