Is Nancy Upton's artistic protest against American Apparel effective?

A	Yes, Upton used a clever method to object to the company's actions. People have noticed and understood her message.

B	No, Upton's photos don't send a clear message and won't make a difference.

American Apparel launched a hunt for a new plus-size models at the end of August. The search is structured as a contest. Women submit a body shot and a head shot to the American Apparel website and viewers vote them up or down in the rankings.

The contest is called "The Next BIG Thing" and solicits "booty-ful" women to submit photos and become "stars in out XLent new campaign." TheGloss.com calls the tone of the contest announcement "ridiculously off the mark" and other critics have commented on the language as well. Despite all this pointed language, the new clothing line fits sizes 12-14 -- that's the size of an average American woman, and a "large" in most standard clothing stores.

Nancy Upton, a 24-year-old size 12 woman from Dallas, Texas, found the contest insulting, especially given American Apparel's track record when it comes to treatment of women. (Their super sexy, porny ads are regularly lambasted; CEO Dov Charney has been hit with sexual harassment and assault lawsuits; they've denied service to plus-size customers, saying "that's not our demographic"; they hire employees based on appearance.).

Upton entered the contest with a photo from a shoot she did specifically for this purpose, featuring her chowing down on ice cream, chicken, and pie. She also created a Tumblr to feature the rest of the photos, titled "extra wiggle room," a phrase American Apparel used to describe their new plus-size clothing line. (Check out her Tumblr for more photos from the shoot -- some NSFW.)

She didn't mean to seriously compete, just to make a statement against the problematic contest. Reading the contest website, Upton told Jezebel, she thought, "Wow, they really have zero respect for plus-sized women. They're going to line them up like cattle and make puns about them until they're blue in the face." Her response is intended to be a smart-assed, mocking way of calling them out for going about recruiting new models in this tasteless way. Right now, though, she's ranked first, and the contest ends today, September 8.

Feminist outlets have offered Upton their support and published stories about her counter-contest photo shoot. Feministe interpreted the message of Upton's photo shoot this way: "I see your insults and I raise you a very literal image of them that is simultaneously humorous and sexy and uncomfortable, and there are a lot of reactions to be had, but laughing at me is not one of them." The site goes on to write, "And God bless that girl, because that’s not an easy message to send."

Do you think Upton's method of protesting American Apparel will raise awareness of why the contest is problematic? Or was it too obscure a way to object to the contest?

Eleanor Brown

Is Nancy Upton's artistic protest against American Apparel effective?

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