The fashion industry is notorious for painting a so-called “skinny-girl world” that has a serious influence on all members of society, this day and age.

According to an article published by ABC News, almost half the women in the U.S. are a size 12 or larger, but the models who represent plus-size women on the runway can wear styles as small as a size 6.

At this year’s Tucson Fashion Week, Elizabeth Pavalon, a business management senior, will walk to represent plus-size women.

Co-owner and creative director for TFW Paula Taylor booked Pavalon for TFW’s show after Shahida Clayton, one of TFW’s major brands, expressed an interest in including plus-size models as part of her collection.

“[Clayton] called me a few days ago and was like, ‘Paula, I want there to be a couple of plus-size models in the show,’ ” Taylor said. “So we booked [Pavalon] and actually have two [plus-size models] in her section now.”

Originally from Deerfield, Illinois, the 21-year-old came to Tucson for the weather and the UA.

Pavalon said she does not understand how the fashion industry has neglected representation for so long, but she is proud to be representing plus size girls at Tucson Fashion Week.

“It is a lot of pressure,” Pavalon said. “But it feels great representing such a great change in the industry.”

Taylor said she has noticed more and more brands starting to integrate and include plus sizes in their collections.

This change in the industry is one that is finally getting recognition from designers, although it is still in the works for some designers and fashion shows. Taylor said she wants to accommodate and represent plus-size women more in her designs in the future.

“I was really frustrated because I didn’t have any plus-size models and enough plus-size clothing to promote — it really frustrates me,” Taylor said. “I think the new movement is that straight-size designers are now realizing how important the market is, and so now they’re starting to add pieces that work for more than sizes 10-12.”

Pavalon is not only a model and student, but she is also part of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority. Finding ways to manage her time, along with school and work, can be a trialing task.

“It keeps things interesting,” Pavalon said. “Apart from whenever I have to leave class early for a casting, shoot or model responsibility, it is quite manageable.”

Pavalon has been signed with FORD/Robert Black Agency in Scottsdale, Arizona, since her freshman year, according to her father, Gregg Pavalon — an Eller College of Management alumni from 1984.

Elizabeth Pavalon was also featured as Spotlight’s September 2016 Spotlight Plus Model of the Month.

According to Gregg Pavalon, once she graduates this upcoming May, she plans to continue pursuing a career in the fashion industry and to sign with a major New York City-based agency on the day she graduates.

“I plan to move to Chicago,” Pavalon said. “I hope to get a job in the hospitality industry and continue to branch out as a model.”

Pavalon not only positively represents the plus-size community, but she is a model student (pun intended) who makes the UA — and Tucson — proud.

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