You only need to look around to see that size zero does not reflect the everyday consumer, and for this reason plus-sized modelling is booming. With many women who are a dress size 12 and up carving out successful careers as plus-size models, this area of modelling is becoming big business in the industry.

Designers and clothing manufacturers are opening their eyes to the massive market for good quality clothing to fit women of all shapes and sizes. Women's fashion stores now offer larger sized clothing, often up to size 18 or 20. Therefore these high street shops need plus size models to advertise their plus size clothing ranges, and to meet this demand, more and more women who would have previously never considered modelling are signing up with agencies around the world.

There are now several modelling agencies that concentrate solely on plus size modelling, as well as many general model agencies also catering for plus size models, finding work in promotional and commercial avenues. However, advertising is not the only opportunity for larger models, with plus size models now starting to make it to the catwalk for some top designers, with the likes of the plus-sized supermodel Crystal Renn modelling for fashion powerhouses such as Chanel and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

The requirements for plus size modelling are not very different from those of other types of modelling. The minimum acceptable height is generally no shorter than 5'9"/175cm and they must have an impeccable grooming routine, good bone structure and a well-proportioned and healthy body.