Plus-size blogger poses in 'fatkini'

We've all done it: meticulously gone through our Facebook or other publicly shared photos to ensure we don't look anything less than perfect. Taking into account this careful curating, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who willingly shares a picture of herself in a bathing suit. But enter fashion blogger Gabi Gregg. The plus-size fashionista proudly posted pictures of herself on her blog Gabifresh in what she calls a "fatkini," a striped black-and-white two-piece bathing suit.

She also asked other plus-size women to post pictures of themselves in swimsuits, and she published them in a gallery called "31 Hot Sexy Fat Girls in Skimpy Swimwear" on xoJane.com.

"As a size 18, my swimwear posts tend to gain way more traffic than my regular outfit posts," Gregg wrote on xoJane. "I attribute this to the fact that our culture is so obsessed with having a 'beach ready bod,' that the mere idea of someone my size in a swimsuit, let alone a bikini, is shocking to most."

The size of models has become a real issue in the fashion community, spurring debate as to whether models should be exclusively rail thin or whether other body types should have a fighting chance. Aggressively thin girls have been the norm for years, dominating the runways and gracing the covers of major magazines, whereas models size 10 or 12 have been labeled "plus." Gregg's photos succeeded in further fueling the conversation.

"I love my body; we should reject these fashion rules," she told "Today" host Tamron Hall in the video above. Hall asked Gregg to respond to critics who say Gregg is encouraging obesity.

"I'm not promoting obesity or a healthy lifestyle," Gregg told Hall. "The truth is we have to live in our body right now, no matter where we are on our jouney to health."

Gregg's attempt to go against the grain prompted positive comments on her blog.

Lace N Leopard wrote, "Oh em ghee! I LOVE this! I am so scared to wear bikinis and I feel that this one would really be flattering. Ordering now >>> Thanks you look wonderful!" Christina of Profresh wrote, "Hi I'm Christina and I'm effing jealous of you! Girl, look at that boom-boom-body! Love it girl and you inspire me daily to be comfortable to be who I am and not make excuses. Love you girlxxReply."

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-- Jenn Harris

twitter.com/jenn_harris

Video: Gabi Gregg talks to "Today" host Tamron Hall about her swimsuit photos. Credit: msnbc.com.

Fashion News: Miranda Kerr takes off her Victoria's Secret underwear

First newbie Victoria's Secret angel Karlie Kloss appeared nude in Vogue Italia, which declared her the new "body," as we said recently. Now fellow angel Miranda Kerr -- she who wore the $2.5-million jeweled "fantasy" bra in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November -- appears nude in Industrie magazine. The nude photos accompany Lee Carter's interview with her. [The Cut]

"America's Next Top Model" winner Whitney Thompson (from season 10) is launching a members-only online dating site for "plus-size" women such as herself called "The Big and the Beautiful." Of course, by any non-modeling, non-acting standard, Thompson, at left,  doesn't look all that "plus." [New York Post]

We know some people are really, really into Angry Birds, but Teija Vesterbacka actually wore her feelings about the game on her sleeve, metaphorically. In reality, Vesterbacka, the wife of an executive with Rovio, the company behind the popular game, wore a sleeveless evening gown cleverly designed and draped to portray one of the birds. The red gown flowed from a bodice whose right side looked like the head of one of the birds, beak pointed down. She didn't wear it to a costume event; she wore it to a Finnish state gala. [Kotaku]

In a collaboration with jewelry designer Martin Katz, DKNY decked out a one-of-a-kind bottle of Golden Delicious scent with 14-karat gold, 183 yellow sapphires, 2,700 white diamonds and a 2.43-carat yellow canary diamond. Net proceeds from the million-dollar bottle will go (when it's sold) to the Action Against Hunger charity. [Huffington Post]

Burlesque star and woman-about-town Dita von Teese says she always does her own hair and makeup, and it has taken years to perfect the routine. "Practice is everything when it comes to beauty," she said in a live chat with stylist.co.uk  [People] 

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: American's Next Top Model winner Whitney Thompson, who is starting a plus-size dating site. Credit: Rob Loud / Getty Images

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Italian Vogue puts plus-sized models on June cover; Heidi Klum might bare it all for 'Project Runway'

