It is starting to get hard to keep up with all of the great resources online for plus-size models.  Some of the current familiar major resources are Plus Model Radio, Plus Model Magazine, and The Plus Academy™

The latest resource for plus-models is POSE magazine from the creative mind of Tip Jones the Director of The Plus Academy Chaorlotte as well as a million and one other things.  I want to be like Tiff when I grow up.

The magazine is another in the line of online e-zines.  With a tagline of “A unique plus lifestyle periodical” you will quickly see what sets POSE apart from other resources of the same type.  The first unique feature is the entire issue is in black and white lending itself to a gritty classic look that makes the photos look amazing.  Without giving away to much of the magazine.

You should read it for yourself you will get the feel of having a conversation with an insider in the plus modeling industry.  The next cool feature is the photos give me a feeling of looking at everyday people not some unrealistic fantasy.  Kudos to the photography staff for this accomplishment.

Don’t forget to enter the contest for your chance to win two tickets to the opening night Full Figured Fashion Week™ Cruise!

The names dropped in the magazine will be familiar to most.  Gwen DeVoe, Madeline Figueroa-Jones, Tiffany Jones, The Plus Academy CHARLOTTE to name a few.  The editorials give you a chance to get to know industry insiders in a way that is not stuffy or over the top.  The photos are fresh and classic.  Who say plus-size women are not gorgeous?  To the critics I say spend $5 and subscribe to get the low down on what curvy modeling is all about.

“POSE Magazine ™, a plus lifestyle magazine, is a unique periodical
providing a sound platform for the “aspiring” designer, artist, inventor,
entrepreneur, model, dancer, and many others. POSE isn’t reinventing the
wheel. It’s just going in a different direction.”

The debut layout is a fierce, black and white vintage style paying homage to the natural “fabulousness” of real women & the latest additions to the plus modeling industry, The Plus Academy CHARLOTTE Class of Spring 2011. – POSE MAGAZINE

In addition to the magazine be sure to follow POSE on Facebook to get a sneak peek into the behind the scences action plus learn more about the world of plus-size modeling.

Suggestion:  If you are looking to get more information about getting a career started in plus-modeling look to resources like POSE.  The information and experience you gain will be invaluable to getting your modeling career off the ground.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

Plus size women do not get the recognition they deserve.  For that reason the Plus Size Beauty of the Week was started on Full Figure Plus.  I am so excited to bring to you an interview with a former FFP Beauty of the week Nina Taylor who as you will learn is absolutely shooting for the stars!

Full Figure Plus – Where are you from?

Nina Taylor: I am from Washington DC.

FFP: How long have you been modeling?

NT: I have been modeling for a little over 2 years now.

FFP: What inspired you to start modeling?

NT: Modeling wasn’t something I ever saw for myself. Initially, I counted myself out because I was too short and over a size 18. I was doing makeup behind the scenes for a straight size model. The photographer wanted to test the lights and asked me on set. He shot 10 images of me and told me I belong in front of the camera not behind it. He saw something in me and that sparked my interest in modeling. I did my research, networked and made connections and started going after opportunities when I felt my body of work was good enough.

FFP: What are your thoughts on the state of plus size modeling?

NT: I feel that it is evolving, we’ve come a long way..however we still have a long way to go. We should all work to continue to put a face and voice to the plus size women that feel under represented in fashion and beauty. We need to continue to break down the barriers of fashion that in the past have been exclusionary to women of size, while also creating our own platforms to continue to showcase the visionaries within the industry.

FFP: What models do you look to for inspiration?

NT: So many models inspire me, I love Crystal Renn’s honesty and drive. I think Mia Amber and Fluvia Lacerda are stunning and I am often inspired by up and coming and aspiring models. Their determination and creativity inspire me.

FFP: Has your education helped in how you view modeling?

NT: This industry is full of business minded and educated women. My education and business savvy has helped me maintain a spot in the industry, school has also taught me that nothing is given to you, you have to work extremely hard and hustle to get what you want. In graduate school I had a professor that started the first day of class by saying “Begin with the end in mind” I live by that now, that all the hard work will pay off in the end.

FFP: How does it feel to be chosen as the face of Full Figured Fashion Week™?

NT: Wow, it’s a tremendous honor and opportunity. It’s been great getting to know the beautiful women I was running with and equally amazing getting to know the people behind the scenes of Full Figured Fashion Week™. I was ecstatic to find out I won, and beyond that felt completely blessed that I was able to accomplish another goal. I am still on high even though the announcement was 2 weeks ago. LOL

FFP: How did you get involved in the Miss Plus America Pageant?

