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Identifying the first winner of the Big Beauty Model Search in 1984 |
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=== Specialty model agency divisions ===
Plus size models were first represented by model agencies in the 1970s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=Anna |date=July 9, 1979 |title=Big is Beautiful, Large is Lovely, Size 16 is Sexy - and Two Models Cash in On the Trend |volume=12 |pages=86–7 |work=People Magazine |publisher=Time, Inc. |issue=2 |department=In Style |type=Hard copy of magazine (along with URL for archives) |url=https://people.com/archive/big-is-beautiful-large-is-lovely-size-16-is-sexy-and-two-models-cash-in-on-the-trend-vol-12-no-2/ |access-date=July 21, 2022}}</ref> Prior to this, models freelanced directly with retailers, designers and magazines.<ref name="Hour"/> Former plus-size model [[Mary Duffy]] owned Big Beauties Little Women, the first agency specializing in plus-size and petite models in 1977.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19840405&id=30VPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6880,1905409 |title=Founder of Big Beauties battles thin attitudes |date=5 April 1984 |author=Russel Stewart, Rose |work=Toledo Blade |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref> Pat Swift, a plus-size model at the time, founded Plus Models in 1978.<ref name="Hour">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QUsjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1257,4104488&dq=large+size+clothing&hl=en |title=Clothing makers woo plus-size shoppers |agency=Associated Press |date=21 May 1987 |work=The Hour |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref> [[Ford Models]] began representing plus size models in 1978, and added two models to their board, including top model Ann Harper, due to demand from clients.<ref name=Schiro1979 /> By the late 1980s, Plus Models was the largest and most successful plus-size specialty agency, representing over 65 models and grossing over 2 million dollars in revenue.<ref name="Hour"/> By 1984, Big Beauties Little Women was successful enough to run national model searches advertised in the press.<ref name="nl.newsbank.com">{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB736C45AE7E03C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=This Model Doesn't Have To Stay Thin |date=10 June 1984 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref> 18-year old Angelia Taylor was the first winner of the inaugural Big Beauty Model Search in 1984. The prize included the cover of It's Me magazine, a nationally published magazine for plus-size women.<ref name="nl.newsbank.com"/> Not long after, Plus Models began holding national model searches. By the mid-1980s, top plus size models could earn as much as 150,000 to 200,000 dollars a year.<ref name=Sizeaplus/> Ford Models bought Big Beauties Little Women in 1988, later renaming the division Special Sizes and then Ford 12+.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB36E145016325E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Majority of U. S. women fit into the 'special' sizes |author=Boies, Elaine |date=20 November 1988 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04CF2B4E638C0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=A Plus: No More Back To Basics |author=Cloud, Barbara |date=6 December 1990 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref>
[[Wilhelmina Models|Wilhelmina NYC]] agent Susan Georget started the ''Wilhelmina 10/20'' division in New York in 1994, recently re-branded W Curve.<ref name="Odell, Amy"/><ref name="Jones, Maddy">{{cite web |title=Passion, Drive, and Intuitiveness- Susan Georget is Back! |date=12 August 2011 |author=Jones, Maddy |url=http://www.plus-model-mag.com/2011/08/passion-drive-and-intuitiveness-susan-georget-is-back/ |publisher=Plus Model Magazine |access-date=14 April 2012}}</ref> Gary Dakin headed New York's Karin Models' ''Curves'' division, only to leave after a short time to develop Ford Models' ''Ford 12+''(rebranded Ford+) model division in their New York office in 1998.<ref name="Odell, Amy">{{cite magazine |title=The Rise of the Plus-Size Model |date=9 February 2011 |author=Odell, Amy |url=http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/02/plus-sized_models.html |magazine=New York |access-date=14 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.curve-film.com/agents.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011213112046/http://www.curve-film.com/agents.html |archive-date=2001-12-13 |title=Making It big:The Agents |work=curve-film.com |publisher=Constantine Varhouli |access-date=18 July 2012}}</ref> In Constantine Valhouli's 2001 plus-size model documentary ''Curve'', Dakin states, "We're celebrating our 25th anniversary of the Ford 12+ division. It was the first and longest-existing plus division in the industry."(sic) Together, these agents created agency divisions that have continued to recruit the highest caliber of models in the industry and are credited with expanding opportunities for plus-size models beyond working solely for plus-size clothing retailers.<ref name="Odell, Amy"/><ref name="Jones, Maddy"/>
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