The June issue of Italian Vogue features three plus-sized models, shot by Steven Meisel. The models -- Candice Huffine, Tara Lynn and Robyn Lawley, all clad in Givenchy lingerie --  look incredibly gorgeous and Sophia Loren-esque. Huffington Post

One model not wearing a stitch of clothing is Heidi Klum, who reportedly has posed nude in ads for the ninth season of "Project Runway." The 38-year-old mother of four certainly looks to be making it work. Fashionista

Natalie Portman's fiance, dancer Benjamin Millepied, has landed a new gig as the face of YSL's L'Homme Libre, following Portman's lead -- she's the face of Dior's Miss Cherie scent. The ads will be out for fall. Daily Telegraph

In other model news, 35-year-old Swedish beauty Caroline Forsling is suing Estee Lauder for $2 million, saying it used a digitally altered image of her for an anti-aging beauty product. Forsling claims that the cosmetics giants labeled her as "old" and used her picture without permission for an anti-aging product aimed at 45- to 60-year-olds. Daily Mail

There will be a segment on Michael Kors on Friday night's episode of "20/20." The designer and "Project Runway" judge apparently dishes out fashion advice like, "I always say, 'Really spend a lot of money on accessories.'" Noted. WWD

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-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Heidi Klum at the  Golden Globe awards in January. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Kate Bosworth launches online jewelry site. Beth Ditto's Gaultier catwalk stroll gets plenty of attention during Paris Fashion Week.

Actress Kate Bosworth and stylist Cher Coulter have launched an e-commerce site, JewelMint.com which features jewelry designed by the duo. To purchase, consumers must subscribe to the site for a monthly fee of $29.99. Then you can buy one new piece per month (most prices are more than $100.) The site allows you to show off your new jewelry to  friends via Facebook and Twitter. [People]

In case you missed it, the quite round Gossip singer Beth Ditto is a fixture on the front rows of fashion shows, but during Paris Fashion Week she took to the catwalk, strutting for John Paul Gaultier. Ditto has a book of fashion tips slated to come out next spring. [Los Angeles Times]   

Also during the weekend's events in Paris, celebs including Janet Jackson and Rupert Everett attended designer Karl Lagerfeld's screening of a film commemorating his collaboration with Italian brand Hogan. [WWD]

Oregon state health officials say they have found that even supposedly formaldehyde-free Brazilian Blowout formulations contain small amounts of the dangerous chemical. [BellaSugar]  Brazilian Blowout continues to maintain that the formula for the hair-straightening treatment is formaldehyde-free and is conducting its own investigation. 

Beleaguered American Apparel won some breathing room from its lender last week in its bankruptcy case and now is scouting for new management. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Kate Bosworth.  Credit: Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times

Girl Scouts launches self-esteem videos featuring plus-size models

The Girl Scouts wants girls to have their Samoa cookies and eat them too.

The iconic organization is tackling low self-esteem and poor body image through a series of viral videos, "The Changing Face of Fashion," which espouse the importance of cultivating inner beauty and personal empowerment, no matter your dress size.

The short videos features four fresh-faced plus-size models from the Wilhelmina Curve agency (none of whom, unfortunately, look larger than a size 10) telling short stories about their lives. One model shares her experiences in the military, while another talks about getting signed as a model. "It was the first time someone said I was perfect," she says, looking delighted.

The series was directed and shot by lifestyle and beauty photographer Cathrine Westergaard as a part of a new initiative to "address the image of girls in the media."

"The Changing Face of Fashion" was supported by findings from the Girl Scout Research Institute, which, in a nationwide survey that included more than 1,000 girls ages 13 to 17, discovered that many girls consider the body image ideals held forth by the fashion industry unrealistic.

Still, though 89% of those surveyed said the fashion industry places pressure on them to be thin, three out of four of the girls surveyed said fashion is "really important" to them. (Ah, the ubiquitous Catch-22 even us grown-up gals struggle with).

“The fashion industry remains a powerful influence on girls and the way they view themselves and their bodies,” said Kimberlee Salmond, senior researcher at the Girl Scout Research Institute. “Teenage girls take cues about how they should look from models they see in fashion magazines and on TV. It is something they struggle to reconcile with when they look at themselves in the mirror.”

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: Screen shot from "The Changing Face of Fashion." Credit: Girl Scouts of the USA