For what seemed like forever, the fashion industry would offer entry to only those who were tall, skinny, and mostly fair-skinned. But gradually, over the last few years, the definition of beauty finally started to change, with the advent of plus-size modeling and the body positivity movement.
To bring this movement to life, lots of women have put in the hard yards and taken a stand to promote what they believe in. Lots of women have done wonderful work and ensured that not only did the positivity movement begin but it also grew as the years passed.
The Evolution of Beauty Standards
Among those women who were a huge part of this movement, there has also been a certain British Asian named Bishamber Das. Das is the first British Asian plus-size model and has contributed immensely to the plus size industry in the US and UK. Growing up having an alcoholic, abusive father, she took solace in food, which led to a huge weight gain and bullying in school.
While this is not the most feel-good beginning to a wonderful story, it sure panned out to be a blessing in disguise as she managed to raise her voice on the perils faced by plus size women all over the world owing to these excessive eating habits.
From Traditional Norms to Plus-Size Empowerment
The then 29-year-old Bishamber Das made history in 2014 as the first plus size model to win a title at the international Miss India Europe competition that year and ever since then, she’s been on the continuous grind to normalize body shapes of all sorts ever since. It was in 2012 when Bishamber decided that she needed to change her lifestyle in order to reduce her weight since her health was getting severely affected.
Quite interestingly, she was the only plus-size woman and went on to become the second runner-up. It was an amazing achievement, especially because she was the only plus-size woman representing an issue that required further highlighting at that point of time, and still does.
Bishamber Das: A Pioneer in Plus-Size Modeling
When talking about her experiences as a plus size model, Das said that her experiences (well, most of them) have always been positive. She started her journey just over six years ago and ever since it has been a great ride. When she started, the plus size modeling industry was just really beginning to take shape in Britain, so she can easily be anointed a pioneer for her work as a plus size model there.
Just like any industry, rivalry can be expected. Luckily for her and the rest of the models, Das was all about building up one another rather than tearing others down. She has always represented herself, walked her path, and seen no one as my competition. Far too often she had seen plus-size models posing in little clothing to project their confidence.
She was not going to do that. As she does not think that is what she was about. Confidence should ooze from your success and attitude is what she truly believed in.
Overcoming Adversities to Make History
One of her proudest achievements to date has been modeling for Yours Clothing, when she became the face of their campaign which was used across all their stores in the Middle East, in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
When she started, many laughed and joked about her, as plus-size was not so widely accepted and celebrated in the Far East as it was then in the United States or in Britain. She sees herself as more than a model and does not just dream of having a successful career, she aims to be the woman who challenges perceptions of beauty in countries around the world. She wants to be the one to bring change.
Never in her life did she expect the body positivity movement to happen and bring such a big change in the way plus size women were perceived. But over the last 6-7 years this movement has picked up in the UK, not so much in India though.
Championing Body Positivity on Global Stages
But Bishamber Das is proud to say that she was the first woman who got the whole body positivity movement to India four years ago. Before that, no one understood the concept of plus size modeling. She has seen the growth of plus size models in India just like her career has grown and she couldn’t be more proud of that fact.
She has never been one to shy away from who she is and does not mind people labeling her as plus size or curvy. She believes in the end it is her work and what she does with her size that will matter not her size.
It’s good to advocate for something you’re passionate about, but she doesn’t see many advocating on [other] serious issues of size and race diversity, instead of focusing on labels, she believes our aim should be to reach out to every woman around the world despite what size or walk of life she is from to empower her.
Bishamber Das’s Dual Life as a Model and Young Legal Luminary
Tirelessly working to ensure that this happens and happens as quickly as it can, Bishamber Das is not only about being a model or an advocate for plus size modeling and body positivity.
he also has a degree in law and criminology and is well-versed in five languages. She also became the youngest Asian magistrate in the UK when she was just 22. Das has been diagnosed with conditions like dyslexia and dyspraxia but has not let those conditions slow her down in any sphere of her life.
She has always been someone to take her challenges face on and that has helped her reach where she has in her life. Her work both as a brilliant plus size model hailing from Britain and as a young lawyer looking into child law and criminology is a big example of how if one sticks to their guns and believes in what they are doing, are most likely to come out on top against all challenges and setbacks. Bishamber Das truly is one of a kind.
