Whitney: “I’m not really plus-size in real life, I’m regular”

America’s Next Top Model 10 winner Whitney Thompson became the show’s first plus-sized winner, and while the show and modeling industry may not have a realistic understanding of her weight, she certainly does.

“I’m not really plus-size in real life, I’m regular. I’m the weight I’m supposed to be and that’s considered plus-size, and what kind of message is that sending to girls and boys all over the world?” Whitney told First Coast News.

As to rumors that she was asked to gain weight for the show, supported by photographs of her when she was a lot skinnier, Whitney told the Los Angeles Times, “Those are from Jacksonville Magazine. I had a great photographer who does some great airbrushing too, but I’m not small in those pictures. I’m about maybe a size 6 or an 8, because those are from high school.”

She says that, when she auditioned, “I’m the one who said ‘I’m a plus-sized model.’ Which is so funny because when I was when I was there, all the other girls there that were my size were like ‘Oh, you know, I’m a size … 10.’ And I was like ‘Pfft. I’m a size 10! Yeah!’ I think that’s why they took me out to L.A. I didn’t expect to make it that far.”

She says she intends to use her win and newfound fame for good. “No one from the generation behind me has anyone to look up to. Truly all of their role models are in rehab or have eating disorders, and I feel like it might be a lost generation because of that. I’m not saying no to anything. I really want to work and work and work and just get everything I want to out there,” she said.