--- description: Swedish model Agnes Hedengard has hit out at the fashion industry, alleging that she is not being given work because she is “too big” title: Swedish Model Says Fashion Industry Labels Her 'Too Big' image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # This Swedish Model Says She Can’t Get Work Because Agencies Think She Is 'Too Big' by [Helen Regan](/author/helen-regan/) ## Helen Regan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 27, 2015 3:49 AM CUT by [Helen Regan](/author/helen-regan/) ## Helen Regan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 27, 2015 3:49 AM CUT Swedish model Agnes Hedengard has hit out at the fashion industry’s standards, alleging that she has been denied work on the grounds she is “too big.” In a video posted to [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hEMv9QUIzE "undefined") and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/agneshedengard/videos/10153557225264028/ "undefined"), the 19-year-old said she has been in contact with big agencies and clients, but when they receive her measurements they back out. “I have worked as a model for about five years now, but up to this day I don’t get any more jobs since the industry thinks I’m too big,” she said in the English version of the video, which has garnered more than 1,343,000 views since Monday. Hedengard, who appeared on _Sweden’s Next Top Model_, claims that she has been told she should “get in better shape” despite having a body mass index (BMI) of 17.5. According to the National Institutes of Health, a [BMI](http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose%5Fwt/BMI/bmicalc.htm "undefined") of below 18.5 is considered underweight. “They think my butt is too big, and they think my hips are too wide,” she said. “According to the modeling industry, you cannot look like this, you need to be thinner.” Hedengard said she posted the video because she wanted other people to see the fashion industry’s “absurd” standards. Speaking to local news site [the Local.se](http://www.thelocal.se/20150825/swedish-model-i-am-too-big-for-the-industry "undefined"), the Association of Swedish Fashion Brands said although they couldn’t comment on individual cases, they “would like to see clear guidance and standards on a global level,” and that they “intend to continue working with \[their\] members and the industry to promote healthy ideals.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4012681/sweden-model-too-big-fashion-industry/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4012681/sweden-model-too-big-fashion-industry/"},"headline":"This Swedish Model Says She Can’t Get Work Because Agencies Think She Is 'Too Big'","datePublished":"2015-08-27T03:49:11.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:23:54.511Z","description":"Despite the 19-year-old being classified as underweight","url":"https://time.com/4012681/sweden-model-too-big-fashion-industry/","keywords":["Newsfeed","viral","YouTube","sweden","Model"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Helen Regan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/helen-regan/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4012681/sweden-model-too-big-fashion-industry/","name":"This Swedish Model Says She Can’t Get Work Because Agencies Think She Is 'Too Big'"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Too Covered Up? Melissa McCarthy's Elle Cover Controversy","description":"Although some are pleased to see plus-sized actress Melissa McCarthy on the cover of ELLE, others raise concerns about how covered up her body is.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/GnIYir1b/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2013-10-18T18:01:34.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/GnIYir1b.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4012681/sweden-model-too-big-fashion-industry/","duration":"PT1M41S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4012681/sweden-model-too-big-fashion-industry/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```