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The two fashion models made their official debut on June 16 after winning 1st and 2nd place at a model contest held by 'J Style' - a plus size online shopping mall.
Out of the 170 contestants, Yeom Yoon Hye took first place and landed a modeling deal with 'J Style'. Bae Kyo Hyun, who had a specialty in digital production, was eliminated at 2nd place but was luckily offered to be the social media manager for the brand.
Yeom Yoon Hye and Bae Kyo Hyun revealed that it was their life-long dream to become models. However, their dreams were looked down on and often reacted with laughter.
The girls opened up about the hardships they faced as "the fat girls." Yeom Yoon Hye shared that she was often made fun of by boys. When walking down a sidewalk with a skinny friend, some criticized her thick legs and called them 'elephant legs'.
Bae Kyo Hyun looked back at her middle school days and shared, "The boy students would laugh at me when I'm eating at the cafeteria. Since then, I packed lunch and ate by myself in the classroom."
However, the girls did not let their size bring them down. Yeom Yoon Hye and Bae Kyo Hyun claim that they've now overcome the prejudice and dream to become the ''prettiest fattiest'' in South Korea.
The girls stated, "There are weapons that only plus size models can have, and that is healthiness and friendliness. Skinny models can become the subject of idolization while plus size models can become role models to the average people."
Plus size models might not be too familiar in Korean society, however, they've already become inspirational figures in the Western culture. Yeom Yoon Hye and Bae Kyo Hyun named plus size models Iskra Lawrence and Ashley Graham as examples and expressed their wish to become like them in South Korea.
Yeom Yoon Hye also explained that she truly learned how to love herself after she became a model. She said, "When I think about it now, I tried to dress cute but was unconsciously avoiding items such as off-shoulder tops to cover my fat. But lately, I realized that I'm way more beautiful than I thought while trying on various outfits."
Yeom Yoon Hye and Bae Kyo Hyun declared that they'll work hard to expand the plus model market in South Korea. Yeom Yoon Hye stated, ''I want to give confidence people who are stressed by their physical appearance." Bae Kyo Hyun also said, "I'll use my major to create many contents inspirational for the plus sizes."
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