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Casting Agency Director Jody Furlong: "The Consumer is All Shapes and Sizes"

As the guest speakers for the university's panel discussion begin to arrive, eyes are kept peeled for one Jody Furlong, director of casting agency The Eye Casting and former BBC presenter. 


Sure enough, he arrives, wearing a blue blazer and snazzy gold-framed glasses. However, he is greeted enthusiastically by students and lecturers alike from London Metropolitan before I can approach him with the questions I have prepared. 


Jody, along with five others working in the world of fashion, will soon be sharing their thoughts on size inclusivity in the industry before an audience and television cameras. 


Following his discussion with his welcomers, the perfect opening for me to introduce myself to Jody and interview him eventually arises. I approach him and ask if he has a couple of minutes to spare for a chat. He replies: "Of course, that's what I'm here for", smiling enthusiastically. 


We begin by discussing how the media representation of plus-size people has evolved during Jody's 17 years at The Eye Casting. "Things have changed astronomically during that time.", he chuckles. 


"The most important thing has been the advent of social media because clients [employers] now have a direct communication with their consumer, and they've seen what the consumer wants, and the consumer is all shapes and sizes, its all races, its all ages."


"Before, especially in the fashion world, they were people talking to themselves; they were talking what they think the world wants."


However, Jody acknowledges that although progress has been made, it has benefited female models more so than their male counterparts: "There's not really a man alternative to 'curvy', you know, that kind of nice way of saying that someone is a bigger size."


"Male models still predominantly are, you know, more toned; athletic kind of build. Although, all the agencies now are looking for bigger guys."


"I think because there's not a reference point, they find it quite difficult, but it's definitely something that's on the rise. It's definitely something that clients are requesting, and obviously, agencies are reflecting what their clients are asking for."

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