ASOS
Representation not only matters, but it’s very, very exciting.
Just ask all of the people on social media who spent the last week fawning over model Vivian Eyo-Ephraim.
After starting her modeling career last year, Vivian was recently given the chance to showcase pieces for ASOS Curve. That includes a bikini.
On the online retailer’s site, she posed in a simple yellow triangle bikini top and bikini bottom with ties at the side. And while being a curvy woman in a bikini isn’t probably a revolutionary act to most, it’s a rarity to see a woman who looks like Vivian in the marketing of major retailers and brands.
Images of Vivian were shared on Twitter by body positivity advocates on Twitter, including LaLa Love, and from there, were liked by thousands:
“I appreciate when shops display realness and we don’t have to imagine how we’d look in them clothes,” one woman wrote. “Beautiful. Thanks @ASOS.”
“Ive never , ever seen an ad like this before,” said another. “I’ve never worn a bikini before because of my body type. This makes me think about trying it. Pretty cool.”
The importance of seeing a woman of a darker complexion and of a certain size in a yellow bikini is not lost on Vivian, who told the Metro UK that everyone wants to see people who look like them celebrated.
‘The world is a very diverse place and it’s important that consumers see brands representing and recognising all ethnicities, shapes and sizes, we want to see ourselves represented and celebrated and recognised,” she said. “I think it’s incredibly important to start re-defining what is the norm, and start celebrating our individuality.”
Speaking of celebrations, Vivian was quite grateful for the warm reception on social media, telling her followers, “I’m truly appreciative, shocked, excited & cannot wait to represent more women & make everyone even more proud”:
Hit the flip to check out a few more photos of the beauty, who is signed to Bridge Models in London, at work:
