Calvin Klein model calls herself an ‘inbetweenie’ and sparks conversation about conventional model sizes

It was refreshing to see size 10 model Myla Dalbesio feature in a line-up of traditionally ‘straight-sized’ models including Jourdan Dunn and Ji Hye Park, in Calvin Klein’s campaign for their Perfectly Fit line.

The other, ‘straight-sized’ models in the ‘Calvin Klein Perfectly Fit’ campaign

Calvin Klein

As Elle point out in an interview with Myla, she “is what the fashion industry would—still, surprisingly—call ‘plus size'”, despite her not being ‘plus-sized’ at all.

In fact, Myla has referred to herself as an “inbetweenie”, in an interview with the TODAY show, saying: “I am one of many girls who are ‘inbetweenies.’ We’re not skinny enough to be straight-size, like these size zero and size two girls, and we’re not big enough to be plus-size.”

Calvin Klein

And Calvin Klein released a statement shortly after. They said that their “Perfectly Fit line was created to celebrate and cater to the needs of different women, and these images are intended to communicate that our new line is more inclusive and available in several silhouettes in an extensive range of sizes.”

Myla has publicly said that she’s honoured to have been included in the campaign, and that she hopes this will mark the beginning of a shift in the fashion industry, with more opportunities opening up for girls like her who are often unable to find jobs.

This is hardly the image of ‘plus-size’

Calvin Klein

Which makes us think. Despite the fact that the average dress size for women in the UK is 16, many girls with healthy BMIs do fit into that size 10-12 bracket, which was deemed the “ideal” size by a YouGov poll last year.

So, it’s quite bizarre that there aren’t more models representing this ‘inbetween’ shape. As Myla proves, she more than holds her own in a line up of some of the more traditionally-shaped models, and looks just as gorgeous as everyone else. As Myla herself says: “Life doesn’t work in only extremes.”