Bebe Rexha's Grammy dress drama: A bold statement for body positivity
Reflecting on Bebe Rexha's 2019 Grammy Awards experience, where she confronted the fashion industry's size bias and championed body positivity, while struggling to find a red carpet dress due to her size.
Updated : November 20, 2023 01:52 PM ISTReflecting on Bebe Rexha's 2019 Grammy Awards experience, where she confronted the fashion industry's size bias and championed body positivity, while struggling to find a red carpet dress due to her size.
Bebe Rexha
In 2019, the Grammy Awards held more than just a celebration of music; it became a platform for challenging fashion norms, thanks to pop star Bebe Rexha. Nominated for Best New Artist and Best Country Duo/Group Performance, Rexha faced an unexpected hurdle - finding a red carpet dress.
Facing the fashion industry's size bias
Rexha, then 29, took to Instagram to express her frustration with the dress-finding process. Despite her excitement for her Grammy nominations, she encountered a disheartening reality: many designers were reluctant to dress her due to her size. "A lot of them do not want to dress me because I'm too big," Rexha revealed, highlighting a size discrimination issue in the fashion industry.
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Boldly defending women of all sizes, Rexha's statement, "You're saying all the women in the world that are a size 8 and up are not beautiful," resonated with many. Her powerful message: "Empower women to love their bodies instead of making girls and women feel less than by their size", still echoes today.
Industry response and support
Following her outspoken stance, designer August Getty stepped up, offering to create a gown for Rexha. His response, "Every woman of every size is beautiful," aligned perfectly with Rexha's call for inclusivity.
Similarly, Megan Mullally, the host of the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards, shared her own struggles with finding designer gowns. The industry's reluctance to accommodate diverse body sizes became a topic of much discussion, with designers like Marc Bouwer and Christian Siriano offering their support.
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Legacy of Rexha's stand
Looking back, Rexha's experience at the 2019 Grammys was more than just about music or fashion. It was a pivotal moment in the fight against size bias in the fashion industry, encouraging a more inclusive and body-positive approach. Her courage to speak out not only highlighted the issue but also paved the way for greater acceptance and diversity in fashion.
In the words of Bebe Rexha, "We are beautiful any size! Small or large!" - a message that remains relevant and powerful in today's fashion world.
(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)