It was 2012, and the internet was essentially on fire because of a 19-year-old in a bikini. You probably remember the cover. Kate Upton, with her blonde hair and "all-American" glow, was gracing the front of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. But the conversation wasn't just about the beach in Australia where they shot it. People were losing their minds over her body.
Wait. Is she a plus-size model?
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Honestly, if you ask that question today, you’ll get a lot of confused looks. But back then, the fashion industry was so obsessed with "heroin chic" and size zero standards that Kate Upton was actually called "fat" by high-profile bloggers. It sounds insane now. Truly. We’re talking about a woman who is 5'10" and, at the time, was roughly a size 4 or 6. In the real world, that’s "thin." In the 2012 modeling world? That was a revolution.
The Kate Upton Plus Size Model Myth vs. Reality
Let's clear the air: Kate Upton has never technically been a plus-size model. In the industry, "plus" usually starts at a size 12 or 14. Kate was what they call "curvy" or "bridge." Basically, she was the girl who had a chest and hips in an era where the runway demanded the literal opposite.
The confusion stems from a specific moment of internet vitriol. A now-defunct "pro-thinness" blog called Skinny Gossip posted a scathing critique of her, calling her "squishy" and "thick." It went viral for all the wrong reasons. Because the industry didn't know where to put her, some people tried to shove her into the plus-size category just to justify why she didn't look like a walking coat hanger.
She wasn't too big for the clothes. The clothes—or rather, the industry’s narrow mind—were too small for her.
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Why the Industry Panicked
The fashion world has a very specific set of rules. For a long time, if you had a 34DD bust like Kate, you were relegated to catalog work or "specialty" modeling. You weren't supposed to be on the cover of Vogue.
- The Victoria’s Secret Rejection: Sophia Neophitou, a casting director for Victoria's Secret, once famously told the New York Times that they’d never use Upton. She called her "too blonde" and compared her to a "footballer’s wife."
- The Sample Size Struggle: Kate has talked openly about showing up to shoots where the high-fashion sample sizes wouldn't even go over her hips.
- The Public Polls: News outlets actually ran polls asking if she was "too fat" to be a supermodel. Imagine being 19 and seeing that on the evening news.
How She Actually Changed the Game
You’ve gotta give her credit. Instead of disappearing or starving herself to fit the mold, she leaned into it. She became the "anti-model" model. By the time she landed her back-to-back Sports Illustrated covers, she wasn't just a face; she was a symbol.
She sort of forced the industry to look at "average" sizes differently. If Kate Upton—who is objectively one of the most famous women in the world—was being called "fat," then the word had lost all meaning. It highlighted how toxic the standards had become.
The Pivot to Body Positivity
Kate didn't just survive the "plus size" labels; she used them as a springboard. She eventually started the #ShareStrong campaign. She began doing unretouched photo shoots because she was tired of the "faux perfection" that social media was starting to pump out.
She’s been very vocal about the fact that she doesn't work out to be a certain size anymore. She trains with Ben Bruno, focusing on heavy lifting and strength. It’s a huge shift from the "cardio-only-so-I-don't-bulk" mentality that used to dominate the industry. She literally wants to be able to "beat someone up" (her words, not mine) because she values the power of her body over the measurements of her waist.
What This Means for Models Now
If you look at the Sports Illustrated covers today, they feature women of all sizes—Hunter McGrady, Yumi Nu, Ashley Graham. That didn't happen by accident.
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The "backlash" against Kate's body in 2012 was actually the catalyst. SI’s editor-in-chief, MJ Day, has said that the vicious way people came for Kate made the brand realize they needed to change. They realized the audience wanted to see real women, not just one specific, narrow archetype.
So, was she a plus-size model? No. But she was the bridge that allowed the industry to finally start hiring them.
Key Takeaways for Navigating Body Image
It’s easy to look at a supermodel and feel like you don't measure up, but Kate Upton’s career proves that even "perfection" gets criticized.
- Ignore the "Sample Size" Mentality: Whether it’s high fashion or a trendy brand, sizes are arbitrary. If it doesn't fit, it's the clothes that are wrong, not you.
- Focus on Function: Kate shifted from "fitting into a dress" to "feeling strong." That mental switch is usually the key to long-term health.
- The Loudest Voices Aren't the Majority: The trolls who called her "fat" were a tiny minority, yet they dominated the headlines. Don't let the loudest critics define your self-worth.
If you’re looking to build a more resilient relationship with your own body, start by auditing your social media feed. If you're following accounts that make you feel like you need to "shrink," swap them for people who celebrate strength and authenticity. Kate Upton’s legacy isn't just about a swimsuit; it's about the fact that she stayed the same size while the world around her finally decided to grow up.
Check out the Strong4Me program if you’re interested in the specific strength-based approach Kate uses. It’s less about "weight loss" and more about sustainable, functional fitness for busy people.