Join The Curvy Revolution and Stephanie Conover at The Fuller Woman Expo

Press Release

Where: 5230 Dundas Street
Unit 2 Suite 605
Etobicoke ON, M9B 1A8
Fuller Woman Expo
info@thefullerwomanexpo.com
When: September 13-14

There is an increasing acceptance of the plus-size woman due to the fact that the average woman is now a size 14/16, the plus-size market is a consequence of the dramatic increase in the average body size.
One of Canada’s more prominent plus-size trend setters is Stephanie Conover, a Toronto based singer, dancer, actor and model who was named Miss Canada Plus in the 2007 Miss Canada Plus Pageant; an annual event for Canadian plus sized women that helps to reinforce their self-esteem and self-image.

“The pageant is about breaking down negative stereotypes that surround plus size women,” says Conover, “we’re dispelling the negative myths and raising up women of all shapes and sizes and promoting acceptance and diversity.”  Conover comments that the word  “plus” has been seen as a negative; “There has been a negative stigma surrounding that word, but we are reclaiming the word plus,” she adds.  Being plus size her whole life, Conover says that she struggled with low self-esteem and body image issues; “I was teased my whole life and criticized by the people around me even though I was a competitive gymnast and excelled at sports, there was still a lot of expectation for me to lose weight.”

Miss Canada Plus Conover finally started to come into her own and love her body when she became a
teenager. “I started to stand up and take charge and be counted,” says Conover. She also found that as a woman of both white and black roots, her curves were more accepted by black males than the white males. “I found it was a lot more welcoming for curvy girls and thick women in the black community,” she says.
For Stephanie, being plus-size means being above and beyond; “Plus is positive now for me,” she says, “It means standing up and showing off…showing up and not shutting up.”

In her fight to help plus-size women and young plus-size girls accept themselves, Stephanie says that she is showing them that it’s no longer a negative to be a plus and that plus was never a negative to begin with. “Plus is more and you should love yourself at any size.” Conover’s message to plus-size women and girls is that you’re body is your temple, love it just the way it is but take care of it. And for those who want to be healthy but believe that going to the gym might be time consuming, Conover says, “Staying healthy does not mean just going to the gym. It’s your eating habits as well.” Stephanie will be a special guest at The Fuller Woman Expo (TFW Expo) this September 2008. TFW Expo is Canada’s first plus-size woman consumer trade
show being held at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. More details on The Fuller Woman Expo website.

To become one of the Plus Size beauties of the week submit your photos to beautyoftheweek@fullfigureplus.com
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