One of the longest running features on Full Figure Plus has been the Plus Size Beauty of the week.  In two and a half years 127 young ladies have been featured for seven days on the front page of this blog.

Why feature who in most cases are ladies that I do not know?  Its pretty simple when it comes to beauty in the world today there are far to many examples for ladies to look to beyond a size 6.  The ladies featured hear come from all walks of life, all levels of modeling, and all levels of self confidence.  There have been a few times I have thought to end the series but a submission comes in from a young lady stating the beauty of the week was one of the first things they noticed and it inspired them to submit.

If you submit your photo you WILL be featured!

Where do I take things from here? Honestly I don’t know which is why I need you guys to help me out.  Do you think I should keep things the same as they have been over time or should I make some changes to increase visibility or end it and concentrate more on fashion and less on modeling.

 My personal thoughts on the matter is to keep things going as is meaning that submissions will continue to come in and I will continue to post ladies.  Forgive me for rambling but I would like to feature you guys in a big way but I am not sure how.

For those not familiar with what the PBOTW is all about here are the quick details:

Photos will be accepted if you:

1. Send a full body picture
2. Are a size 14 and above
3. Pose in swimwear or sexy lingerie
4. Are of any race, ethnicity, or nationality (sorry we can’t see what religion you are – *bad pun*)

Photos will be rejected if you:

1. Send a head shot only
2. Send a grainy cell phone photo
3. Send a nude photo
4. Are below a size 14

See that’s it the rules are simple.  Send your submissions to beautyoftheweek@fullfigureplus.com and that’s it.  Photos are chosen randomly to be featured unless there is an exceptional news worthy angle connected to a submission which will push it to the top of the pile.  Otherwise if you submit you will be featured.  It may not be this week but it will happen that much I promise.  Send your pictures in now for your chance in the spotlight!

Past ladies featured here have been seen doing bigger and better things.  Nina Taylor was featured as the face of Full Figured Fashion Week, Nicole Esperanza Zepeda won the City Chic Modeling competition, and fellow blogger Sarah from Queen Sized Flava.  On the other side the bulk of the submissions come from ladies who have no professional modeling aspirations but what to show the world their beauty.  I want to emphasize that this segment is about celebrating the plus size silhouette PERIOD.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A ASPIRING OR WORKING MODEL TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS!  I WOULD PREFER TO GET MORE PHOTOS FROM REGULAR LADIES WHO LOVE THEMSELVES AND ARE NOT SCARED TO SHOW IT OFF!

In closing all I can say is help.  Let me know your thoughts on the PSBOTW and what direction it should take next.

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

It is that time of the year to update the longest running segment on Full Figure Plus.  The Plus Size Beauty of the Week started in 2007 with a Youtube video and has continued with submissions to this very day.  Ladies from around the world of all colors and nationalities have been featured one week at a time.

Recently I received an email stating I should change the rules about swimwear and lingerie because it was not true.  Let me clear things up by saying this;  It is not required that you send in photos in swimwear or lingerie.  Photos of this type WILL be accepted as long as they are tastefully done.  I hope this clears the air so we can move on.  In case you guys are wondering about the guidelines they are listed below as always.  If your photo fits into the accepted category you WILL be featured.  If your photo does not meet the minimum it will not appear.

Example of an acceptable photo:

Photos will be accepted if you:

1. Send a full body picture
2. Are a size 14 and above
3. Pose in swimwear or sexy lingerie
4. Are of any race, ethnicity, or nationality (sorry we can’t see what religion you are – *bad pun*)

Photos will be rejected if you:

1. Send a head shot only
2. Send a grainy cell phone photo
3. Send a nude photo
4. Are below a size 14

See that’s it the rules are simple.  Send your submissions to beautyoftheweek@fullfigureplus.com and that’s it.  Photos are chosen randomly to be featured unless there is an exceptional news worthy angle connected to a submission which will push it to the top of the pile.  Otherwise if you submit you will be featured.  It may not be this week but it will happen that much I promise.  Send your pictures in now for your chance in the spotlight!

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

It has been three years since the Beauty of the Week segment was started on Full Figure Plus.  In that time dozens of beautiful plus size women from around the world have been featured.  With the amount of submissions I have already a new lady will be featured for the next twelve months.  For those who are new to Full Figure Plus this segment started with me just wanting to give back to the readers who have allowed me to serve them over the years.

Since that time there have been literally hundreds of emails and submissions from ladies who are proud of who they are and want to have their moment in the spotlight.  Recently, a first for the beauty of the week a group of ladies were featured when the Curvy Collective from Full Figured Fashion Week(end)™ hit the runway.  But enough about the journey down memory lane about the beauty of the week, it is that time of the year to remind you guys of the submission rules and a few changes that have been made since the last update.

