A fashion show at Philadelphia University in East Falls on Thursday night planned to feature friends and relatives of the student designers as the models.
And they all have one thing in common. None can be called super skinny. And that's the way they want it.
The student designers are opting to use everyday women as models at their Body Diversity Fashion Show.
"We're going to have mothers, cousins, friends, and some of the designers themselves are modeling the garments," said Assistant Professor Natalie Weathers.
The show is meant to highlight real women with real bodies as real beauties.
Danie Greenwell is with "A Chance to Heal," which is a local non-profit that helps women with eating disorders. It is a partner in the unique fashion show.
"They don't have to be thin to be beautiful," Greenwell said. "They don't have to be heavy to be beautiful. They're just beautiful at different sizes and ages."
Some research shows that body image issues go beyond such eating disorders as anorexia. A majority of American woman, in the 80 percent range, awake each day feeling negative about their body image to some extent.
So the student designers involved in tonight's show are trying to give women a reason to look and feel great.
Student designer David Ciuper used his mom Diane, as his model for the show. He designed a dress for her.
"The dress is an A-list dress and it is bias cut so it hangs nicely. It hugs the body where it needs to be hugged and it gives room where the body needs room," Ciuper said.
Megan Pielli took on shorter women. She is using a vertical pattern and pattern cut that elongates the frame of her 5 foot, 2 inch tall roommate who was her model.
Student Carin Sauerwein designed a form-fitting, knit frock for her curvaceous 15-year-old sister. It features a special message.
"And along her curves there's embroidery that says, 'Who are you to judge. My curves are flipping sweet," Sauerwein says.
