Dutch model Jill Kortleve covers the May 2022 issue of Harper’s Bazaar US, pushing forward the most hopeful signs of more permanent change we’ve seen in models’ body sizes in decades. Make no mistake — fashion still has plenty of thin fashion models. But Kortleve is not alone, which makes her not a token curvaceous model.

In these Jill Kortleve images, her sensual body is celebrated — and no attempt is made to hide it. This is also refreshing. Josh Olins [IG] is behind the camera, with styling by Tony Irvine. Kortleve — aka Jilla Tequilla — is a major voice in the body positivity discussion.

Jill Kortleve was born in the Netherlands, and her ‘look’ embraces her Ditch, Surinamese, Indonesian and Indian origin. She loves the punk era, because people didn’t spend hours trying to look ‘picture-perfect’. Kortleve likes her beauty a little rough around the edges. Like AOC, we assume she hates the word ‘flawless’ in blog and ad copy, We find it to be one of the worst words for women’s beauty ever foisted on us. As if women don’t have enough to do, we’re supposed to be flawless.

Kortleve did start out trying to be a typical size 0-2 fashion model. Not only was she dieting 24/7, she became obsessed with food. Her social life also suffered, as going out for dinner or drinks wasn’t an option if she wanted to book any modeling assignments.

It was then that she decided to pursue the growing in America appetite for more curvaceous and larger size models. Read her entire interview Jill Kortleve on Shifting the Paradigm at Harper’s Bazaar.