Shoppers have been left puzzled after spotting a model on Shein posing in plus-size tights with a large water dispenser to make them stretch further. The budget retailer is well-known for hitting headlines with its questionable pieces and cheap prices, but this time the fashion giant failed to impress consumers.
Many women are demanding the online retail shop "does better" and source more plus-size models to demonstrate the clothes without the need for props. Twitter user @karmaxkarmm went viral after sharing a snapshot of the website image on social media, writing, "SHEIN. y'all couldn't find y'all a plus size model??????? Wtf is THIS?".
The screenshot shows a model posing in beige coloured tights with a large blue water dispenser tucked into her hip and covered by the excess material.
The viral tweet, which has been liked by more than 95,000 users, sparked a debate with thousands of people responding to the picture.
"Shame on Shein," one person said, while another wrote: "What an embarrassment."
"This has to be fake," someone tweeted, and a fourth added: "Tell me this isn't real."
Many women argued over whether the model was classed as plus-size, with one user saying: "She's literally my size, like an 8 there's no way she's plus size."
The images came as a disappointment to shoppers who were fans of Shein's plus-size range.
"This is surprising for Shein. They have a whole plus size department and the same plus sized models that they use regularly, although none of them are as big as what would be needed for this photo," someone said.
"I think it's so sad when brands get things so wrong. The amount of plus-size women that are still not allowed in the modelling industry and instead of using them @shein_official think it's ok to do this?" another agreed.
Though lots of people believed the water dispenser was used to show the flexibility of the material.
One person said: "I mean, yes, this is ridiculous, but I'm pretty sure the intention was to show how much the tights can stretch without ripping rather than showing what they would look like on a plus sized model."
A second wrote: "In their defence, it's probably to show that the tights are really stretchy. The person in the photo looks around my size and I'm plus sized, I'm just on the absolute lowest end."
Shein has since changed the images on the website to show a model stretching the material outwards with her arms, instead of a prop.
Though the replacement pictures haven't proved popular with shoppers, and one person said on social media: "I thought it was a joke until I looked myself."
The Mirror has contacted Shein for comment.
Do you have a fashion-related story to share? We pay for stories. Email us at nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
