What does fashion mean to you?   Fashion to me is reminiscent of when I was a little girl and I liked to play dress up. I would walk around in my mom’s heels. Often she would yell at me when I was a teenager for wearing her clothes, but I thought my mom was so stylish. Of course I am much older now, but I still like to play dress up.

5 Must Haves?   My fashion must haves include a nice cable knit sweater, a fitted dress, a pair of straight-leg jeans, an animal print top, and my accessory of choice that I normally don’t leave home without a hand fan.

Favourite Clothing Designers?  Favorite Plus Size Designers are Robert E. Knight, Tru Diva, Jibri, and Size Queen.

Style Icons?  Queen Latifah and Beyonce

Favourite clothing/jewellery stores/catalogs/websites?  Believe it or not my favorite place to shop is Ebay.com. There are not many retail shops that cater to plus size women so it tends to limit our variety of fashions. Often, my fellow plus size women ask me where I have bought certain items. I am a Queen of Ebay.com

Describe the path that has lead you to where you are in your career right now?  I have always wanted to be a model, but at the time that I started doing research about it there wasn’t a big demand. Well almost three years ago I auditioned for the pitch of a reality show. Although it wasn’t picked up by the networks I was told that I should consider professionally modeling. I started submitting my pictures for a few gigs and then attended some training classes. I also love pageants. So I competed in my first pageant in 2008 then another one in early 2009. I was also  a contestant director for a local pageant.  When I came across an ad from the New York State Director looking for contestants I sent her my email advising her I would like to be a part of her production team.  She asked me to be a judge in January 2009 then shortly after asked me to be a Regional Director. I am now the director for Miss Black Queens  and Miss Black Brooklyn as well as Miss Black Queens and Brooklyn Talented Teen.

What is the hardest thing you’ve had to deal with as a Full Figured Women thus far?  For the most part I receive great support from family, friends, and colleagues, but I have come across those people that feel plus size models are not real models which annoys me. When you have more than 60% of women in the US at a plus size it amazes me that people don’t want to recognize that.

What advice do you have for other women who would like to follow in your footsteps?  For women who would like to become plus size models do your research. Being a model is more than showing up and looking pretty for pictures. It’s physically, mentally, and financially demanding. If you are someone looking to become a producer know that production is not for everyone. It takes a lot of work, time, and energy. Also know you need a strong team. Thinking you can do it all by yourself is a no-no. 

So what can expect from you next?   I have been in discussion about producing a plus size pageant next year, but  for the remainder of this year I am assisting the New York State Director with the delegates for Miss Black New York USA. I will compete in the Miss Plus America Pageant in July. I will also be a seminar speaker for the BBW Empowerment Cruise next year.

How are you shaping the plus size community?  I would like to think that I am making a positive impact on the plus size community, but my goal is to empower all women in general regardless of size. I want to see a time where there is no separation of the sizes and hope that I had something to do with that.

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Photo credit: Tiffany Braxton featured on “How to Look Good Naked”