Plus Size Stock Photos: Let’s Talk About IT

From the Managing Editor’s Desk—Let’s talk about plus size stock photos.

Believe it or not, but The Curvy Fashionista is my first big dive into plus size fashion. Though I’ve been a curvy gal my entire life, I never thought I had a voice in the space. However, I came to be a writer for the publication in 2024 and was graced with the opportunity to be the managing editor at the beginning of 2025. In case anyone is wondering, as the managing editor, I am responsible for most, if not all, of the content you see on the website and any corresponding editorial content.

So yes, the photos you see on socials are set up by me. And yes, I see some of the flack we get for occasionally using AI photos in our articles and on our socials.

I am by no means trying to convince someone to go ChatGPT crazy, nor do I want to “defend” the use of them. However, I want to get to the root of the issue and bring attention to the challenges that plus size-centered publications, communities, and brands wrestle with in trying to bring positivity to the plus size industry.

Now, if by the end of this article, you still want to cuss me out—feel free.

The Problem with Plus Size Stock Photos

Unfortunately, the many issues with plus size stock photos were not something I was aware of until I began working with TCF. And to be completely frank, the main issue is that they barely exist.

During my master’s program, I heavily researched media images, the science behind them, how to pick the right one, their impact, and their importance. To the naked eye, the pictures you see in articles or on socials may be just a representation of what the article is about. However, what some may not realize is that the images we associate with words and topics become images that we associate with feelings, mindsets, thought processes, etc.

With that said, it has always been my goal to present images that not only represent the plus size community but also uplift. We all know how important it is in the plus size community for us to see people with body shapes similar to ours—but if you haven’t seen the options for plus size stock photos, let me give you an idea.

Using Canva, for example, when you search for “plus size fashion,” you get a few options. More often than not, most of the options are white women, leaving out Black, Latino, and Asian women. For photos that are available, they tend not to celebrate plus size fashion, but instead be ashamed of their bodies, or point out their clothes don’t fit. Furthermore, more niche searches like “plus size woman doing her makeup,” or “plus size woman getting her hair done” give slim results, but if you take “plus size” off the search, many plausible options appear. Normal and mundane things that plus size women participate in are not represented. And almost every search I put in gives results of plus size women working out… as if that’s the only reason a plus size person would need to be represented with a photo.

There may be options for better results, such as Getty Images—but for an independent publication like TCF, the price of Getty Images is certainly not conducive. Yes, there are other options for free stock images like Pexels or Unsplash, but we then run into the same issue that Canva presents. Not to mention that TCF is nearly 17 years old with thousands of articles… with a small amount of usable options, we’ve used them all.

In reading some of the disapproving comments, some of you have suggested hiring real plus size models. While this is a lovely idea and what we would love to do, there are several barriers to this. Firstly, photoshoots are costly. Hiring a photographer, models, a stylist, a makeup artist, and a hairstylist can cost upwards of $5000 (and that’s on the cheap side).

Secondly, and this is probably true for most, if not all, publications, at the current volume in which we publish articles, we’d need several photo shoots. I can guarantee that all publications utilize stock images. However, some publications have access to more resources.

Thirdly, this would not be helpful for times when there is breaking fashion and style news or newsworthy articles.

Long story short, rest assured, we are not using AI in lieu of hiring plus size models.

Where Does the AI Come In?

Again, I want to be clear, I am in no way defending the use of AI images, and our readers have every right to hold us accountable. I recently learned about that Grok (X, formerly Twitter’s, AI component) is severely affecting the water supply in a town in Memphis. Once learning more, there was an immediate reduction in our use.

And to clarify, AI photos were never our main source for our plus size stock photos. It was always a supplement and was often reused where appropriate. But if I can be honest, I often feel it’s a catch-22. If we begin to only use the stock images available to us, we’d be wiping out representation for so many of our readers. I don’t just mean race. Different body types, heights, and styles would not be highlighted. We also need to consider those with different abilities… I have not once seen a stock image of a plus size person with a disability or skin condition. Surely, we’d come under fire for seemingly following the trend of reducing DEI.

TCF’s goal is to empower plus size women through fashion, media, and community, creating space where style is celebrated, voices are heard, and representation is real—and we stand by that. Every move we make and every decision made is with that in mind.

We Need Industry Change NOW

Though the plus size industry continues to evolve, we are still dealing with discrimination on a large level. Yes, AI is an issue worth addressing. However, the underlying issue for our use of AI is just as crucial to the conversation. Not only do we need more space and representation for plus size folx, we need more recognition. We need to be the first thought, not the after.

Plus size folx represent more than half of the population, yet a stock image of a plus size woman doing her hair and makeup is unrealistic. The only “space” a plus size person needs to take up is at the gym, according to stock image companies.

AI is NOT and has never been the solution for plus size stock photos. It’s a temporary band-aid for a bigger issue. Of course, as TCF continues to grow, some of our resources can go towards this issue. But for now, know that we hear you and value your feedback. I hope this is just the beginning of such a vital conversation.