Members of the public were stunned today after Made In Chelsea star Melissa Tattam labelled size 10 clothing as being on the larger side of the scale.
The reality star was speaking about the bikini collection she has launched during an interview on Heart Radio.
But the 22-year-old was questioned about the way she has categorised her swimwear line, where a size 10 bikini is considered a large in the range.
Made In Chelsea’s Melissa: ‘My £160 bikini range is for petite women… size 10 IS large’https://t.co/GDuZIgIwci
— Heart (@thisisheart) March 20, 2019
When hosts Jamie Theakston and Lucy Horobin grilled her about the decision, Melissa responded: “The sizing? It’s just the way that I did it.”
Melissa went on to explain that she began by catering to smaller sizes as she is petite.
“I started off the range as a petite range because I’m a very small and I wanted to cater to that. There are lots of other brands that cater to larger sizes,” she said.
However, presenter Lucy stepped in to argue that a lot of people would consider a size 8-10 as “small”.
The average clothing size of women in the UK is a 16.
Lucy added: “Can you see how people would look at that and maybe feel offended or be bigger than they are? I would say 8-10 is a small.”
But Melissa stuck to her guns and seemed to disagree, replying: “To me a size 4 or a 6 is an extra small, do you know what I mean?”
The Made In Chelsea star sells the two-pieces for around £160.
Her comments didn’t go down too well with Heart listeners.
One person tweeted: “Go Lucy!!! Always loved her!!!! Melissa needs to open her eyes – size 10 isn’t a large!!!! This could have such a bad effect on young girls lives thinking they are large at a 10!!!”
Another added: “@thisisheart Thanks to @LucyHorobin for raising the issue of sizes on the show this morning, when chatting to Made in Chelsea’s Melissa Tattam about her swimwear range. A 10-12 is NOT large and it is right to call this out.”
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A third called Melissa’s comments damaging, writing: “Thank you for speaking up – It’s refreshing to hear someone challenge this kind of thing! I’ve got a 14 year old daughter who’s a size 10, I don’t want her to think society perceives her as large, it’s just not true and it’s so, so damaging x.”
Another blasted: “Being called out by @LucyHorobin over the ridiculous size let alone pricing. She was not happy. Her face says it all.”
@thisisheart Thanks to @LucyHorobin for raising the issue of sizes on the show this morning, when chatting to Made in Chelsea’s Melissa Tattam about her swimwear range. A 10-12 is NOT large and it is right to call this out.
— Melanie King (@kiwimelanie) March 20, 2019
Go Lucy!!! Always loved her!!!! Melissa needs to open her eyes – size 10 isn’t a large!!!! This could have such a bad effect on young girls lives thinking they are large at a 10!!!
— Cara Rogers (@Rogers1316) March 20, 2019
Thank you for speaking up – It’s refreshing to hear someone challenge this kind of thing! I’ve got a 14 year old daughter who’s a size 10, I don’t want her to think society perceives her as large, it’s just not true and it’s so, so damaging x
— Penny Blake (@PenBlake) March 20, 2019
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Lucy replied to one fan’s supportive tweet and admitted she found the whole debate with Melissa very awkward.
Lucy responded: “Thank you! I’m not gonna lie, it was awks! Xx.”
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