Plus size models claim to be shut out of Australian Fashion Week

Melbourne, May 7 (ANI): Sydney's leading plus-sized models have staged a protest at the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week 2010 claiming that they were shut out of the event.

Natalie Wakeling, a fully figured beauty and former magazine covergirl, said designers were still stalling on hiring women above size 8, despite public calls for better body diversity.

Prompted to create her own plus-size denim label and surrounded by her Big Gal Models stable mates, Wakeling had expected to return to the runway after starring on a catwalk for women with curves.

The showcase, a positive initiative of the industry and event owner, IMG, was hailed a success last year, but not a single plus-size model has been hired this year.

As BGM agent Darrianne Donnelly confirmed that step forward has gone backwards almost 12 months on.

"While the rest of the world is embracing women with curves, Australian fashion is going backwards. The public wants to see themselves, in all shapes and sizes not just size 6," Courier Mail quoted Donnelly as saying.

Organisers declined to make official comment, but deferred questioning to individual designers who are responsible for the model casting for their own shows.

It flies in the face of moves by the Federal Government to set guidelines for positive body image, established by a national advisory panel including industry experts.

However, their findings left the fashion industry to self-regulate. (ANI)