We have frequently observed that when it comes to size celebration, Brazil is so far ahead of the United States and Europe that full-figured retailers and modelling agencies in the Northern hemisphere should feel ashamed of themselves for their timidity. In contrast to the diffidence that the American industry exhibits when it comes to promoting womanly curves, Brazil is utterly fearless. And what's more, in their presentations of curvaceous femininity, not only do the Brazilians celebrate size, but they remain guided by an aesthetic that is indisputably beautiful.
The fact that the top South American full-figured model is
Mayara Russi, a luscious size 22, attests to Brazil's preeminence. But what's more, when Brazilian photographers shoot Mayara, far from hiding her figure, they showcase her curves with sheer delight, glorying in her well-fed womanliness in a way that American companies are too timorous to dare attempting, even when shooting slim size 14s.
The new Christmas campaign from Duloren (www.duloren.com.br), a prominent Brazilian lingerie brand, takes size celebration to a whole new level. Remember: these images are not stunts or publicity magnets, which is all too often the case in the Northern hemisphere when fuller-figured models are featured in a provocative manner. These images are for a label that sells intimate apparel to both minus-size and plus-size women. In other words, Duloren feels, rightly, that such a loving showcase of luscious femininity
will sell lingerie, beyond even making full-figured women more confident in their appearance.
The premise of the ad is that Santa Claus, having come upon the sight of Mayara lounging on a sofa and wearing the skimpiest of attire, has passed out from the sheer exhilaration of seeing her intoxicatingly gorgeous figure. Every plump, luscious contour of the model's body is lovingly presented, from her full, rounded arms to the soft curves along her side. Even her opulent waist, though pressed against the cushions of the sofa, is alluringly perceived. There is no denying it: she is
very well fed, and dazzlingly seductive as a result. She may have the most sensual figure of any currently working plus-size model in the world.
For her part, Mayara cleverly adopts a playful expression, to keep the image from venturing into scandalous territory and to adhere to the joyful Christmas theme. The model recognized that the very sight of her sumptuous figure would generate intense passion, so she allowed her cute, girlish expression to soften the effect. Although fans adore Mayara's long, luxuriant tresses, this hairstyle, so reminiscent of a young girl's updo, adds a delightful dash of innocence, further steering the image away from carnality and towards playful sensuality.
The second image in this campaign is, if anything, even more bewitching, with Mayara adopting a playful hand gesture that is delightfully coquettish. Santa appears completely overcome by the sight of her replete beauty--and who wouldn't be? But if it is possible to consider anything in the image besides Mayara, even for a moment, one realizes that the décor adds a great deal to the beauty of these masterpieces. The environment of the room is warm and inviting, from the traditional Christmas tree to the candles on the mantlepiece. It gives the image a feeling of hearth and home. Of course, nothing in the world is as desirable as a plus-size model reposing on a plush sofa, for recumbent poses such as this suggest a model's sweet indolence, a quintessentially feminine aversion to exertion and a love of leisure.
What makes Mayara's figure so stunning is not merely its lavish fullness, but the natural, untoned softness of her physique. And yet consider how vibrant and healthy she appears, robust and full of life. She veritably glows with a lush radiance, utterly antithetical to the cadaverous, sickly look that the fashion industry mandates for its walking skeletons. Mayara exudes passionate, red-blooded vitality, a vigorous zest for life, which includes indulging herself freely--and becoming more gorgeous as a result. The pink, satin covering on which she resposes adds a further sensual element, suggesting that the model's skin, like that of a princess, should never touch anything but the softest fabrics.
With these images of the truly breathtaking Mayara Russi, Duloren and the Brazilian fashion industry have taken size celebration to a new level. As we noted above, not only is the sumptuous size-22 Miss Russi the most gorgeous South American plus-size model, but also the curviest and most prominent. Beauty, fullness of figure, and career success have gone hand in hand for this stunning goddess, all three increasing in equal measure--which is exactly how it should be.
If the timeless ideal of beauty had not been suppressed in the modern era, then images such as this would be the norm, not the exception, in the fashion world. The century of Rubens would have acknowledged Mayara as a goddess supreme, as would the era of Lillian Russell. Only in the past several decades has the West been diverted into a false vision of attractiveness, as an alien cabal has taken over our culture and deformed it into an inhuman shape.
But the South may yet redeem the North, and Brazil may yet show the rest of the world the way back towards celebrating true, natural, well-fed womanly beauty. And in this process of aesthetic restoration and cultural renewal, bountiful Mayara Russi (44-43-53) may be the guiding light.
(Click images to view much larger.)
- Duloren.com.br