Plus-size male model at New York Fashion Week show: ‘Just like Barbie has the same issues, Ken has even more’

The Ryan’s Secret show at New York Fashion Week featured plus-size male models and celebrated the male body in all its shapes and sizes

The show brought attention to male body shaming and its negative effects: depression, suicide and steroid abuse

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Joseph Diaz walks the runway at New York Fashion Week to shine a light on male body shaming issues and the importance of the male body positivity movement. Photo: Aron Ranen/AP

Published: 9:30pm, 14 Feb 2020Updated: 2:05pm, 15 Feb 2020

The debate over unrealistic body ideals for women is a long-standing one, but the same discussion over expectations for men hasn’t reached the same cultural pitch.

That was the motivation behind Ryan’s Secret, a different kind of show at New York Fashion Week that featured plus size men proudly baring skin.

“Especially being a big guy myself, going for job interviews, if you’re not looking like some ‘studly’ guy, sometimes you don’t get the job. Just like Barbie has the same issues, Ken has even more,” said 36-year-old Joseph Diaz, one of the models at Wednesday night’s show.

Diaz walked in black embellished bicycle shorts and a matching cape for the gods-themed show.

Myriam Chalek, Ryan’s Secret creative director and designer.

Ryan’s Secret creative director and designer Myriam Chalek wanted to bring awareness of young men who experience depression and commit suicide because of body shaming and bullying.

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