Photos will be accepted if you:

1. Send a full body picture
2. Are a size 16 and above
3. Pose in swimwear or sexy lingerie
4. Are of any race, ethnicity, or nationality (sorry we can’t see what religion you are – *bad pun*)

Photos will be rejected if you:

1. Send a head shot only
2. Send a grainy cell phone photo
3. Send a nude photo
4. Are below a size 16

See that’s it the rules are simple.  Send your submissions to beautyoftheweek@fullfigureplus.com and that’s it.  Photos are chosen randomly to be featured unless there is an exceptional news worthy angle connected to a submission which will push it to the top of the pile.  Otherwise if you submit you will be featured.  It may not be this week but it will happen that much I promise.  In the mean time congratulations to this weeks Beauty Tamara Taylor who will be featured for the next seven days.  Send your pictures in now for your chance in the spotlight!

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

Never did I think almost two years ago when I started a project to show my appreciation for plus size women around the world would there still be ladies submitting their photos and asking questions about how to get into the world of modeling.  Since the original project started in April of 2008 quick stats are:

• 134 submitted photos
• 64 ladies featured so far (70 and counting waiting to be featured)
• Ladies from 5 countries have submitted photos
• 74% of submissions come from ladies with limited modeling experience
• 10 ethnic backgrounds

What keeps me excited about the PSBOTW is that ladies are viewing it as a gateway into the modeling industry which I view as a sign that plus modeling is not only here to stay but is growing at a steady pace despite what critics have to say.  Additionally, this segment has been sponsored as a way of thanking the ladies for their submissions currently I am looking for a full time sponsor of this segment.  If you are interested contact be via the blog contact form.

With that being said I am excited about this weeks beauty because of the ties to Full Figured Fashion Week™.  This weeks beauty is none other than the face of Full Figured Fashion Week™ Rosie Mercado!  As you can see from the photo below Rosie is stunningly beautiful showing that when it comes to beauty it does not matter what your size is.  She will be featured on the homepage of FFP for the next seven days as most of you are already aware of.  Remember ladies that to be featured the only requirement is that you be a size 16 or above.

Everything will stay the same as far as photos being submitted to beautyoftheweek@fullfigureplus.com.  Their is no need to wonder if you will be featured the only requirement is you be plus size and the photos be clear enough to be shown.  For you legal eagles out their read below for the specific details of what it takes to submit your photos.

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

One thing that I can brag about is the the Plus Size Beauty of the Week segment has been going strong for over two years! Dozens of ladies have been featured a few times businesses have been gracious enough to sponsor the weekly spots.

What does all of this mean?  It means that over the last few years more ladies are confident enough to show off their assets to show the world that plus size beauty is here to stay.  With events like Full Figured Fashion Week on the horizon plus size modeling and plus size activities in general are getting stronger everyday.

What is new with PSBOTW on Full Figure Plus?  For one if any lady such as Sonja Freeman the current beauty who has anything of note in their background they are guaranteed to have a full post about their activities on FFP.  There will be a time when sponsors like IGIGI will be back to support the efforts of the ladies so stay tuned!

How do you get involved?  Submit your photo, at least from the waist up to beautyoftheweek@fullfigureplus.com and that’s it.  Each lady will be featured on FFP for seven days.

Minor details

1. No nude photos
2. If your photo is the size of a postage stamp it will be automatically rejected
3. Photos will be featured regardless there is no time frame as to when it will go live

If you have any suggestions as to how the PSBOTW is being run feel free to comment or email me.  Other than that I want to thank every lady who has submitted photos as well as those who have been featured.  Stay tuned for a special project involving the beauty of the week!

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

The beauty of the week rolls on even during the holidays.  This weeks beauty is Marie Cothia.  what I have been enjoying about the photos submitted is not knowing what story will be revealed.  Marie was a contestant earlier this year in the Miss NYC Plus beauty pageant. Thinking back on the time I was in New York for Full Figured Fashion Week we probably crossed paths without knowing it.  Below are Marie’s own words on the contest and on being beauty of the week.

Thank so much for choosing me as Plus Size Beauty of the week! I am excited especially since it is Christmas week! Yes, I was a plus size beauty pageant finalist contestant for Miss NYC Plus in march of 2009. It was a great experience even if I did not win the pageant the experience will be with me for a long time! I had fun getting to know the contestants and made friends at the pageant. It was a fast paced ongoing activity that involved changing attire for each beauty segment, we had a great makeup artist who made us all dolled up.  Segments included  punkwear/rockwear look, trenchcoat fashion 5th ave/park ave look and lets not forget the evening gown attire look. There was also the talent/speech section and let’s not forget the runway look! Awards were given for queen  for each borough of the city and finally the award and crown of Miss NYC Plus! Overall it was a great experience.

There you have it the words of this weeks beauty.  Just like all of the past winners Marie will be featured for the next seven days.  Due to some changes I am not sure if the IGIGI.com Sponsorship is still in place, when I find out I will let you guys know so you can vote on the winner of the grand prize.  Congratulations again to Marie and remember all you need to enter is a full body photo and an email address.

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