This Badass Designer Only Shows Clothes on Plus-Size Models of Color
"There's not one size or color or weight limit on confidence."

Unlike certain clothing brands that have made headlines for Photoshopping thigh gaps onto their models so wide you could toss Frisbees through them, designer Courtney Smith hires real, live, plus-size women of color to wear her clothes—and only real, live, plus-size women of color.
The 25-year-old founder of Rum + Coke said that although she designs for sizes ranging from 2 to 3X, she features " women who look like me" because they're underrepresented in fashion campaigns.
"I've seen how there's a lack of plus-size women of color in advertising," Smith says in an interview with People. "We're such a big population that I would think someone would notice us."
One thing every R+C woman has in common, no matter what the number on her dress says? Self-assurance. "I'm designing for women who are confident, who are sure of themselves, who are empowered, and I think that doesn't have a size tag," she explains. "There's not one size or color or weight limit on confidence."
Amen to that. Now if only we could get the rest of the industry to follow suit.
You should also check out:
8 Gorgeous Photos of Models Who Hope to Change How the World Sees Beauty (NSFW)
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
15 Stunning Images Capture How Beauty Comes In All Different Sizes
Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at Marie Claire. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.
-
Early-Aughts Boho Bags Are Being Pulled Out of Retirement
Accessorize like an Olsen twin this spring.
By Lauren Tappan
-
Lila Moss's Low-Rise Jeans Outfit Takes Us Back to the 2010s
She walked out of a Hollister catalog.
By Kelsey Stiegman
-
We Finally Know Whether Joe Goldberg Gets Caught in 'You'
Here's what to know about the killer ending of the hit Netflix series.
By Radhika Menon
-
I’m Choosing These Retro Sneakers Over Every Other Shoe Trend
Footwear designers are on a vintage kick, and I'm all for it.
By Emma Childs
-
Florence Pugh Is the Lingerie Dressing Trend's Poster Girl in a See-Through Stella McCartney Mini Dress
She loves a see-through look.
By Lauren Tappan
-
Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber Match in Little Black Dresses With Individual Twists
The two looked nearly identical while attending the Broadway premiere of ‘Good Night, and Good Luck.’
By Lauren Tappan
-
Marie Claire Editors Are Obsessed With This Cult-Favorite Sale
SSENSE has everything a fashion enthusiast could ever want.
By Lauren Tappan
-
Spring 2025's Candy-Coated Shoe Color Trends Prove Neutrals Are Overrated
Bold pastels and sugar-sweet hues promise to overtake your boring shoe lineup.
By Lauren Tappan
-
Issa Rae Is Fueling Her Mogul Era With More Me Time
The key to her success lies in self-care.
By Lauren Tappan
-
13 Hailey Bieber Outfit Formulas Defining Her Laidback Personal Style
Copy and paste to your closet.
By Lauren Tappan
-
8 Women Over 60 Share Their Age-Defying Fashion Wisdom
These eight style icons prove that age-appropriate fashion is a myth.
By Emma Childs