#DropThePlus: A Local Perspective on the Campaign to Drop “Plus Size”

Saturday, April 04, 2015

Kemea Smith, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Rasha Pecoraro #DropThePlus Photo Credit: Vanna Pecoraro

Northwest model and Dapper D clothing co-founder Rasha Pecoraro, is one of many on a mission to #DropThePlus, believing that the “plus size” tag is disempowering to all women.

“If the fashion industry begins to break down the stereotypes that they have created, people who are purchasing the clothes will start to feel more empowered,” says Pecoraro.

Models over a US size four, are deemed plus size in the fashion industry, when the average woman wears a size 14.

In March, Pecoraro began speaking her mind on the issue in support of #DropThePlus, after posting a picture of herself in nothing but undies, with the words “I AM A MODEL.”

VIDEO: SEE #DropThePlus by Rasha Pecoraro BELOW

Australian actress, author, and television hosts Ajay Rochester, is credited for starting the #DropThePlus campaign, which wants to ban "plus size" from the retail and fashion worlds. In a black bra and undies, Rochester posed for the camera with the words “I AM A WOMAN” on her stomach. She later wrote,"It's not us vs. them. We are sisters!"

Since then, LA singer Aria Johnson and Australian model Stefania Ferrario (face of Dita Von Teese's lingerie line) have joined the hashtag movement, that is taking over Twitter and Facebook feeds. “I was incredibly inspired by Stefania Ferrario’s photo and Ajay Rochester’s campaign, because it’s exactly how I have been feeling for the past few months,”says Pecoraro.

Stefania Ferrario Photo Credit: stefania_model instagram

Pecoraro had a successful modeling career, shooting ad campaigns for Torrid as well as gracing covers of Skorch Magazine, from 2003 to 2014.

“I unfortunately felt the wrath of body shaming on both ends of the spectrum,” say Pecoraro. “I have been “fired” twice from jobs while modeling, and both times were due to my weight, once for being too big, and once for being too small.”

Like many women and men, Pecoraro struggled with her weight and “battled with the scale” since she was young. Pecoraro says she “went to the extreme” to lose weight while a contestant on The Biggest Loser losing 70 pounds in five months. After having a baby and gaining back more weight than lost, Pecoraro decided to have bariatric surgery.

“It was purely for health reasons, and nothing else,” says Pecoraro. “I have kept off 135 pounds since having bariatric surgery and I am incredibly healthy and happy.”

Not every model is on the same wave link regarding #DropThePlus. Model Marie Southard Ospina recently told Buzzfeed that #DropThePlus “fails to account for the thousands of women who have been inspired and empowered by movements in size acceptance.”

But Pecoraro says “It should just be fashion for ALL. I am a model FULL STOP. PERIOD.”