Melissa McCarthy Says Labeling Clothing as Plus-Size Tells Some Women They’re Not ‘Worthy’

Melissa McCarthy wears a lot of hats: movie star, mother, comedian and fashion designer. And now that her clothing line Melissa McCarthy Seven7 is launching at multiple major retailers, she’s adding body positivity advocate to the mix.

The star’s main issue is with the label “plus size,” and how it feels when women’s clothing is segregated in stores.

“Women come in all sizes. Seventy percent of women in the United States are a size 14 or above, and that’s technically ‘plus-size,’ so you’re taking your biggest category of people and telling them, ‘You’re not really worthy.’ I find that very strange,” she told Refinery29. “I just think, if you’re going to make women’s clothing, make women’s clothing. Designers that put everyone in categories are over-complicating something that should be easy.”

McCarthy, who will appear in the upcoming all-female Ghostbusters, revealed that some “very big retailers” are going to help her “chip away” at how plus-size clothes are placed in stores. Her line comes in sizes four through 28 and includes basics, leggings, tees and loungewear.

In June 2014 with Redbook, the actress shared her motivation for why she decided to launch her own line.

“When I go shopping, most of the time I’m disappointed,” the star told Redbook. “Two Oscars ago, I couldn’t find anybody to do a dress for me. I asked five or six designers—very high-level ones who make lots of dresses for people—and they all said no.”

Now wouldn’t it be nice if we could get her to rid the fashion industry of the phrase ‘skinny jeans’?

On fame

On loving life

On body image

On feeling fulfilled

On confidence

On being yourself

On women

On weight

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