why were models fuller figure back in the 50's/ older days than now?

So many male gay designers choosing the models is one reason. Plus, it was discovered that when females had womanly figures people looked more at the model then the clothes they were trying to sell. Models for the past 20 years have been called " hangers" since they are so thin that you see only the clothes and tend to ignore the girl wearing it.That made sales better.

There was some reality back in the 1950's...... we had real politicians back then - and real girls.

I don't know about that, Marilyn Monroe had a 24" waist when she posed for Playboy, that's what I had when I was a model, now I didn't have her boobs, that's for sure.

Shape has not changed but it has been fashionable to be skinny since 6o's

I'm not quite old enough to have been from that time period. But I know from talking to people of that generation. That was considered normal and attractive for the general population. I would say that this generation has a very broad and varied taste as to whats normal and liked.