If you’ve spent any time on the corner of the internet that obsesses over Ted Lasso or the red-carpet power moves of a 5'11" powerhouse, you’ve probably seen the phrase Hannah Waddingham plus size model floating around. People love a good "before they were famous" story. We want the secret history, the grit, the visual proof of a struggle. But here’s the thing: while the internet is convinced she spent years on the runways of the curve industry, the reality is a lot more nuanced—and honestly, a bit more frustrating.
Hannah Waddingham is a goddess. That is a fact. But was she ever a professional plus-size model?
The short answer is: not exactly. But the long answer explains why everyone thinks she was and why her relationship with her body has been the biggest battle of her career.
The Modeling Days and the "Size" Problem
Back in her 20s, long before she was winning Emmys or shaming Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, Hannah did actually work as a model. She’s been open about this. She’s also been open about the fact that it was, in her words, "nonsense."
She wasn't necessarily a "plus-size model" by the industry standards of the 90s and early 2000s, which were frankly archaic. Back then, if you weren't a size 0, you were basically considered "huge." Hannah, with her athletic build and statuesque height, didn't fit the waif-like mold that dominated the era.
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"I was on the receiving end of it mostly when I was modelling back in my 20s, with some of the nonsense that misogynistic male photographers would throw at me to put me in my place." — Hannah Waddingham to Glamour.
She wasn't a "plus" girl in the way we use the term today to celebrate diverse bodies. She was just a "big" girl in a "small" industry. That distinction matters because it shaped how she was treated. She wasn't celebrated for her curves; she was often made to feel like she was taking up too much space.
Why Everyone Thinks She Was a Plus-Size Model
So, where did the Hannah Waddingham plus size model narrative come from? It's likely a mix of three things:
- Her Height: At nearly six feet tall, Hannah towers over most of her male co-stars. In the modeling world, height is standard, but in the commercial world, her "stature" often got her lumped into categories that weren't "sample size."
- The "Rebecca Welton" Effect: In Ted Lasso, her character is a fashion icon. She wears form-fitting, high-end power suits that highlight her physique. Because she doesn't look like the typical 100-pound Hollywood starlet, fans have projected a "plus-size" label onto her as a form of empowerment.
- Misremembered Interviews: She often talks about being "too big" for roles. People hear "too big" and assume she means weight. In reality, she usually means she was literally too tall to stand next to the leading man.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild how we try to categorize people. We see a woman who looks healthy, strong, and tall, and our brains immediately look for a label.
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The Casting Directors Who Blocked Her
For years, Hannah was told she wouldn't work on screen. Not because she lacked talent—the woman has a four-octave vocal range and can out-act almost anyone—but because of her "size."
She has famously said she keeps a "mental list" of casting directors who rejected her for being too tall or "not the right shape." It’s a bit of a badass move, really. She spent decades in musical theater (think Spamalot and Into the Woods) because the theater embraced her "big" energy while TV was too scared of it.
The industry basically told her: "You’re too much."
She basically replied: "Then get a bigger screen."
Height as a "Hurdle"
Let’s talk about the 5'11" elephant in the room. In Hollywood, being a tall woman is often treated like a physical disability.
- The Male Co-Star Issue: Producers often cast the man first. If the man is 5'8", they won't hire a 5'11" woman because they don't want him to look "small."
- The Slouching Habit: Hannah has admitted she spent years slouching to fit in. She tried to make herself smaller to make other people feel more comfortable.
- The Wardrobe Struggles: She’s talked about having to rip out the hems of trousers in dressing rooms just to see if they’d actually hit her ankles.
It wasn't until Ted Lasso that she finally found a creator (Jason Sudeikis) who didn't care. He told her to wear the four-inch heels. He wanted her to be the "goddess" she is. That shift from being told to "shrink" to being told to "tower" is what changed her life.
Why This Conversation Actually Matters
Even if the Hannah Waddingham plus size model label isn't technically accurate in a professional sense, the sentiment behind the search is important. People are looking for a role model who isn't a size zero and who didn't find success at 22.
Hannah found global superstardom in her 40s. She did it while being a single mom. She did it without changing her body to fit a "Hollywood" standard.
What We Can Learn From Her Journey
- Don't Dim Your Light: Her advice to women is simple: "Never slouch—physically, emotionally, or spiritually."
- Wait for Your People: She spent 20 years in the "wrong" rooms until she found the "right" one where her height and strength were assets, not liabilities.
- Strength Over Skinny: She prioritizes being "musical theatre strong"—the kind of stamina needed to perform eight shows a week.
Final Insights on the Waddingham Legacy
Whether she was a plus size model or just a model who was "too much" for a narrow-minded industry, Hannah Waddingham represents a shift in how we view beauty. She isn't a "shame nun" anymore; she’s the blueprint for how to own your space.
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If you're feeling "too big" for the room you're in, the lesson here isn't to shrink. It's to find a bigger room.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Own Body Confidence
- Audit your "slouching": Are you physically or metaphorically making yourself smaller to avoid making others uncomfortable? Stand up.
- Ignore the "Sample Size" mentality: Labels like "plus size" or "mid-size" are often just marketing terms. Focus on how your clothes feel and how your body functions.
- Look for "Waddingham Energy" in your media: Follow creators and actors who take up space. It changes your internal "normal."
- Stop waiting for a "goal weight" to start your life: Hannah's career hit "warp speed" when she embraced exactly who she was at 45.
The internet might get the "plus size model" detail wrong, but they get the "model" part right. She is a model of how to be unapologetically yourself.