Navigating ideals: effects of curvy and thin models in Instagram fashion advertising on body type preferences and clothing purchase intentions

Abstract

Purpose

In light of the challenge the fashion industry faces to be more body shape-inclusive, several brands now feature curvy models (large breasts and buttocks, wide hips and a small waist) in their online advertising. Gaps exist in the understanding of the influence of these models on young consumers’ perceptions of body ideals and advertising effectiveness. This study aims to investigate how brief exposure to idealized thin and curvy models in Instagram fashion advertising affects young female consumers’ body type preferences and clothing purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 245 late-adolescent girls, aged 17–19 years, through online questionnaires. Participants were randomly assigned to view Instagram fashion advertising featuring thin or curvy models before reporting on study variables.

Findings

Results revealed that girls expressed a preference for the body type to which they were exposed. However, they indicated a higher intention to purchase clothes worn by thin models than those worn by curvy models despite rating both thin and curvy models as equally attractive. This effect held even when controlling for participants’ body size.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known study to experimentally examine the effects of curvy models featured in Instagram fashion advertising on late-adolescent girls’ body type preferences and clothing purchase intentions. The study shows that purchase intentions do not necessarily follow body type preferences. Findings also highlight the role that advertisement content has in promoting idealized, yet frequently unattainable, body types. Marketers are encouraged to weigh the ethical implications of their use of these extreme body types.

Citation

Ferdousi, J.S., Bradley, G.L., Carlini, J. and Seekis, V. (2024), "Navigating ideals: effects of curvy and thin models in Instagram fashion advertising on body type preferences and clothing purchase intentions", Young Consumers, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/YC-04-2024-2047