NT: Growing up I wasn’t very girly. I would wear a dress occasionally but they didn’t work well for climbing trees. After I finished grad school I was set on going back to school to work on my PhD. My Dad asked me to sit out for a year or 2 and do some of the things I have always wanted to do because I had been in school for 20 years. LOL I put pageantry on there because I love to compete, I love community service and I loved being on stage. I wanted to challenge myself to see if I had what it takes. I started looking online for options and fell in love with the MPA system. I started meeting my sister queens and quickly realized it was the perfect fit. I compete for the national title in July and I am excited to do it!

FFP: What advice do you have for aspiring models?

NT: My number one advice would be to do your research. Research the industry, where you fall within the industry, who the key players are, where there is an unfulfilled opportunity. Another piece of advice is to not get discouraged. There are SO many girls that want to be plus size models, you have be committed and determined to shine among the masses. It’s not easy, but when you accomplish a goal you set for yourself its worth it.

FFP: What is next for Nina Taylor?

NT: After FFFWeek™ I am going into Pageant mode. Hopefully I will come back home from Texas with the title of Miss Plus America 2011. I plan to continue my community service and working with teens. I will also continue to work on obtaining agency representation. Perhaps a big move to New York?! Who knows but I am excited about all of it.

I want to thank Nina for taking the time out to talk with me.  I look forward to bringing a followup interview with her once we get to New York this Summer.  Remember if you want to be featured in an interview or have your picture featured as the FFP Beauty of the Week click here.  See you on the next interview.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

There have been plenty of ground breaking events associated with Full Figured Fashion Week but I think the inclusion of Big and Tall Male models takes the cake. Last year when I attended I was one of few men surrounded by a sea of lovely ladies. This year that is going to change with the inclusion of men during the events. Fellas I know that I normally don’t push events for men on Full Figure Plus, but an event of this size needs to be heeded.

Why is this important?  Just like FFF Week in its first year was important for the ladies the inclusion of men this year will give some focus to men that want to dress in more than just jeans and a tshirt.  I personally can’t wait to see what the men have to offer.  If you are in the area on March 23 then bring your A-game and your photos to the audition!

CALLING ALL BIG AND TALL MALES: Do you have what it takes to walk the runway? Well here’s your chance to show and prove: Full Figured Fashion Week announces its first ever MALE MODEL SEARCH!

The casting will be held Tuesday MARCH 23, 6:30-8:30PM at
Ripley Grier Studios
520 8th Ave bt. 36th and 37th Streets
10th flr – room 10A
New York City.

Bring a headshot and full length photo.

RSVP: BklynGurl@gmail .com

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

Full Figured Fashion Week is off to the races!  The host hotels have been announced via the events Facebook page.  As an attendee of last years events this sold out fast so I would suggest you book your room now!  Stay tuned to the Facebook page and sign up to the newsletter on the FFFWeek website so you won’t be left out!

In case you have been living under a rock Full Figured Fashion Week is June 16-19, 2010 in New York City.  Last years show broke new ground in the realm of plus size fashion, modeling, design and more!  People came from around the world to share in the brainchild of event creator Gwen Devoe.  Let me tell you again from first hand knowledge this is not an even you want to miss!

FFFWeek Host Hotel:
Sheraton Manhattan
790 7th Avenue (@ 51st Street)
New York, NY
888-627-7068 *Use Code FFFWeek
$219/nt + tax (Single or Double)
ROOM BLOCK CLOSES MAY 15, 2010

FFFWeek Host Hotel:
Staybridge Suites (all suite property)
334 West 40th Street (bet. 7th and 8th Aves.)
New York, NY
888-233-0369 * Use Code FFFWeek 2010
HOTEL OFFICIALLY OPENS MARCH 1, 2010
$209/NT + tax (King Studio), $229/nt + tax (Double/Double Studio)
ROOM BLOCK CLOSES APRIL 16, 2010

FFFWeek Host Hotel:
Holiday Inn Express MSG
232 West 29th Street (bet. 7th and 8th Aves.)
New York, NY
(212) 695-7200 *Use Group Code: FFFWeek
$199/nt + tax (Double)
ROOM BLOCK CLOSES ON MAY 16, 2010

FFFWeek Host Hotel:
W Times Square
1567 Broadway (bet. 48th and 49th Sts.)
New York, NY
(212) 930-7400 *Use Group Code: FFFWeek
$269/nt + tax (Double)

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

When it comes to the designers featured during last weeks runway show I must say that I was amazed at the creativity and passion poured into every garment.  The fit on the ladies was perfect in every way.  It would not only be impossible but unfair to say which designer was my favorite.  All I can say is they opened my eyes up to the possibilities of plus size fashion on a couture level as well as everyday wear meaning there are definitely options out there for curvy women REGARDLESS of size.

