Curve Models Are Losing Work—How Ozempic Is Reshaping Fashion’s Body Standards

As weight-loss drugs like Ozempic gain popularity, the fashion industry is experiencing a significant shift back toward ultra-thin body ideals. This trend is creating ripple effects throughout the modeling world, particularly for curve and plus-size models who are seeing their bookings decline. The Ozempic implications extend beyond personal health choices, reshaping fashion inclusivity standards that had been slowly improving over the past decade.

The statistics tell a concerning story. Recent Spring/Summer 2025 runway shows featured an alarmingly small percentage of plus-size models, showing how quickly the industry can revert to exclusive sizing practices. 

Meanwhile, social media platforms amplify these new standards, putting additional pressure on models and consumers alike to conform to thinner ideals. This significant regression appears to be part of the beauty standards shift that emphasizes thinness over inclusivity, mirroring trends seen in other industries. 

This shift is having real economic consequences. Users of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are updating their wardrobes as their bodies change, driving increased spending in apparel. Fast fashion brands are quickly responding to these changing needs, while luxury designers are adjusting their collections to accommodate slimmer silhouettes. 

Many fashion houses are reconsidering size-inclusive offerings despite previous commitments to body diversity. Models affected by these changes could benefit from seeking personalized mentorship through mother agencies that specialize in navigating industry challenges and changing market demands.

For curve models who once found growing opportunities in the industry, this reversal is devastating. Many report canceled contracts and fewer casting calls as brands pivot toward thinner representations. 

The new legislation requiring detailed job disclosures 24 hours before assignments may help these models better prepare for changing industry expectations. Sales data reveals a concerning trend with demand for smaller sizes increasing significantly while purchases of XL and above sizes have noticeably decreased. This trend contradicts years of progress in the body positivity movement, which had been gaining mainstream acceptance.

The industry's response has been mixed. Some brands are standing firm in their commitment to size inclusivity, recognizing its business potential. Others are quickly adapting to the Ozempic era, designing more figure-hugging styles that highlight newly slimmed physiques.

Fashion consumers are caught in this changing landscape too. While some embrace the opportunity to wear styles previously unavailable to them, others worry about the potential return to harmful body standards that dominated previous decades. 

As this transformation continues, the fashion world faces important questions about representation, inclusivity, and the responsibility of brands to support diverse body types.