THIS year’s Perth Fashion Festival is giving women of every shape and size a chance to strut the catwalk.
Carillon City’s Every Body Counts initiative will provide 15 women a chance to appear on the runway alongside leading plus-size model Natalie Wakeling during PFF next month, with more than 200 entries received.
The aim of the event is to celebrate real women and encourage positive body image without the stigma of skinny models, which have dominated in the past on fashion runways and magazine covers.
After being selected the final 15 lucky women will share a dream photo shoot with renowned photographer Robert Johnson, which will appear throughout the Carillon City fashion parades at Fashion Central during the festival.
In addition, the finalists will attend a modelling workshop to regain their confidence while appearing on the runway.
Apart from showcasing Carillon City Spring summer fashions, one woman will win a styling session with a $1000 voucher and a pair of jeans from Wakeling’s Embody range.
This is such a positive move for PFF, using women of size, promoting self-esteem, and showing women how a garment can relate to them in real size terms.
The entrants feel it is important to encourage women to feel confident about themselves, no matter what shape, size or nationality.
What a great opportunity it is to be a part of such a positive movement towards promoting real women in the community, and diversity in the fashion industry.
The entrants also felt nervous, but extremely excited and proud to be a part of something very rare to take them to the next level.
They realise that in a real world, standing out and looking different isn’t something to be ashamed of.
The competition is an opportunity to put those self esteem issues to bed, and prove that being different has made them more realistic and proud to represent everyday women who strive for perfection.