Ashely Stewart

Agape Goddess Wear

Big Girls United (BGU)

Monif C

Candi Apple Couture

LaMaica Fashions

Osun Designs

Sealed with a Kisss(SWAK)

Qristyl Frazier Designs

Robert E. Knight

Jewel Shannon Designs

The best part of the show for me was the ending.  Seeing curvy women strutting their stuff in swimwear did my heart joy.  All of the amazing photos that you see are courtesy of Richard Lew Photography.  Check out his website to see all of the photos taken that night as well as his other work.

Hats off to all of the designers for showing that regardless of size you can look great in your clothes.  Every garment that I saw looked great on the ladies in every way which is what I would expect to come from a designer catering to women of size.  Be sure to check out the websites of each of the designers and be sure to tell them when you make a purchase that you were referred by Full Figure Plus.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

Trying to condense all of the historical events of the last four days of the first ever Full Figured Fashion Week would be  impossible, therefore I am not going to try. I will talk about each of the individual events that I was a part of in separate posts meaning you will have to say tuned for that.  What I can say though being a gentleman from the South as I was called on a few occasions I witnessed the largest collection of sexy, voluptuous, curvy, confident, gorgeous women ever in the history of curvy fashion.  The workshops and a runway show represented the curvy community in an unprecedented way creating a ripple affect large enough to be felt for many years beyond this past weekend!

From the moment I met the other members of the Curvy Collective, Full Figure Plus readers, Gwen Devoe, Sharon Quinn, FFF Week Cover Model Teslyn Butler, models and other supporters I knew that I was in a special place with special people.  The highlight of my personal involvement was speaking on the State of the Curvy Community discussion.  Hearing the words of ladies that I have wrote about on many occasions was awesome to say the least.

The shopping party on Saturday was great it introduced me to designers that dedicate all of their creative juices to the curvy woman as well as accessory designers selling plenty of jewelry to compliment all of the great clothes on hand.  To the young lady, she knows who she is, who was in charge of organizing the shopping soiree everything went great.  Ladies shopped, their was plenty of positive buzz in the room meaning everyone including me had a good time.

The runway finale hosted by Kim Coles almost left me speechless.  The clothes shown were fabulous as well as the ladies that modeled them.  From a plus size bloggers stand point of view witnessing the events was the equivalent to hitting the lottery.  I knew before I left that the events would be over the top I just had no idea of the level of professionalism and elegance destined to unfold before my eyes.  My words do not even come close to doing justice to what Gwen Devoe and all of those behind the scenes people presented to those in attendance.  I can believe this event was two years in the making additionally, I feel this will be an ongoing event.

For the most part everything I will have to say about Full Figured Fashion Week will be positive.  Being a realist I have to speak on the media representation or lack there of during this ground breaking event.  Of the press represented in attendance there was in my opinion absolutely NO coverage from mainstream media.  I heard rumor that one of the photographers was from traditional media but that was it.  There was an article in the Daily Beast but, I have to be honest the article seemed to dance around talking about the actual week and discuss more unrelated things, maybe I am just to sensitive.  I can only hope that the independant photographers have relationships with the right people to get them pictures and let them know what really went on.  There was a lot of “if I had known” conversations going around when I spoke to media reps which disappointed me because between myself and the other members of the Curvy Collective we blasted the Internet and other social networking communities with announcements of Full Figured Fashion Week  events for weeks.

To the world outside of the curvy community let me tell you that you missed history.  Whatever excuse you have for not attending honestly, if you had wanted to be there you would have, but on the other hand we don’t need you for validation.  As long as blogs like Full Figure Plus exist featuring ladies I had the pleasure of meeting like Rocky Grate this weeks plus size beauty of the week there is no need for mainstream media to muddy up the waters reporting something you know nothing about.

Full Figured Fashion Week IS a force of nature.  It will move on its own without regard to those in its path.  For those that bore witness when the revolution begins you will be able to tell everyone where you were on June 25-27, 2009.  Those not in attendance what you missed was the equivalent to snow in July.  In other words it was really special.  As I stated earlier I will break down each of the events that I was personally involved with and end with giving my predictions for the future of the curvy community and all of its individual niches.

Bottomline, Full Figured Fashion Week forever changed my viewpoint of fashion for plus size women.  I thank everyone that allowed me to be a part of these ground breaking events!  Even after 5 years of reporting I see that I still have a lot to learn about things.  Stay tuned for more recaps of the week that made curvy history!

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women