The standard of beauty is changing, driven by social media, where women can proudly display their natural beauty in all shapes and sizes. A recent study in the *International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology, and Education* confirms this shift, showing that the average American woman now wears between a size 16 and 18, rather than the size 14 of previous years.

The study, which analyzed data from over 5,500 U.S. women, found that the average waist size has increased from 34.9 inches to 37.5 inches over the last two decades. Susan Dunn, a lead expert on the study, believes this information is crucial: “Just knowing where the average is can help a lot of women with their self-image.”

Dunn, along with co-author Deborah Christel, calls on the fashion industry to adapt to these changes. “These women aren’t going away, they aren’t going to disappear, and they deserve to have clothing,” Dunn emphasizes.

The message is clear: it’s time for clothing designers to update their sizing standards to reflect the reality of the modern American woman, embracing her true shape and size.