I dreamed of working in fashion, but on my first day, I faced whispers, judgment, and a boss who saw my size, not my talent. They didn’t believe I belonged—but I had a plan. When the runway lights came on, I knew it was my chance to prove them all wrong.
I was walking to my new job, clutching my bag tightly and trying to steady my breathing. My palms were damp, and my heart raced.
It was my first day, and though I always found reasons to worry, this time it felt justified. What if they didn’t like me? What if I messed up?
When I entered the sleek glass building, my nerves only grew. I fumbled with my ID, scanning it twice before the elevator chimed.
Watching the numbers tick upward, I tried to calm myself. “You’ve got this,” I whispered under my breath. The elevator stopped with a soft ding, and I exhaled as the doors slid open.
At the reception desk sat a stunning young woman, exuding confidence with her flawless hair and makeup, as if she were ready for a magazine shoot.
“Hi, I’m—” I began, stepping up to the reception desk.
The woman glanced at me briefly and interrupted. “Oh, you’re the new cleaning lady. Let me show you around,” she said, standing up and grabbing a clipboard.
I blinked, startled. “No, actually—”
“Come on,” she said briskly, walking ahead before I could finish. “You’ll need to know where the cleaning supplies are. Bathrooms are down the hall. You’ll want to check them every couple of hours.”
I followed her in confusion, trying to speak again. “I’m not—”
“You’ll also be responsible for trash,” she continued, not turning back. “Take it out at the end of each day. Sometimes mid-shift if it gets bad. Oh, and keep the break room tidy. People here are messy.”
I felt my cheeks flush. “I think there’s been a mistake—”
Before I could say more, we rounded a corner, and I saw him. Aiden. The designer I was hired to assist.
“Christy, where’s my assistant?” he barked from across the room. His tone was sharp, impatient. He glanced at me with a frown. “I hate when people are late. And who’s this?”
Christy smiled. “This is our new cleaner.”
“Actually…” I stammered, my face heating up. “My name is Natalie, and I’m your new assistant.” I held out my hand, hoping to salvage the situation.
“Oh,” Christy murmured, her face falling as she realized her mistake.
Aiden looked me up and down. His eyes lingered, critical. “Did HR see you when they hired you?” he asked coldly.
I swallowed hard. I knew what he meant.
“Yes,” I said firmly, keeping my voice steady. “I’m a professional. I’m confident I can help you.”
He didn’t shake my hand. “We’ll see,” he muttered, turning on his heel.
He strode off. I stood frozen until he snapped, “Are you just going to stand there?”
I hurried after him, my heart pounding.
“Hmm,” he said under his breath. “With that weight, I doubt you can move fast. Let’s hope she doesn’t break half the equipment.”
His words hit me hard. I bit my lip and kept walking, pretending I hadn’t heard. But I had. Every word.
Two weeks had dragged by, each day more exhausting than the last. What I imagined as my dream job had quickly turned into a nightmare.
I arrived every morning hopeful that things would improve, but they never did. No one seemed to take me seriously.
I overheard the cruel whispers when they thought I wasn’t listening.
“Why can’t she just lose weight?”
“How can someone like that work in fashion?”
“It’s ridiculous—has she even looked in the mirror?”
Their words stung, cutting deeper each time. My confidence, once fragile, felt almost non-existent now.
I wanted to share ideas, to prove I belonged, but the fear of rejection kept me silent. No one would care what I thought anyway, right?
One afternoon, as I organized the sketches for Aiden’s new collection, I noticed something strange.
The measurements listed for the clothes only ranged from 2XS to L. When I looked closer, the L size was shockingly small—more like a snug M.
“Why are these sizes so small?” I asked Aiden, holding one of the sample dresses in my hands. The fabric felt delicate, but the size was what really caught my attention.
“They’re not small—they’re standard,” he said, barely looking up from his tablet.
“No, they’re not,” I insisted, shaking my head. “Most women wouldn’t fit into this L size. And we advertise our clothes as being for everyone.”
“Sweetheart,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “Just because you wouldn’t fit doesn’t mean no one else can.”
His words made my face burn, but I didn’t back down. “My body is average. So, who are we making these clothes for—models?”
“For beautiful women,” he said, his tone smug, like he thought the answer was obvious.
“Beauty—” I started, but he raised his hand in front of my face, cutting me off like I wasn’t worth the effort of listening.
“You’re getting awfully bold,” he said, his voice icy.
I froze for a moment, then turned away. I wasn’t bold. I felt small, shrinking under his gaze.
