July 2014 POSE Magazine

G'WRN I DRRE vau

POSE

POSE

Letter-----Editor from the

"Don't wish for it, work for it." - Gwen Devoe From achieving your fittest physique to building better relationships to managing money better, this quote by Full Figured Fashion Week's visionary and executive producer applies.

Folks will tell you, "if you want it, go get it!" Often the response is, "HOW?" Well, I am happy to inform you that the solution is super simple to explain and historically challenging to implement: it begins in your mind first. Change your mind about what you can achieve and the work will be the easy part.

Overcoming self-doubt (what I believe is the core of"making a wish") is the line drawn in the sand separating you from your healthy confidence and that dreadful insecurity. You must work to cross that line. The work starts with a thought. The thought leads to an action. That singular action multiplies. Those many actions lead to behaviors. Those behaviors transform into mindsets. Finally, the mindsets lead to legacy-building.

Here's my "from wish-to-work" story (in progress): Once I believe I can see myselfliving a healthy, active lifestyle (which I am currently working on), I find ways to make that vision become my reality. I grab my Shaun T. dvd, slip it into the dvd player and start moving this body. I begin substituting nutritious foods for the not-so-good-for-you food I've grown up on. This becomes a weekly practice then a daily practice. Soon, my lifestyle takes new shape along with my physique as I continue to adopt these behaviors. Within a year or so, I can't imagine going back to where I was. My mind has finally changed and now I can greatly impact my child's life by sharing my journey and legacy of health-focused living with him.

This all requires work .. . not wishing.

Today, I implore you to set a goal. (Write it down.) Read it daily and find every good way you can work towards it.

To the top,

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Katrina Parker's life as one of pop's latest idols has been a roller coaster ride. Her abrupt shift from the office cubicle to the stage has brought hope to aspiring singers the world over. The star has received stellar reviews, despite being eliminated as a contestant on The Voice. Music reviewers for the Rolling Stone magazine have hailed her as an icon that embodies the talent quest series. Others who laud her performances are Unreality TV, the LA Times and Pop Crush, celebrated music publications that praise her voice as being passionate, dynamic and tender.

The singer is clearly regarded for her powerful alto vocals that soothe and convey fervor. Their soulful resonance has the ability to draw audiences, making them feel as though they are talking to her. Katrina's unique voice has a raspy nature that identifies her at once. Tulsa Weekly has praised her cabaret-like voice as being "smoky" and a "show-stopper". The combination of a husky timbre and soulfulness has won the hearts of millions.

Other than being blessed with a penetrating voice, the new star has definite musical ability and flair. She hardly ever misses a beat. Her stage presence and connection with audiences is unmistakable. To add, Katrina displays a high degree of professionalism, despite being one of the recording industry's newest stars. Ofher relationship with coach Adam Levine, she remarked that she viewed him as nothing more than a singing teacher. But above all these endearing qualities is a heartening, down-to-earth warmth.

The unassuming singer is best remembered for her work on The Voice.

She wowed audiences with a dynamic performance of Pink's Perfect, showcasing vocals with a strong, raspy tone. Her singing of the song was soulful as it was flawless. Her renditions of Jar of Hearts and Joan Osborne ' s One of Us were filled with feeling. Poignant deliveries, they showed her maturity as a singer and are among her most memorable. In a surprising tum, she defeated judge favorite Angel Taylor in the battle round of the competition. The Voice coach and pop icon Christina Aguilera flattered her by comparing her vocals to Adele ' s. In an interview with Wet Paint, she confessed to having an emotional connection to the British soul singer's music and expressed a desire to emulate her knack of bringing people to tears. She does this effortlessly and mirrors Adele's looks as well.

America's answer to Adele won the country's support in the singing competition, ending her journey with the show after her semi-final performance of Roberta Flack's Killing Me Softly with his Song.

Ironically, this performance was one of her best. Her musical passion and rapport with the audience was clear. The judges' decision to eliminate her from the competition sparked television controversy. Her removal from the show left Adam Levine's team with only one singer.

