The average women’s size in the U.S. is a size 12 and more and more mainstream designers are catering to the fact that most women are not a size 2. Unfortunately luxury labels have not received the memo and many are still reluctant to work with anyone who doesn’t fit into a model size. Dascha Polanco, actress from Orange is the New Black is not the first actress, nor the last, that will have a difficult time getting a high-end designer to make her a custom gown, but she’s definitely not staying quiet about she’s been through.
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The Dominican actress has a huge following on Instagram (over 2 million followers) and you would think that she has designers lining up to dress her, but nope. “It’s funny that a lot of the brands are dressing people who are not offering anything as far as talent, they’re just out there,” says Polanco to Vogue Magazine. “I understand that it’s business, but still, it’s like, really? My industry friends, who are clear and honest with me say, “Girl, they don’t have your size, and you’re not at that level yet, so you have to either move that way or just build those relationships so that later in the future maybe it happens.”
Most actresses have designers reach out to them and even dress them for free because they bank from the free advertising they get in return when an actor or an actress wears their designs to a red carpet event. That’s not the case for Polanco, whose PR team tried various times to reach out to these high-end designers. On one occasion, they said, “Oh, you’re not the sizes we have, not right now, maybe in the future,” says Polanco. “Now even if they want me to [wear their designs] down the road, I will not give them the pleasure. It’s disappointing, but I try to work with up-and-coming designers who will make things for me and who will collaborate with me. People who love my curves and embrace them as much as I do.”
She doesn’t let this bother her and instead she uses this to empower herself to be a stronger version of herself. “I want to break that barrier,” says Polanco. “Even though I’m a size 8 or 10, I still can look as great as someone who’s a size 0. This is why I work out; I’m making sure my body looks how I want it to look, so that I’m confident enough to wear a transparent cat suit, or show skin.” Polanco does look amazing and it’s great that she embraces her size, even though she doesn’t fit the mold according to Hollywood’s standards.
“Every day, women have to boost themselves up. You have to look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I am fabulous, I am beautiful, I am me, and I am my own best competition,” says Polanco. “I always say to my followers and myself that the outfits are armor, because at times it almost hides what I feel. I look back at my old red carpet pictures where I wasn’t as confident, and it shows in the images. Now that I’ve gotten older, I realize that life is short—I’m building that confidence, and doing things as far as fashion that I’ve never done before.” We’re so glad she has the right attitude because many young women look up to her and feeling confident about the skin you’re in is the sexiest thing, just ask anyone.