Thin Models Make a Comeback on Catwalks: Data Reveals the Trend

The fashion industry, after a brief period of embracing “body inclusivity” and showcasing plus-sized models, seems to have reverted back to promoting thinness as the standard of beauty.

Recent data released by Vogue Business highlights this trend, based on runway presentations from the latest Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Weeks. It confirms what many models of varying sizes have already observed: opportunities for them are diminishing.

In an analysis of 9,038 outfits from New York, London, Milan, and Paris, a staggering 97.1 percent were donned by models considered very slim (US sizes 0-4, UK sizes 4-8, or French sizes 32-36). Only 2 percent of the body types represented were regular-sized, while a mere 0.9 percent were classified as “plus-size” (US size 14+, UK 18+, France 44+), according to the size inclusivity report.

Aude Perceval, a booker at Plus Agency, a leading name in plus-sized modeling in France, noted, “There are fewer and fewer plus-size models on the runways.” This trend is particularly evident in Paris.

Curiously, even as many designers are embracing styles that naturally accentuate curvier silhouettes—such as corsets—models are sometimes outfitted with padding to achieve an hourglass shape.

Doralyse Brumain, a model with a French size of 40-42, expressed her concerns, stating, “Since 2022, there’s been a significant regression in both modeling contracts and payment.”

‘A Misguided Ideal’

Originating in the 2010s, the “body positive” movement aimed to champion acceptance of diverse body types, countering the harmful narrative that thinness equates to beauty. This narrative has proven both unrealistic and damaging to many women.

Like the resurgence of fur fashion, the preference for extreme thinness—a trend reminiscent of the ’90s “heroin chic” era—is reemerging. This style was famously associated with supermodels like Kate Moss.

Esther Boiteux, a casting director, remarked, “There’s this false idea that being thin means being chic and affluent.”

The widespread availability of weight-loss medications, such as Ozempic, designed to suppress appetite, has contributed to this celebrity-driven return to thinness, as noted by British Vogue editor Chioma Nnadi.

She mentioned to the BBC, “There’s a cultural shift in how we perceive and address our bodies.” Additionally, fashion show garments are often created in a singular size, typically catering to standard thin models, making it challenging to design for larger sizes without significant adjustments.

‘An Unreachable Aspiration’

Ekaterina Ozhiganova, a Russian-born model and founder of the Model Law association, which advocates for model rights, pointed out that audiences do wish to see models embodying various sizes.

However, she added, “For this to be truly sustainable, there needs to be a radical shift in production,” mentioning the industry’s ongoing commitment to selling an “unattainable ideal.”

French designer Jeanne Friot echoed this sentiment, arguing that fashion shows should be spaces where everyone can see themselves represented.

“The essence of a fashion show is to showcase diversity that contrasts sharply with the very thin and monolithic fashion ideals of my youth. I want to see more inclusive sizes, older individuals, and a variety of ethnicities and genders,” she emphasized.

Currently, sightings of regular-sized models on runways appear to be dwindling, yet this shift is not going unnoticed.

French fashion journalist Sophie Fontanel recently remarked on Instagram, as she observed a Givenchy show, “We must voice our concerns when fashion perpetuates standards it should move away from.”