His frustrated outburst after Katrina's final performance reflects how devastated he was to lose one of the best singers on his team.

Similar dramatic twists have packed Katrina's life since leaving the show. In interviews, she reflected that the celebrity journey has not been plain sailing. Now trekking on stardom's tough road, she has been busy performing at various events in the Los Angeles and California area. This includes a performance at a Los Angeles Dodger's home game, at which she sang America's National Anthem. The song drew praise from former coach Adam. She wowed audiences again with her appearance on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show in 2012.

Other than performing, promotional activities for her new album have been keeping the singer busy. She has sought financial backing and a record label, ultimately relying on Kickstarter and the help of her fans.

Her efforts paid off in the form of her debut work, In and Out of the Dark, fully funded by her ardent supporters. The completely developed album reflects the tumult of past three to four years of her life.

Reviewers note her wisdom for having all her material ready before

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releasing it, praising her as being considerate of her fans. Other than being a showcase of her remarkable talent, the work relates the story of Katrina's arduous musical journey and shows the singer's gritty resilience.

Katrina released In and Out of the Dark, with fanfare, at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on September 10th last year. The diligent singer has promoted her work on the Internet platforms Twitter and Yahoo Music.

Her debut album is a mix ofradio-friendly tunes and heartfelt songs in the vein of Jar of Hearts, all available on !Tunes.

The title track, which has the same name as the album, traces the ups and downs of Katrina's musical journey. Upbeat rhythms show her positive and resolute outlook. These traits are also reflected by her rising vocals, woven through the chorus with on-pitch clarity and certainty. She reveals this optimistic nature with the songs Oh Yes and No Downside, which have similar, rousing rhythms. As expected, she powers these songs with clear, ascending vocals.

These well-executed techniques and thoughtful lyrics remind her fans that she is not a star with her head in the clouds. With a slower rhythm and quiet feel, the song White Picket Fences reminds everyone that life as a celebrity is no fairy tale. A few other songs show her unflappable courage. The track Hang Me Out to Dry speaks out clearly against all who run others down, with Katrina's tough, fighting spirit obvious in the dynamic vocals of the chorus.

Katrina addresses both resilience and romance in the album's songs. She presents the alluring track What' II I Do, a slow, romantic number that harmonizes her tear-jerking vocals to produce a soulful timbre. The singer's debut work also shows a connection to songs of yesteryear. It includes a fear-filled cover of Dolly Parton's Jolene. With a slower rhythm and a heavy drumbeat, her improvisation reflects a woman's fear of having her loved one stolen by another in a better way than the original.

Album promotions are making their rounds on social media and reception has been largely positive. Adoring fans of Katrina should not miss out on her debut tracks. If her singing on The Voice is a benchmark, her latest album will not disappoint. For fans who wish to catch up with her latest endeavors, the sultry singer has been busy with a cover of Once Upon A Dream, sung in honor of the latest Hollywood release, Maleficent, starring the equally ravishing Angelina Jolie.

The world continues to watch the progress of music's latest rising star. visit magpose.com

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restoring hope Sharon "Shay" Curry Bell didn't trust anyone. The last stretch of prison time for attempted murder had earned her eight years in one of the most dangerous prisons in America, Julia Tutwiler, and the only women's prison in the state of Alabama. Overcrowded and dangerous as it was, Shay was comfortable there. She knew how to live there. She knew what was expected of her every moment of every day.

So when the smiling, red-headed woman standing before her in the door ofa beautiful mansion welcomed her into her home, Shay's reaction was fear. "They've tricked me again. DOC has tricked me!" Shay didn't believe that she would be allowed to leave prison to go live in a mansion. She did not trust this new Lovelady Whole-Way House Program, or this feisty lady who wanted to show female prisoners how to live normal lives.

