What does it mean to be “midsize?” The terms “plus size” and “petite” are everywhere, but it wasn’t until very recently that I heard anyone calling themselves midsized. TikTok and social media have coined this term for women in the 8-14 size range. Women everywhere are coming together to normalize a completely normal body size range because it often feels hard to find representation.
Though the term “midsize” and the #midsize hashtag are trending in terms of popularity, we want to note that we should never refer to “midsize” as a trend per se. Body types should never be seen as a fashion trend — but we’re happy that the term “midsize” is being used more now than ever. I had the pleasure of interviewing two rising TikTok influencers Lindsey Larson and Brianna Tam who post midsize-related videos in order to get some insight on what it means to be midsized and the kind of content they post on social media!
Q: What is #Midsize?
Lindsey: To me, the midsize hashtag is shedding light on individuals who don’t fit exclusively into either straight or plus size clothing. Depending on the brand, the fit, the material, we’re people who can wear clothes from both sections of clothing stores.
Brianna: Midsize is a relatively new term that has come to light on social media. Midsize has always been a category, it’s just now that people are starting to acknowledge and identify with it.
Q: Why is this term important?
Lindsey: This term is important to me primarily because I’ve been able to connect with other individuals who identify as midsized like I do. Growing up, all my friends were much smaller than I was. We couldn’t share clothes, we weren’t able to shop at the same stores, & trendy pieces didn’t always look the same on me as it did them. We would go to the mall before most stores had a plus-size section, and I would help them pick out clothes and secretly go home feeling bad that even the largest size in stores didn’t fit me. Then when more stores started carrying plus-sized clothes, I soon discovered that even those pieces didn’t always fit me right. And if they did, they weren’t always the cute, trending clothes my friends were able to buy. Finding women in the midsized community has given us a place to share opinions, thoughts, and ideas on how to dress our bodies that always seem to fall in the “in between.”
Brianna: The term “midsize” is important because it highlights a group of bodies that have felt somewhat excluded and overlooked for so long. As a midsize person myself, I never felt represented. I thought of myself as too big for smaller, straight-sized clothing but I never identified as plus sized either. Prior to the term midsize, I was hearing the phrase “skinny fat.” I think midsize is a much better word to describe the large group of women who identify as “in-between.”
@lequeefthief ⚠️TW: for EDs⚠️ finally being able to idolize your own body type after years of hating it>>>
Q: What made you want to advocate for midsize girls on TikTok?
Lindsey: First and foremost, I have always been obsessed with clothing. As a kid my mom would find me changing my outfits ten times a day and holding fashion shows every night after dinner. It’s been the most rewarding way for me to express myself as an individual. My style has changed throughout the years, but my love for fashion has never changed. I’ve struggled with body image, disordered eating, and feeling lost in a world where fashion is strictly divided into straight sizes and plus sizes. So it may seem insignificant to some people, but it’s been really amazing to be able to share fashion that I love with women who have similar body types and may have trouble finding what clothes work for them and what styles will make them feel confident in their body. I’ve felt pressure to lose weight to fit into straight sizes, and to gain weight to bump myself up into the plus size category. It’s been so refreshing to find a group of people who are embracing the fact that it’s okay to love your body the way it is, without changing it to fit into any sort of label. It’s been empowering to be seen as a member of the community, and the fact that people ask me my opinion on clothes because we have similar body types is mind blowing to me. But it’s been a really positive experience so far.
@lequeefthief HAVE THE BEST DAY ILY
Brianna: I choose to advocate for other midsize girls because I am midsize. I became a creator on the app and realized that I wasn’t alone. I remember seeing a girl with my exact same body type on TikTok once, and it made me feel so seen and appreciated. I had never seen another person who had a body that looked like mine. I realized there are so many other girls out there who struggle with body image and confidence like I did. I decided that I wanted to become an influential creator on TikTok and on other platforms as well to represent midsize girls. I wanted to be someone girls could relate to and see themselves in. If I’m on TikTok showing my body, loving my body and being confident, it will inspire other girls to do the same.
Q: What sort of response have you gotten on TikTok/other social media?
Lindsey: Surprisingly enough, I’ve gotten a really positive response on all my TikTok videos addressing fashion, self love, and body positivity. The few hate comments I’ve gotten don’t bother me, I know that people who feel insecure enough to post negatively on others bodies/fashion choices must have something going on in their own lives that isn’t a result of anything I’ve done. I know that the larger you grow on social media, the more you open yourself up to negativity, but so far I’ve been met with primarily really sweet people and connected with a bunch of other content creators that have the same ideas regarding fashion and self love.
Brianna: I’ve gotten an overwhelming amount of love and support from people — my audience is mostly female. I get thousands of comments per week of girls thanking me for my content, saying it has really helped them find the confidence to wear what they want, love who they are and love the body that they’re in.
@lindseyjpressley what do we think about old navy’s clothes for curvy gals?##DoritosDuetRoulette ##Destinationdepop ##midsize ##midsizegal ##clothinghaul ##oldnavy ##shein
Q: Anything else you want to leave with us and our readers regarding #Midsize?
Lindsey: I just encourage everyone to make an effort every day to embrace your body the way it is. Hating my body has never done anything to change it. Accepting that fact was really the first step toward a self-love journey that I still work on every single day. Changing my mindset and my views toward my body has done wonders for my mental health. I think that #midsize is bringing together a group of people who may feel a little lost when it comes to self image and learning how to love a body that has never seemed to fit in.
Brianna: I want to remind you, your readers and the entirety of our society that midsize is not a trend. Body types and body shapes should never be labeled as trendy. We are all unique people, our bodies reflect that — no one should ever feel like their body is “in style” or not. As a content creator and advocate for body positivity, I am working to normalize all body types as beautiful. I always say: Life is too short to hate the body that you’re in.
Have you noticed the uprise of #Midsize? Share your story below in the comments to keep the conversation going!
About Lindsey Larson
I started my TikTok initially to create makeup videos, which I still love and really enjoy making! But I have a bit of a shopping obsession, so people like my friends, husband, and mom would become the audience for my unboxings and clothing hauls in my living room or over FaceTime. I’ve always watched clothing hauls on YouTube, but I realized that other women were doing the same thing on Tiktok, so one day I got a package in the mail and decided just to film me trying on the clothes. That first clothing haul video I did has since gotten over five hundred thousand views, which is literally unbelievable to me haha. I’ve since done so many more and have really found a lot of joy in putting together outfits and showing them off to my friends online. Currently I work with a north Texas online boutique, Glitzy Girlz, and have gained a lot of confidence from working as a model for their clothing. They carry sizes small through 6X, so I feel really good about wearing their clothes because there’s a place for all bodies, small and large. I was born and raised in the Dallas, Texas area, am about to celebrate my one year wedding anniversary, and have a beagle named Cherry. I’d love to meet new people on TikTok and Instagram!
IG: @lindseyjpressley | TikTok: @lindseyjpressley
About Brianna Tam
Body positivity is something Brianna, aka lequeefthief on TikTok, has grown increasingly passionate about during quarantine. From 100 followers in May 2020 to 120k in May 2021, Brianna shares her authentic, unedited self on social media. As a 21-year-old who identifies as midsize, her niche includes self-love, body positivity, confidence, fashion and style. She produces videos with messages she wishes her younger self could’ve seen.
IG: @briannaltam | TikTok: @lequeeftheif
To Continue Reading About Body Positivity, Check These Out:
Celebrities Love To Endorse Diets On Instagram. Can This Lead To Disordered Eating?
Diversity In The Media: Is The World Finally Ready To Accept All Bodies?
