'Curviest model ever' makes bold statement with plus-size bridal fashion show

Hunter McGrady has fought to be represented within an industry that favors straight-size women. Now, the “curviest model ever” to be featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has broken another barrier, becoming the first plus-size bride to cover The Knot.

On Friday, September 6th, McGrady took the stage at theCURVYcon 2019 to discuss the challenges she faced as plus-size bride, introducing the first-ever plus-size bridal fashion show, staged by The Knot and Kleinfeld, a leading bridal fashion retailer.

“I want to see the same options” in bridal dresses for both plus- and straight-sized women, McGrady stressed. “Just because we’re bigger women does not mean we don’t want the same styles.”

The model-turned-activist headlined a day focused on size-inclusive style, with Macy’s and Target staging fashions shows showcasing their top plus-size looks for fall and underscoring the fact that top brands are now catering to a client once overlooked by the fashion industry.

One of the biggest pieces of advice that McGrady offered to plus-size women was to throw convention out the window — when shopping for a wedding dress, or any other outfit.

“As a plus size woman I was told for the longest time to not wear certain things, McGrady shared. “Don’t wear anything too tight because we don’t want to see your rolls, we don’t want to see anything hugging your curves.”

“Fashion rules are bullsh*t,” McGrady told the packed house, to cheers. “It’s important that we wear exactly what we want to wear, whether that’s a crop top, shorts, or short sleeves — we need to do it for us.”

This fresh rhetoric was reflected on the runways. The styles shown by both Macy’s and Target featured bold, modern prints, exuberant hues, and cutting-edge styles like jumpsuits, leather, high-waist pants and all-white ensembles. All were styles any style-conscious women would want to wear, regardless of her body shape.

While Fashion Week events like TheCurvyCon — a three-day convention that brings together celebrities, body-positive influencers and their fans to celebrate diversity and fashion inclusivity — show that there’s progress being made in embracing body positivity on the runway, McGrady told Yahoo Lifestyle in a recent exclusive interview that she’s not surprised that the exclusive Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is rumored to not be taking place this year.

“There’s women who are literally desperately saying, ‘Please, please, please get bigger sizes, showcase trans women,’” she said of the feedback facing the lingerie brand.

This year’s theCURVYcon is being live-streamed right here on Yahoo Lifestyle on Friday, September 6th and Saturday, September 7th, bringing the event’s important and insightful conversation to anyone who can’t not make the IRL event in New York City.

Now in its fifth year, the three-day convention brings together celebrities, body-positive influencers and their fans to celebrate diversity and fashion inclusivity — Jameela Jamil, Jenn Lyon, Hunter McGrady, Melanie Fiona and Nabela Noor are just a few of the bold faced names who will share insight at the conference.