![(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 26, 2018 Bebe Rexha performs during 106.1 KISS FM's Jingle Ball 2018 presented by Capital One at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. An American pop star up for Best New Artist at next month's Grammys said she's struggling to find a dress for the ceremony, with designers calling her "too big." Bebe Rexha -- a singer who also nabbed a nomination for the tender country pop duet "Meant to Be" -- called out designers on social media for refusing to craft her a custom gown, in what has become a perennial issue on the red carpet."I had my team hit [up] a lot of designers," the 29-year-old said. "And a lot of them do not want to dress me because I'm too big."
/ AFP / SUZANNE CORDEIRO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H2CIQNUDNBPZKC5UFILJRR3QDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=08d6eae7a7148c9c02d59131e725ca2ee94e357221efea2452fbc8cfc049dbfc&width=800&height=533)
Singer Bebe Rexha claims her size has resulted in designers turning down a chance to dress her for this year’s Grammy Awards.
The I'm a Mess hitmaker, who is nominated in two categories at next month's awards, this week called out labels refusing to cater for her UK size 10-12 figure.
“So I finally get nominated at the Grammys, and it’s like the coolest thing ever,” New York-born Rexha stated in a video uploaded to her Instagram account. “And a lot of times artists will go and talk to designers, and they’ll make them custom dresses to walk the red carpet, right So I had my team hit [up] a lot of designers, and a lot of them do not want to dress me because I’m too big. Literally, like, I’m too big."
Rexha is up for best new artist and best country duo/group performance at the Grammys, which will be held in Los Angeles on February 10. Explaining her predicament to her 7.3 million followers, the 29-year-old revealed she would refuse to wear clothes by any designers who raised concerns about her size.
"If a [US] size 6/8 is too big, then I don’t know what to tell you," she continued. "Then I don’t want to wear your dresses because that’s crazy. You’re saying that all the women in the world that are a size 8 and up are not beautiful and they cannot wear your dresses.”
The star reiterated her outrage in her caption, adding: "If you don’t like my fashion style or my music that’s one thing. But don’t say you can’t dress someone that isn’t a runway size.”
The singer has not yet named any designers her team approached, though urged fashion labels to “empower women to love their bodies”.
Brands including Sherri Hill, Michael Costello and August Getty have subsequently reached out to Rexha in social media comments, offering to dress her for the event. "Every woman of every size is beautiful! Just let me know when I should start sketching," American designer Getty replied on Instagram.
This isn't the first time a celebrity has called out fashion labels for their lack of inclusivity and diversity. Comedienne and actress Leslie Jones took aim at the industry in 2016 after struggling to find a dress for a Ghostbusters premiere.
"It's so funny how there are no designers wanting to help me with a premiere dress for movie. Hmmm that will change and I remember everything," she wrote on Twitter at the time. American designer and Project Runway Christian Siriano subsequently stepped forward to offer his services – and has done the same for Rexha.
“We have dressed Bebe Rexha a few times and would love to do it again,” the brand stated on Tuesday.
Model and body-positivity activist Ashley Graham revealed last year she was forced to miss the 2016 Met Gala, telling New York Magazine she "couldn't get a designer to dress me". "You can't just show up in jeans and a T-shirt," she added.
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