Gary Dakin, the man behind Ford +, plus size division of Ford Models

Gay Dakin runs the plus size division of Ford Models, one of the world’s best known and oldest modelling agencies.

Ford Models has represented everyone from Chanel Iman to Alek Wek.

The plus size side of the business probably sees Crystal Renn as Gary Dakin’s star.

She was the world’s first size 14 supermodel, whose career famously took off after she recovered from anorexia and started eating again.

Gary Dakin is probably one of very few who actually encourages his models to eat.

Coming from his own mouth, he says:

“Some of them have been struggling for so long they don’t know how to eat any more. They don’t know how not to be hungry”.

Gary Dakin is responsible for this year’s biggest modelling story, capturing headlines at a time when what models say, wear and do end up as national debate.

He is the man who is responsible for putting plus-size models on the catwalks, and putting them in influential style magazines.

It is true that the fashion industry has seen a vast increase in the role that plus size fashion and models have taken.

However, this has not been met with just positive feedback.

Some of the population feel strongly that plus size models are advertising an unhealthy lifestyle just as much as the models who are too thin.

They even go so far as calling these models ‘obese’, and believe that companies who use them are not being responsible enough to their audiences (especially young girls).

I don’t think I would go as far as saying this, seeing as most plus-size models are size 14-16, which is a perfectly healthy weight to be.

Most also follow a healthy eating plan and exercise regularly.

Gary Dakin agrees, and believes that the view expressed above is ‘bullshit’, that the girls look amazing.

There is so much criticism for both skinny and curvy girls, that most of the time the actual fashion takes second place to these old debates.

When asked whether he is just selling a new extreme, he fights back:

“Do your homework. We’re not out there saying these are role models – we’re selling clothes. If you don’t want your daughter to look at these images then that’s up to you. Whether you’re straight size or plus size. Raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted child and focus on your own part in that. Don’t let the modelling industry do it for you.”