Update: Leslie Jones is now paying the kindness showed to her by supporters—as she was bullied on Twitter by haters— forward. She created a hashtag for Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, who has likewise experienced extensive social bullying, to counteract all the negativity. Join her using #LOVE4GABBYUSA.
You may remember Saturday Night Live star Leslie Jones took to Twitter to call fashion designers out in the most “boss” way possible back in June when they refused to dress her for her Ghostbusters premiere.
While many of the ugly responses made by the celebrity’s Twitter followers had us recoiling in horror, one follower responded in a way that not only redeemed Twitter but also fashion designers in one fell swoop.
Designer Christian Siriano later told the Huffington Post: “I love Leslie and I’m a huge fan of her work. I can’t wait to create something special for her to wear. Hopefully I will see her in my studio this week to make something new and exciting… I support all women no matter age or size!”
Cut to Leslie gracing the premiere carpet in a stunning red off-the-shoulder gown and earning Siriano accolades. The designer, who has quietly been building his brand following his victorious stint on hit reality show Project Runway, has also created a capsule collection with Lane Bryant for women of all sizes.
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“My mission was always, ‘Let’s support everybody. You never know who a great customer is going to be,’ ” Siriano said in an interview with Vogue. “Growing up, my mom was a size 16 to 18, so it was just normal to dress women of all sizes.” To whit, the designer’s custom line for Lane Bryant caters specifically to women from sizes 14 to 28.
It comes as no surprise then, that First Lady Michelle Obama selected the designer, a bastion of inclusivity in a typically exclusive industry, to design the dress she wore for her landmark speech at the Democratic National Convention. The choice of demure silhouette rendered in a somber-yet-party-appropriate blue hue echoes her overall message of unity and patriotism.