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A Heartwarming True Story of Grace, God, and Gumption

BRENDA SPAHN a+td !RENE ZUTELL

For Brenda Spahn, comfort was a lifestyle. Making money was her passion - until circumstances threatened to change her life forever. In those dark moments, Brenda cried out to God. She began a prison ministry and spent time with women serving sentences in one of the worst places in America. And what she found was that when the women left prison, they had no way to build a foundation which would enable them to leave the old life behind.

What she found prompted a God-inspired decision.

Brenda fought the system and begged the Alabama Department of Corrections to allow her to take female inmates into her home and help them learn to live in the outside world. She wanted to help end the cycle of incarceration, to give them hope, and to introduce them to the love of Christ.

This is the story of Brenda' s journey from rags to riches to redemption.

It's the story of the first year of her "Whole Way House" and of the astonishing lives of the first seven women who came to call her "Miss Brenda." It's a story that testifies to the power of faith and how God changes hearts every day.

"Here we have a very unique story .... Here is a woman who never believed she would look into a prison and see a call," said LIFE Today's James Robison.

For ten years, The Lovelady Center - as it is now called, has been a beacon of hope to thousands of broken women and children in Alabama.

It is not a shelter that offers a temporary solution to a life problem.

Society puts a band-aid over the wound - but the wound does not heal.

Rather, it is a life-changing program with the goal of providing the tools necessary to overcome barriers to success.

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Women enter the 9-12 month program from a variety of situations.

Some are released to from prison, some are referred by the courts, family courts, probation officers, and some admit themselves into the program, wanting to change their lives.

At any given time, there are 400 women and about 100 children in the Lovelady program. They receive food, shelter, counseling, education, life-skills classes, parenting classes, medical, dental and vision services, job training, job placement, and a host of other services designed to make them ready for a productive life.

"Miss Brenda and the Loveladies" is available wherever books and eBooks are sold. More information is available at www.loveladycenter.org.

Could you benefit from reading this inspiring book?

Email gooddeeds@magpose.com and tell us your story.

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An interview with blogger and creator of the

Fi1tkini

Gabi Gregg

by Cher Tushiah

Unless you were living under a rock in the summer of 2012, you've definitely heard of the "Fatkini Movement" which all started when plus sized blogger. Gabi Gregg, decided to post a photograph of herself in a (OMG!) bikini. Well. the world noticed the plus sized beauty; both fans and critics alike. But that was SO two years ago. Since then. the former MTV Twitter Jockey and Plus Size Blogger Extraordinaire has been busy designing bikinis so that each and every girl can have her "Fatkini" moment. Today, POSE Magazine sits down with Gabi to discuss the movement that brought fat chicks out onto the beach in droves. body confidence and how every BODY is flawless.

PM: The fatkini movement all started with a random photo you snapped of yourself in a bikini. Suddenly, the internet was crazy with "Fat woman wears a bikini, IN PUBLIC". Where do you think all the hype came from?

Did you expect the international reaction?

GG: No, I didn ' t expect an international reaction, especially in the beginning. I started blogging in 2008 and I posted a picture of myself in a one piece [swimsuit] by MonifC. maybe the second year I was blogging to show that fat women could be on the beach as well. Then the next year, I was really looking for a two piece [swimsuit] but it was so hard to find bikinis that were cute in my size. I eventually found a hot pink one from Figleaf.com and I wore that. All my readers really loved it and were so inspired by seeing a plus sized woman in a bikini.

The next summer, Monif C. and all these different designers suddenly started making bikinis, which was really exciting because it had been so hard the previous year to find one. Then, I had worn this black and white striped bikini that summer and that's when I decided to make a gallery for XO Jane (an online magazine) showing that many different women in all different sizes can wear two pieces. I asked some women on the internet, would you be comfortable showing yourself in a bikini and they all started sending in their pictures. That's when it really went viral; once people saw all the different body shapes and sizes. The next summer after that, I was asked to collaborate on a collection with Swimsuits for All.

PM: There was so much controversy surrounding the gallery, even from within the plus sized community itself. Women were stating that you weren't even very fat, you didn't have cellulite, you didn't have flab, etc., despite being a size 18 at the time. Did you find it disappointing that the very women you were attempting to empower were turning against you in some capacity?

