Tess Holliday, who recently covered People magazine, is a plus-size model on the rise. That attention has led to interviews, one of which got her into some trouble: she told The Guardian last week, “I do admit that black men love me. I always forget that, and then I come to a black neighbourhood and I remember.” People did not like it.
That quote sits in this paragraph in the profile:
We’re in a cafe, finally sitting down after a six-hour shoot that’s had Holliday traipsing blocks in oppressive heat and then a rainstorm. Throughout, she’s been a hilarious corrective to the notion of models as mute and biddable clotheshorses. At one point, an African American guy, middle-aged, said something appreciative as he walked by. “What do guys think they’ll achieve by yelling something?” she asked, shifting her weight and adjusting the cape primly. “They’re like: ‘She’ll love this, I’ll definitely get her number.’” A pause, and then she added, with some satisfaction, “I do admit that black men love me. I always forget that, and then I come to a black neighbourhood and I remember.” And no one quite knew what to say. Later, finally and effortfully manoeuvred into some lethal-looking Christian Louboutin stilettos, adding height to her 5ft 5in, she’d calmly told the photographer: “If you’re not shooting my shoes, I will fuck you up.”
Contextually, it should be noted that Holliday had earlier been dealing with some shocked/surprised looks during this shoot, so it seems like some positive response was something she welcomed.
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