Robyn Lawley: First Plus-Size Ralph Lauren Model
She's one of fashion's hottest new faces.
Robyn Lawley is turning heads, not just for her beauty, but for her 6 foot 2 inch height and curvy size 12 shape. At age 23, the Australian model has embraced her figure, and mainstream fashion magazines are taking notice.
Gracing the covers of French Elle and Vogue Italia, she recently became the first plus-sized model ever to spearhead a campaign for high-end fashion designer Ralph Lauren. She is defying the odds with this unheard of move in an industry that glorifies being thin.
"Robyn is absolutely paving the way for fuller figured women to land these larger campaigns," People magazine's senior writer Jen Garcia said.
She began modeling at age 16, but struggled to keep up with the industry's skinny standards.
"I did unfortunately. I got a huge amount of pressure to diet. And my body, it was such a battle for me to do that because I'm such a big bone, and I'm tall and I'm broad. I really struggled to maintain that size," Lawley said on " Good Morning America" this morning.
Feeling a bit discouraged, she decided to take a break to move to France.
"I gave up trying to be a model. And then I moved to France and fell in love with food all over again, and came back much bigger than I was. And I saw plus- size models doing well. And I decided that I wanted that, I wanted to be in magazines," Lawley said.
She persevered and landed her first contract as a plus-size model for the legendary Wilhelmina Modeling Agency at age 19.
"She's happy in her own skin, and that's something a lot of girls can look up to. And I think she's setting a great example for the fashion industry as a whole," Garcia said.
Lawley kept a positive attitude when asked if she thought more plus-size models would be emerging in the fashion industry.
"I hope so. I hope, I'm sure we will see. You know there's so many plus-size models in New York doing so well in the moment, and it's only going to get better," said Lawley.
For Robyn Lawley's Nutella Souffle recipe, click here.