GG: Not really. The vast majority of the reactions were all positive.

Most of the negative reactions were from the general public, random strangers outside the plus community who were saying my body was gross. There was a very small minority of women on Jezebel.com who reacted by saying I wasn't "flabby enough", but beyond that, I didn't see it too much. That was the part that was disappointing though, the fact that they missed the point of what I was trying to do, which was to empower women and show that not only thin women can be seen in bikinis on the beach. That was why I did the gallery. I wanted to show that all women could do this.

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PM: Ultimately, once the fervor all died down, you became the hero of most plus size women everywhere and sparked the now infamous "Fatkini" movement which has empowered women of all sizes to put on their swimsuits and strut their stuff. How did that make you feel?

GG: It made me feel amazing and humbled and excited because I really have seen a significant shift in the way women are talking about their bodies. I can 't even tell you how big this movement has gotten. It's so much bigger than me. I've seen so many women posting pies of themselves in swimwear and using the hash tag "#fatkini" and they might not even know who I am! They don ' t even know that I started something. They just know that they have seen other women, say, on Tumblr wearing bikinis and it inspired them. So I think you have a domino effect there, which is really exciting. It makes me happy. I mean, obviously, I am excited to be working with Swimsuits for All, but the bigger picture is that women in general are wearing bikinis now, no matter where they buy them from.

PM: Speaking of Swimsuits for All, last year you collaborated with them on a collection of bikinis and cover ups, sizes 8 thorough 24, and it was a huge success. This year, you teamed up with them again to create what's being called "The Perfect Plus Size Bikini".

What were your major considerations when designing this particular bikini as opposed to the previous one?

GG: The main thing I wanted to incorporate was a more supportive top.

I loved my Galaxy suit from the first collection. That's my baby. I'm glad it went viral. It was a really cool design, but I really wanted something more supportive this year. We are designing for plus sized women and we really need underwires in our tops. I made sure to tell Swimsuits for All this time around to make sure there is a more supportive bust. We also made sure it was a little wider around the back. I also loved the little cut out details on the bottoms, the little hot pink slashes. It just feels very on trend. I'm really loving the 90's right now. I wanted a really cool "Saved By The Bell" type print; something bright, fun and young for the beach. But the priority was to make sure that "the girls" were supported.

PM: What tips do you have for the woman who wants to feel confident and try out a bikini for the first time?

GG: There are a lot of different options today, which is really exciting.

I would just tell her that, especially with a high-waisted bikini? You're really not showing too much more skin. It's a little sliver of skin. You don't have to go from a skirted one piece to a string bikini! There's definitely a lot of choice in between. Make sure you have something that supports your bust and your tummy area. The important thing is something that fits you well and flatters your body type. You can pair it with a cute cover up as well. There are a lot of good sheer options out there that aren't matronly. I encourage women to look for something sexy. That doesn ' t mean you have to be a bombshell, but just go for a sexier, younger look in swimsuits and cover ups. You want to feel good when you go to the beach. I think the more you try to cover yourself, the more attention you are actually bringing to yourself. When you are visit maopose.com

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I thi body acceptanc is really more about accepting y ri own b y, not getting other o accept b~

wearing a skirted one piece with a big t shirt over it, people are going to notice you more. The more you harness your inner diva and go for something a little sexier, the better you ' ll feel. People are at the beach to enjoy themselves. That's what I try to tell women. Very few people are there sitting around trying to judge other people. Everyone just wants to have fun, so wear something that makes you feel good and don't worry about what others think.

PM: You recently produced a video starring yourself, Tess Munster and Nadia Aboulhosn called "everyBODYisFlawless". It sends a message that you could not care less at this point about plus size acceptance in mainstream media and gives the middle finger to our haters. Is it our job as confident plus size women to teach others to accept us or is it more our job to teach plus size women to love themselves despite what society may think?

GG: Yeah! That's exactly it! I think body acceptance is really more about accepting your own body, not getting others to accept your body.

