Meet Brooklyn Allen, a 23-year-old part-time retail worker and part-time social media aficionado.
Recently, Brooklyn saw a number of thin women participate in a trend on TikTok where they recreated popular Pinterest looks. So she decided to take part herself.
“I’m sure I wasn’t the first plus-size person to do it, but I felt like with my specific body type and size, I could help a lot of my followers understand that they can wear anything they want and look great doing it,” Allen told BuzzFeed.
The fact that Brooklyn saw Pinterest as a platform where you generally only see the beauty standard body type being represented also added to her motivation.
Image credits: brooklyn.dallen
Image credits: brooklyndallen
Her TikTok already has over a million views
@brooklyndallenlove y’all but I said what I said #WidenTheScreen #plussize #fashion #style #pinterest♬ Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) – Doja Cat
In the video, Brooklyn explains that she’s “missing the key accessory that makes these outfits so desirable and perfect to society, and that is a flat stomach”
Image credits: brooklyndallen
Image credits: brooklyndallen
“When I refer to a flat stomach as an accessory, I am in no way being mean or bitter!” Brooklyn explained. “I’m completely okay with thin women using what they have, but I just want people to understand that it’s not the same for fat women. Our fat stomachs are systemically considered an imperfection, while a thin stomach is something that society would see as an elevation to an outfit.”
Allen thinks that “fat women don’t have the privilege of accessorizing with their fat stomachs unless they want stares and rude comments.”
Image credits: brooklyndallen
Image credits: brooklyndallen
Brooklyn aims to highlight what she believes to be a double standard in the fashion world that “has to do greatly with systemic fatphobia.”
“I don’t like the word ‘flattering’ anymore, because I’ve noticed that what’s considered ‘flattering’ on fat women is clothing that hides our bodies,” she said. “Fat women have been ridiculed for ages for wearing crop tops, short skirts/shorts, and just anything that shows skin. Whereas skinny women are celebrated in these items because it shows off their thin bodies — which there’s nothing wrong with, it would just be nice to not be treated differently as a fat woman.”
Image credits: brooklyn.dallen
When it comes to TikTok as a whole, Brooklyn thinks the platform has done a lot of good and a lot of bad for the body positivity movement. “On the good side of things, I have met some of the most loving, accepting people that I now consider friends. And on top of that, I have such an amazing following that truly gets me and relates to me!”
“On the other hand, I think TikTok has pushed a lot of women who would barely be classified as mid-size to the forefront of the movement, which isn’t what the movement was made for. Of course, everyone can be body positive, but I think it’s important for smaller-bodied creators to advocate for the women who are on the larger side of the spectrum and push for their representation.”
Image credits: brooklyn.dallen
“The body positive movement was started by fat black women and was meant to give them representation because they lack(ed) that!” Brooklyn said. “I think we have tons of work to do with putting the bodies this movement was made for as the face of the movement, really uplifting them, and giving them the representation they deserve.”
The woman hopes that people take away from her TikToks the idea that all bodies should have access to fashion.
“I really just want my plus-size women to understand that we can wear whatever we want, and for the thin women following me to understand where I’m coming from, that I am never personally attacking them, and for them to understand their privilege and use that to advocate for plus-size women,” she added.
Image credits: brooklyn.dallen
Here’s what people have been saying about Brooklyn’s TikToks
The post This Woman Is Recreating Pinterest Outfits To Show How They Look On A Plus-Size Body first appeared on Bored Panda.
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