catering to regular people

Department store catalogues are a form of media that offer alternatives to the ultra-thin, tall model, says a former Macy’s art director, who asked not to be identified. Clothing stores, such as Macy's, make it their business to market to "regular" people and families, she says.

Macy's wants its audience to identify with its models, so "we tried to not pick the girls that looked super pale or super anorexic," she says.

Target audiences for retail stores differ from those of designers, according to the former employee. Macy's sells to families, rather than one particular audience.

Macy’s does present an unrealistic image in its maternity clothing ads, according to the former director. Instead of casting actual pregnant women to model the maternity clothes, a model wears a fake belly.

"If you try to shoot a real pregnant woman, they don't really come out pretty and I don't think that's what pregnant women would want out there to represent themselves," she says.

Quinn, the former model, believes that as advertising becomes more realistic and heroin chic fades, women's body image will improve.

"People aren’t always beautiful, but there are so many other beautiful things about them," she says. "You can be beautiful and all that you have to do is believe that you are."