You're not going to please everyone. That's definitely something I've learned over the years. No matter what, there are going to be people that just don't like you, your body, even your personality! You're not going to get along with everyone, unfortunately. As you get more comfortable with that, you have to learn to love yourself and accept yourself. Your confidence and strength come from within. My message has always been about empowering yourself. The community on the internet has been really important as well. You have to connect with people who are all about body positivity and don't worry about those that are not. Our video is about, like you said, giving the middle finger to anyone who is trying to bring us down and critique us and say we really shouldn't be doing what we ' re doing. All we're trying to do is show that women of all sizes can be happy and beautiful and stylish.

PM: There seems to be a grave misconception that if you are fat, you are inherently unhealthy. What is your reaction to that observation?

GG: I definitely don't think that's true. I've been in the plus size community long enough to know that there are a ton of really healthy plus sized women. On the other hand, I really don't think health is anyone else ' s business but your own. I know I am not as healthy as I could be and I am working on that, but it shouldn't determine whether or not I can wear a bikini or wear certain clothing. That's what is so frustrating to me. You know, maybe everyone is not healthy but everyone who is thin isn ' t healthy, either. We ' re not going out and suggesting that you eat crap. We're just going out and telling people to feel good about themselves. To feel confident enough to face the day and not give in to societal pressures that tell us to feel disgusting about ourselves, or hide under the covers or wear black A-line dresses every day. Just because you are a certain size doesn't mean your health is or isn't great. You are allowed to live life to the fullest while on the journey to health. Whether you are or are not trying to lose weight, it doesn ' t matter. What matters is that during that process, you are loving yoursel f and you are feeling okay with who you are.

PM: Once upon a time, there were not a lot of plus size resources for younger women who wanted to be fashionable. When you decided to start your blog, who was YOUR curvy influence?

GG: Wow, that's a good question. There weren't very many, like you said. It' s crazy how much it has changed in the past 5 years. There have been so many more resources in the demographic that I was trying to fill the void for. I was so frustrated that there were no magazine resources or stores. Now there is Forever21 Plus, ASOS Curve, H&M Plus and so many others catering to the young plus size demographic. For a long time, they didn ' t exist. My blog was all about how to let younger women know that they could be fashionable and participate in fashion despite their being very few resources. I always really loved Beth Ditto, 24

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the lead singer of Gossip. There were plenty of plus sized celebrities in the media, but none of them that I really felt personified fashionable and body loving persons. Even now, five years later, there still aren't that many around in our thin obsessed culture. We still have a long way to go in that arena.

PM: Speaking of the word, Curvy, there tends to be a lot of controversy with the word. For example, there are those who say Beyonce is curvy. J Lo is curvy. Kim Kardashian is curvy and girls who are "fat" are merely deluding themselves by using the word "curvy" as a descriptor. Do you feel we truly own our bodies when a fat woman describes herself as "curvy" or should we be using the word "fat" as a neutral adjective, much like calling someone "tall", "short" or "smart"?

GG: I'm all for de-stigmatizing the word "fat" and realizing it is just a descriptor. I think "curvy" can be applicable to so many different body shapes. I mean, I don't think you can question that Beyonce or Kim Kardashian are curvy. But, then again, so am I. I have an hourglass figure and I'm definitely a curvy girl. It's a body shape but doesn ' t necessarily mean you are or aren't fat. You can be both fat and curvy.

It all depends on your body type.

PM: Many people don't know this about you, but you have a degree in International Relations and African American studies. Tying the latter in a bit with your curvy agenda, how much truth do you feel there is to the suggestion that women of color tend to be more comfortable with their curves than their Caucasian counterparts?

GG: That' s a really good question. That' s kind ofa toss-up. I don ' t want to stereotype and say that [women of color] are more comfortable.

There are many African American women who are not comfortable with their bodies. I think it's kind of dismissive to say that black women don't have problems with their own bodies. It's not always the case.

