“Standards” is not in Paloma Elsesser vocabulary. Rather, she has defied the truth of being a woman in modern society. Past all the comments on weight and appearance, the model actively fights against body shaming. As a curvy, black woman in a subjective industry, she worked hard for her position as a prosperous business woman. An inspiration to all is simply not enough praise towards Elsesser who motivates young women all around the world.
More often than not, the modeling industry is unrealistically specific in who they are looking for. The perfect mold does not exist and that is exactly why we are all shaped differently. A slim physique is not the case for most bodies. Some are completely healthy at a light weight that their body is made to maintain, but others are the complete opposite and they could not be any more healthy. Paloma is in the shape that fits her body, as you are too. Truly, the body is wondrous in the ways it knows exactly what you need. In this case, casting agents are notorious for telling aspiring models they need to look a certain way to be successful. Sometimes the changes are not always weight related which makes the path to modelling even more of a mental battle.
Like Paloma, ladies struggle with the emotional aspect of society’s pressures. Elsesser is not shy to admit that her confidence is not always there every moment. She goes through waves of needing to remind herself of the beauty she embodies inside and out. In her Instagram caption for her announcement, she opens up about the morning of the shoot- raw moments and feelings. “I woke up the morning of this shoot and hit my knees as I rolled out of bed. Prayed for protection and care — for a day where I could honor how monumental this was.” Faith is a detrimental stemming piece for her confidence. Overwhelmed by the day ahead, she resorts to her comforting place to receive peace. Paloma describes herself as “chubby, short, and a mixed race woman who never imagined this would be her reality.” But because of her ability to ignore such unattainable standards for the body she was given, she did more than she ever thought possible. Circumstances are a state of mind and tend to be a blockage point for experiences that are more than available to us as humans.
More than ever, she tells women how important it is to have a support system behind you. Gabby, Latisha, Susie, and Annie are all creators behind the issue with Paloma. Those ladies gave her a sense of comfortability to own all she is, and that is exactly what she did. Following her final magazine post, she shared her mother and grandmother’s reaction with an IGTV. Her mother figures were seen on a Zoom call, but their reactions did not fail to shine through. She claims in her caption that the entirety of the issue is “For my grandparents. For Shadeh. For all of you.” Evidently, her support led her to truly believe in herself more than she thought she could, including her followers.
Paloma opens the year’s issues as the cover star on Vogue for January 2021. With gratitude, she encourages “fashion to never let this momentum seize until seeing bodies and experiences like mine and beyond are no longer radical, no longer different, no longer rare.” No longer will others look at people as “chubby” or “skinny” or “too tall” or “too tall” or “not dark enough” or “not light enough”. Paloma is a statement in the industry. Standing up for others who face this injustice is more than encouraged and needed. Women hold life and ethereal abilities, a part that many choose to ignore.
The cover stunned the world in every sense. Not just her confidence she radiates, but the standards she bull dozed through. Vogue is an honorable mention and for her to be a part of the magazine, she calls it “surreal”. The name of Vogue is transforming for diversity by virtue of Paloma Elsesser and millions of other influencers (humans with all different histories).