Hoo. So American Apparel wanted to inaugurate the introduction of an XL size into their clothing range by holding an online model search for plus-sized women to promote the new threads. Enter Nancy Upton, who, offended by the contest, sent in photos of herself gorging on ice-cream on her kitchen floor. And then won.

The competition’s entry directions read:

Calling curvy ladies everywhere! Our best-selling Disco Pant (and around 10 other sexy styles) are now available in size XL, for those of us who need a little extra wiggle room where it counts. We’re looking for fresh faces (and curvaceous bods) to fill these babies out. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be the next XLent model, send us photos of you and your junk to back it up.

I count about seven fat jokes disguised as encouragement there. Bear in mind that this is the same American Apparel that last year refused to release plus-sized clothing because chunky folks were “not our demographic.”

So Upton (of Dallas, Texas, who talks about it at a little more length on her Tumblr site) uploaded images of herself sitting on the kitchen floor pouring chocolate syrup on her face or trying to fit a whole fried chicken in her mouth, with the caption, “I’m a size 12. I just can’t stop eating.”

And the internet, being the internet, upvoted it. For whatever reason, in spite of Upton categorically stating that she wouldn’t want to model for the company, she won their rinky-dink online competition.

Which makes it EXTRA classy that American Apparel yesterday let Upton know that, in spite of getting all the votes, she didn’t actually “win.” AA decided to “award the prizes to other contestants that we feel truly exemplify the idea of beauty inside and out,” women they “will be proud to have representing our company.”

Which makes sense! I mean, it’s not like their executive director Dov Charney has been sued a bunch of times for sexual assault, or anything.

Great job, guys.

[Photos: Shannon Skloss]

[Source: DeathAndTaxes]