However, I do think there is a definite cultural difference when it comes to being more accepting of a larger range of sizes. There is a very specific aesthetic that' s not necessarily obtainable for all black women.

For example, in the black community, they may value a body that is more like Kim Kardashian ' s than say, a supermodel ' s body. That being said, it is a very unattainable ideal for so many women, black women included. Either way, I think it is harmful to have these body ideals that are unrealistic. Just stick to your own beauty standard, no matter what that standard is.

PM: You've been a Twitter jockey for MTV, a graduate of Mount Holyoke, dabbled in Fashion Design, a plus size model and a woman who has built a brand around herself. Where is Gabi Gregg going in the next 5 years?

What can we expect to see from you?

GG: My goal is to start my own fashion line. I've loved working with Swimsuits for All and designing the swimwear has been an amazing opportunity. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with them in the future. I really want to have a full collection of women's wear.

Even though we have a lot more resources than we used to, I think that we still have a long way to go. There ' s still a lot of clothing that I would love to wear that I would want to see out there. That's my ultimate goal. I also hope to dabble in some television, maybe some books, but that's down the road. I haven't secured all of that yet, but that's definitely where I am heading.

PM: If you could go back in time and talk to 13 year old Gabi about body confidence and the woman she would someday grow up to be, what would you tell her about her future self?

GG: I would tell her that she can stop dieting, because she is okay as she is. I would tell her to stop obsessing about the things that make her

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different, because those are the same things that make her unique and wi ll later empower her to become a voice for so many women who don 't feel okay with their bodies. I think it's crazy to remember how insecure I was. I was one of the only girls of color in a mostly white school. I was fee ling really uncomfortable and really down about who I was.

To see how far I've come from that thirteen year old girl is really, really cool.

Read Gabi's blog "GabiFresh " at gabifresh.com.

Connect with her on Twitter at@gabifresh.

Make sure to check out her video with Tess Munster and Nadia Aboulhosn, #everyBODYisflawless at http:llvimeo.com/94364919 What would you tell your 13-year old self about body confidence?

Tell us at beautifulyou@magpose.com

POSE

"To feel confident enough to face the day and not give in to societal pressures that tell us to feel disgusting about ourselves, or hide under the covers or wear black A-line dresses every day."

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______ your own beauty matter what that dard is."

1) Acceptance: Though many people ' s concern with self-acceptance is that it breeds complacency (which can exacerbate medical issues that are a result of physique), when a little personal responsibility is adopted, like changing one's diet and exercise habits, ill-effects can be reversed.

2) Self-Berating: Another school of thought is the militaristic verbal assaulting of one's self until you're compelled by sheer self-loathing to change the way you look so that that hatred is replaced by self-love.

3) Healthy Practicality: There are also practical approaches that view body image issues as less of a societal concern and more of a personal health concern and nothing more.

Recognizing the Value of Your Genetic Lottery Ticket

by Jilso Hampson As we go through life learning about ourselves in relation to the rest of the world, we constantly analyze ourselves and either see something we're impressed with or something we want to change. It's rare that we look upon our faces, our torsos, our arms, our legs or our hair without judgment. Our bodies are a constant work in progress. It's why people who go to the gym daily for years always have new goals or experience setbacks. It's why people resign themselves to a particular self-image or fight tooth and nail, maybe to no avail; to completely alter the way people perceive them. It' s why the show, "The Biggest Loser" exists.

When looking back, the reasons are often similar: I drank too many beers this weekend.

I ate too many cookies. I had too many slices of pizza. I really hated that dry, chewy salad I forced down my throat and I sat on my butt doing nothing but watching television. Or, I eat three cheeseburgers every day, I drink soda when I want to, I down protein powder shakes every day and I am lifting as heavy of weights as I possibly can while jogging fifteen miles a week. But nothing is changing! Why won't my body cooperate? Why did I let myself down and put things into my body that hurt it while not doing the necessary physical work to reverse its effects? To expand on these somewhat frustrating thoughts: I study fitness regimens and practically live in the gym! I can see and feel my strength increasing, but my muscle tone isn't where I want it to be. I used a caliper and I know I am at optimal body fat percentages, too. So why don't my muscles look as defined or as large or as sinewy as I 28

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want them to be?

