New photographs of Lana Del Rey at the Malibu Chili Cook-Off have gone viral, but the singer has faced a wave of fat-shaming comments online. Wearing baggy blue jeans, a flannel shirt over a cropped polo tee, and pigtail braids, the 37-year-old was criticised for her appearance and outfit choice. Some social media users described her clothing as “awful”, while others defended her, noting that similar outfits on thinner celebrities are often praised as “fashion goals”.
Plus-size model Chanelle Mauricette told the Independent that the reaction shows how “bigger bodies aren’t widely viewed or accepted as being beautiful”. She explained that thin models are “hailed for their outfit choices because their look extends through their clothing”, but the same is not true for larger women. Curve model Felicity Hayward added that “the reason the public is so quick to mock someone’s weight is the fact we still live in a fatphobic society”.
The incident has reignited debate about thin privilege and fatphobia in fashion. A trend on TikTok called “Skinny or Fashionable?” previously encouraged users to question whether outfits looked good because of the clothes or the model’s body. However, experts say such self-awareness has not lasted, and the discourse around Del Rey’s appearance shows society is “back at square one”.
