Nike’s Plus-Size Mannequin Proves The World Is Full Of Love Amid ‘Fatphobic’ Backlash

When London’s flagship Nike store revealed their redesigned floor on June 6, inspired by “the diversity and inclusivity of the sport,” the world was overjoyed. Particularly owing to the inclusion of plus-size and para-sport mannequins, reflecting that athletes come in all shapes and sizes. Fact.

Well done @Nike !! First plus sized mannequin! ❤️❤️👊🏻👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/UvnoIxEo5E

— 🐣🐚Michele lee ..thats me🐣🐚 (@micklee68) 6 June 2019

"With the incredible momentum in women's sport right now, the redesigned space is just another demonstration of Nike's commitment to inspiring and serving the female athlete," said Nike's general manager and vice president for women in Europe, Sarah Hannah, in a statement.

And it makes sense – Nike stocks a Plus Size Collection with sizes ranging from 1X to 3X, and it would be ludicrous not to display that.

However, it seems one journalist wasn’t having a bite of this ‘ploy’.

In an article for The Telegraph’s Lifestyle section, writer Tanya Gold outlined how “obese mannequins are selling women a dangerous lie.” As expected, the internet is furious (and rightfully so).

Gold explained that the new Nike mannequin is far more than a healthy size 12 or a “hefty” size 16; “she is immense, gargantuan, vast. She heaves with fat.”

She goes on to say that this mannequin dressed ready for a run would never be able to complete such a task, but Tanya, please, how the do you know the capabilities of complete strangers? This pretty visceral description of the mannequin is the real dangerous lie in our opinion.

Luckily, the Internet is on our side and the positive outpour of support for plus-size athletes and the array of personal stories coming forward is simply inspiring.

In response to The Telegraph’s “fatphobia” article, women around the world are opening Gold’s eyes with truth bombs: health is not determined by appearance.

Wow @Telegraph - nice job with the Tanya Gold click bait. I look like that @nike mannequin, and I’ve done a 10k, a half, & a marathon this year. And there’s another 10k & a half coming up. If you think obese women can’t run you’ve clearly been living under a rock. pic.twitter.com/Pb2rFM5sRd

— Tegwen Tucker (@tegwentucker) 9 June 2019

 

 

 

 

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Dear Tanya Gold, In the last 24 hours, I learned that 'obese' mannequins cannot run in fitness gear. In fact, she's probably pre-diabetic, looking for a hip replacement and you know what -- you might be right. I was admiring the way she doesn't have a double chin, how hard it is to find a single soft area on her plastic skin to check her glucose levels or how that hollow body doesn't have bones. Actually, I hate her too. She will never know what it's like to be publicly shamed by people's eyes, a doctor diagnose her every ailment by her rolls or be told demeaning comments that will infiltrate her brain the way previous generations have done to us. Fellow plus size warrior, what did this plastic do to you? Tell me stories about how she's a representation of your own woes in 2008. Mannequins cannot "eat cake" but I chuckle at your hypocrisy as you asked people to let you be fat and proud years ago but suddenly developed amnesia only a decade later. Ms. Gold, did you clutch my hand this morning as I ate lunch this afternoon? Did you shed happy tears as I ate kale, peas and mushrooms with my pasta? If I drop 50 pounds tomorrow, will you give me permission to be a runner? The audacity of me to pretend to be a 'gargantuan' athlete for 6 years until you called all of us fatties out yesterday. My robust imagination must've zapped myself skinny at every race. I must've heaved my fat into a dumpster while nobody was looking. There's no way I ran in this 247 lb fat suit. Let's be honest Tanya: The mannequin doesn't give a damn about your reckless article because she can't hear you. But humans like me with a pulse heard your comments way before the Telegraph gave you a green light to publish this abomination. You blamed the BoPo and fat acceptance movement as being negative. Let's "run" - chuckle here cuz fat people running is funny, right - with this analogy that this mannequin shouldn't 'ready herself for a run'. How should she armor herself in life if nothing is made for us? If we cannot see ourselves in something, then the world don't think we exist. It's easy to bash but I'd love to hear your solutions for us. Excuse me as I do what mannequins can't do -- run.

A post shared by Latoya Shauntay Snell (@iamlshauntay) on Jun 10, 2019 at 4:31pm PDT

Hey @Telegraph #tanyagold this plus size athlete has run 5 marathons, an Olympic triathlon, 2 tough mudders, a 42 mile ultramarathon and hundreds of other races and ALL in this Fat size 18 body!! If you are ever in need of some coaching to help you with your worthyness call me!!! pic.twitter.com/RWZBW1B1Vj

— Too Fat to Run? (@Fattymustrun) 10 June 2019

What an ignorant shame mongering clown Tanya Gold is. What a hateful, judgemental, uneducated stance to take on what is a positive, progressive and BRILLIANT move made by @Nike @NikeLA @nikestore I COMMEND THEM ENTIRELY and think Tanya Gold best find the nearest bin and jump in🚮 https://t.co/tNbfjDUWQs

— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) 9 June 2019

Hi Tanya Gold. According to you my fat body doesn’t even deserve to wear clothes to work out now. My apparent internet doctor diagnosed health conditions are stopping me even getting dressed. Despite constantly being told to lose weight&exercise, I seemingly am also not worthy to pic.twitter.com/vUj0jSbHDf

— George (@FFigureFBust) 11 June 2019

Talk about backfiring – it seems the Internet has, if anything, made sure these women feel even more empowered to buy some sleek new sportswear and hit the pavement running. We can only imagine who will be at the centre of their motivating inner-chant.

- Tait McGregor

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