Just like you won't melt off years of neglect in a fortnight, a fortnight of indulgences won't undo years of healthy living. Every body is different. Not just every person, but every physical vessel. Height, weight, bust size, the way our facial hair grows in, the genetic lottery ticket we received; all of this affects our self-image and our self-confidence when so much of it is entirely out of our control, determined by chance and chance alone.

Why is it that one person's innate clothing preferences make them wicked or cool, while another person's makes them culturally daft, if not outright dorky? Sometimes it's not just about a personal sense of style, but of a confidence or resignation with your public appearance due to what you see in private when the clothes come off. Fashion is irrelevant.

While the media loves to report on concerns about bulimia, anorexia, economic stresses and the obesity epidemic sweeping the globe, we still hold people to standards of physical beauty and fashion consciousness that are incredibly difficult to live up to, either through one's wallet or through one's physique. It takes hard work and incredible discipline to simply keep up appearances, let alone improve one's physical self, but it is possible!

There are a few different schools of thought on the mentality one must possess when approaching body image issues.

All three ways of approaching this question have their legitimate, immutable points and all three are disputable on a case-by-case basis. If you ' re "clinically" overweight but you live to be eighty or ninety years old and you felt your life was a happy one and fulfilled, does it matter what you weighed or looked like over the course of it? I'm guessing most people wouldn't think it does matter. However, there are indisputable health concerns with weight being too far in any extreme. And, sadly, even if people find happiness with a particular body they feel stuck with (which can include being particularly skinny, tall, short, even muscular) there is often a little voice inside of us that asks "What if?"

It takes time, the most valuable and ultimately uncontrollable commodity, to achieve the things we really want. So it's on us to be patient, fight through the rough beginnings of exercise regimens, and to embrace selfforgiveness. Even if you want to call it "paying your dues" it all means the same thing in the long run : That the run is a long one. As urgent as we make things out to be, because once we want something, most of us want it right then and there, the work that goes into achieving these long-term goals or selfimposed ideals is what makes them so valuable to us in the first place. If a plus size person could wish themselves thin or muscular overnight, or a beanstalk of a body could wish itself to be filled in and muscular with the snap of their fingers, then what would we be the value of their self-image?

Though we don ' t think about it explicitly, the thing that makes us judge other people ' s physiques is the knowledge that all of it- the sexy, the average, the unattractive, the lazy, the hard working- all of it takes extensive time, effort and consistency in lifestyle.

Be gentle with yourself. Be patient with yourself. You can improve anything you desire to ... or not. Just know, you are uniquely beautiful even if you never change a thing.

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SUPS TO YOUR B[Sl B[llY:

EAT. ACCESSORIZE. EXERCISE

by Joshua Redmond

Accessorize.

1. Exercise Ball With dozens of exercises your ball can be used with and its easy storage for the gym or home, this is one of the best core building accessories.

They come in various sizes, so try out a few at your gym to see what you are most comfortable with. Plus, they aren't too expensive.

2. A Medicine Ball

Core training is one of the most important parts of fitness.

The core is that part of the body from which all other parts of fitness flow . If the core isn't strong, strengthening the chest. legs, arms. or aerobics becomes that much harder. But. the good news is that building a stronger core requires a few simple steps, be they proper exercises. the right exercises. or the best recipes.

3. An Adjustable Workout Bench

Eat.

If you have the money to spare, this is a great investment. You can alter it for a variety of core (and non-core) workouts. Plus, it can be combined with other accessories for even more options.

1. Steak and Pepper Tacos

The medicine ball can be used in a number of workouts that normal weights or dumbbells can't. It can be placed between the knees during leg lifts or pull ups. It can be tossed with a partner during sit-ups. Its uses are numerous.

