Model Mya Dalbesio has taken to social media to address all the commotion about her Calvin Klein photoshoot.
Her lingerie campaign in 2014 was recently brought back into the limelight when 'Coronation Street' actress Catherine Tyldesley tweeted a meme with images from the campaign with the words 'Calvin Klein’s first plus-size model’.
"Tell me this is a joke?? PLUS-size?!?! Congrats on giving another generation of girls eating disorders/insecurities," Tyldesley wrote.
Now, 29-year-old Dalbesio, from Pennsylvania, US, posted an image from her campaign on Instagram alongside a powerful 'rant'.
"I don't know how or why but I guess this topic is inexplicably trending in relation to me once again, so I'm going to address it quickly," Dalbesio began the post.
"I am not plus size. I have never been plus size. Which is confusing, I understand, because for the first eight years of my modelling career, that is the segment of the industry that I worked in and the board at my (former) agency that I was signed to.
"Why is that? Because 10 years ago, when I started modeling, no 'straight size' board would sign anyone above a size 2-4 [UK size 6-8] (and even size 4 was pushing it). Working under that label was the only way I could work.
"Luckily, things have changed in that regard. I am happily on the main board at Next Models, which does not distinguish any difference in size or shape of its models, just represents them as they are, without labels.
"How things have shifted in the past decade! And what is even more glorious is the amount of successful models of all shapes and sizes that we see in major media now.
"Luckily for the people saying that I am 'not plus size enough' to be working, they have amazing role models they can look up to that may represent someone closer to themselves.
"I DESERVE TO BE REPRESENTED AND YOU DO TOO. We all do. And we all can be, if we start encouraging and supporting one another instead of picking each other apart. #rantover"