If I were bold, I would have argued until he listened. Instead, I sighed and went back to sorting the racks, swallowing my frustration.
Later, I noticed Aiden had disappeared, so I decided to grab a quick snack. On my way to the vending machine, I heard his voice through the open HR office door.
“I can’t have her working here any longer. She ruins the company’s image,” he said sharply.
“She’s talented, Aiden,” the woman in HR replied. “We haven’t found anyone with her skills.”
“I don’t care,” Aiden snapped. “I can’t stand having that fat girl around anymore.”
My heart dropped. His words hit harder than I expected, like a slap. I clenched my fists and turned away before they could see me.
Tears blurred my vision as I made my way back to my desk. His words echoed in my head, sharp and cruel.
He hadn’t even taken the time to see what I could do. To him, I was nothing more than a joke, dismissed without a second thought because of how I looked.
My chest tightened, and I bit my lip to keep the tears from falling.
But as the sting of his words settled, something shifted inside me. Sadness gave way to anger, and anger turned into resolve.
I clenched my fists. If he wouldn’t believe in me, I’d make sure my work spoke louder than his insults. I would prove him wrong.
A week later, the big day arrived—the debut of the new collection. The energy in the office was electric, with staff rushing around, making last-minute preparations.
I felt a knot in my stomach, but I had made up my mind. I didn’t have much time, but I was determined to take a stand.
This was my chance to create something that truly reflected inclusivity, something for every woman, no matter her size.
I spent sleepless nights designing and sewing, pouring my heart into each piece.
Every stitch was a small act of defiance, a way to prove to myself and others that beauty wasn’t limited by size.
Finding models to represent this vision was harder than I expected, but I managed. These women weren’t professionals—they were real people with real bodies.
On the day of the show, I made my move. I canceled the lineup of models Aiden had hired and brought in the women I’d chosen.
Then I swapped out his collection with mine. My heart pounded as I watched everything unfold backstage.
Aiden, too busy laughing with guests and soaking in their praise, didn’t notice anything at first.
I stayed quiet, blending into the chaos. But as the clock ticked closer to showtime, the tension in me grew.
When the lights dimmed and the runway music began, he finally noticed. His face hardened, and I braced myself. This was it. The moment of truth.
“What is this?!” Aiden yelled, his voice echoing through the dressing room as he spotted the models I had chosen. His eyes widened when he saw the plus-size women adjusting their dresses.
“These are our models,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though my hands were shaking.
“Are you kidding me?!” he screamed, marching toward the clothing racks. He pulled one of the dresses off a hanger and held it up. “Where is my collection?!”
I shrugged, forcing myself to look calm.
“Cancel everything!” he roared, throwing the dress onto a chair. “Get my clothes and my models back here now!”
“Oops,” I said, pointing toward the runway, where the music had already started and the first model was stepping out. “Looks like it’s too late for that.”
His face turned red. “You’re fired!” he bellowed, his finger shaking as he pointed at me. “And if one review is bad—just one—I’ll sue you for every penny! You’ll never work again!”
I stood my ground, meeting his furious glare. I had expected his outburst. I prepared for it.
But in that moment, I didn’t care. My heart raced, but not with fear. I felt proud, standing by the choices I made. These designs weren’t just clothes; they were a statement.
As each plus-size model stepped onto the runway, the applause grew louder. The crowd’s excitement was palpable. Voices rose above the music.
“Bravo!” someone shouted.
“Finally, real inclusivity!” another called out.
“These designs are stunning!”
I glanced at Aiden. He stood still, his face pale, his mouth slightly open in disbelief.
Slowly, he turned to me, his eyes narrowing as if he couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
“Fine,” Aiden said through clenched teeth. “You can stay. But when this is over, I’ll go on stage and present this as my collection.”
“No way,” I replied, my voice steady despite the fear twisting in my chest. The words came out before I could second-guess myself.
“This is my work, my ideas, and my effort. You had nothing to do with it.” I paused, then added, “The best I can offer is saying that working with you inspired me, but I doubt you’d like that.”
“Who do you think you are?!” he snapped, his face growing red with anger.
But it was too late for Aiden to stop me. The announcer called for the designer, and I knew this was my moment.
My legs felt shaky as I stepped onto the runway, but I forced myself to hold my head high.
I wore one of my own dresses—a vibrant, flowing design that made me feel powerful for the first time in weeks.
The crowd rose to their feet, clapping and cheering. Cries of “Bravo!” filled the room.
The applause was deafening, but what struck me most was the smiles I saw. In that moment, every insult, every doubt, every long night was worth it.
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