Last week, comedian and actress Amy Schumer released the trailer for her next film.
I Feel Pretty is set to hit theatres this summer, and follows the character Renée, who is played by Schumer, as she lives her life as a 'normal' woman.
Renée is below the 'average' US size, but not skinny. She has to wear unattractive shaping underwear and does not consider herself 'undeniably pretty'. To contrast her averageness she is friends with a character played by the otherworldy Emily Ratajkowski, who also suffers from low self-esteem.
In an apparent bid to become objectively, undeniably hot, Renée hits the gym but subsequently hits her head in a spin class accident. In a tongue-in cheek Freaky Friday/13 Going On 30-esque twist, Renée wakes up believing she is Victoria's Secret-level of hotness, despite not changing physically.
She then continues with a sublime level of confidence, staying her 'average' size 12-ish figure and 'regular' looks.
The film seemingly looks to poke fun at ridiculous beauty standards, showing how confidence is the true key to happiness and that all women, no matter how conventionally attractive, have their hang-ups.
Despite featuring a stellar cast of best mates Busy Philipps and Michelle Williams, SNL alumni Aidy Bryant and Sasheer Zamata and supermodels Naomi Campbell and Lauren Hutton, there has already been backlash from the film.
Comedian Sofie Hagen created a thread on Twitter about the movie, which has garnered thousands of likes.
In it she explained how frustrating she found Schumer's casting in the role. Schumer is white, able-bodied and below the US average for size. Though she may be larger for Hollywood, she is not for America, and Hagen suggests Schumer is being used by Hollywood as a lacklustre token of body diversity.
People in the comments appear divided on the subject, on one side saying that the film demonstrates that all people have insecurities at whatever size and that Schumer is being held to an impossible standard wherein she is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't, whilst others, agreeing with Hagen, say that Schumer is hypocritical for taking the role.
Whilst it would be great to see more larger women on-screen not having to go through brain trauma to be more confident, Schumer's body-type is still depressingly rare on screen, let alone undressed and embracing itself.
So, though this film is far from revolutionary, it is deviating from the movie norm, and we probably shouldn't tear down an actress for her participation in it.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