Lean meat with veggies and some low-fat cheese on a tortilla? You might say yes even before you knew that these delicious creations are not only rich in vitamins but also help cut belly fat. Remember, spiciness helps bum calories, so go as hot as you like with the peppers.

2. Green Eggs and Ham Omelette Throw some Canadian bacon, eggs, mozzarella cheese, and spinach together for something tasty and filled with your requisite super-foods.

ACCELERATE YOUR ABS

3. Oatmeal with Fresh Berries With dozens of flavors of both the oatmeal and the berries, any combination can be part of your breakfast.

4. HotWings Don't look surprised. Use boneless, skinless, chicken tenders coated in your favorite sauce (buffalo recommended) and a low-fat version of your dip of choice, and you can still enjoy a guilt-free tailgate.

s.

Core Burner Burger

Here's the mix: 60% lean ground beef, 10% oats, 10% chopped spinach, 10% diced onions, 10% low-fat shredded cheese, and an egg for good measure. This will create a delicious, nutrition-packed patty. Throw it on a wheat bun with mustard, lettuce, and tomato for a truly classic treat.

4. The Ab Carver Essentially a wheel with handles on it, the Ab Carver allows you to work your core without sit-ups. It also has the advantages of stretching the back.

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AbStraps

These are handy for a large number of exercises. They are straps that lock onto your average pull-up bar. Then, once you slip your arms in, you're core is free to do all sorts of work to lift your legs in various positions.

6. Hula Hoop

6. Shrimp and Avacado Rice

This is actually both a great abdominal workout combined with aerobics Plus, the coordination it helps develop never hurts.

Combine shrimp avacado with brown rice, then add a delectable sauce made from sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger. Your tastebuds for the experience.

7. AGoodMat

7. Salmon with Yogurt Sauce Cook the salmon with garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper to a nice golden color. To make the sauce, combine Greek yogurt, diced cucumber, scallions, parsley, and lemon juice. This dish will fill you up while still containing surprisingly few calories.

Don't underestimate the importance of a good mat. This is a foam surface on which you can do most of the presented exercises while keeping you from scrapes. Putting yourself in the best position for the workout allows you to focus on your core.

Exercise.

1. Plank with Diagonal Arm Lift Begin in the plank position (facing the floor, propped up on your toes and forearms). Then lift your right arm until it is parallel to the floor.

Hold it there for a breath or two, then put it back on the floor. Do this with your other arm. Ideally, you will want to do about 20-30 of these.

2. Leg-lowering Lay with your legs straight in the air, perpendicular to the floor. Next, lower your right leg until your heel is about 3-4 inches off of the floor.

Return to the starting position and repeat with the opposite leg. Make sure your toes are not pointed down. Keep them pointed towards you as much as possible.

3. Bridges Start by lying flat but with your knees bent. Lift yourself up until yo ur body is straight from your shoulders to your knees. For an advanced version, once in the bridge position, try lifting your knees up to your chest one at a time .

4. Side Bridge Lifts Start in the plank position, shift until you are up on one side of one foot and one forearm. Next, reach your free hand up until you are as stretched as you can be. Maintain for a bit, then shift to the opposite side of your body.

s.

Ball Twist You'll need an exercise ball for this one. Lay down to where your back is on the ball and your feet are touching the floor. Twist your upper body left then right, and then repeat.

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6. VTwists Lay with your legs bent, thighs perpendicular to the floor and arms across your chest. Next, straighten your legs whi le moving them left and forward until they are at a 45-degree angle to the floor. As you do so, twist your upper body up and to the right. Then go back to the starting position and twist the opposite way.

7. Ball Roll-ins Move into the push-up position, but with your shins on that workout ball. Pull your knees towards your chest as far as you can (the ball rolls with your legs). Move back to start and repeat until you feel that burn.

A fit core not only makes building everything else easier, but it also has been shown to help you live longer, aid against illness, and help prevent injuries. To build the core you want is not a difficult task. It just requires an investment of time and a dedication to yo u health.

But What ARE Policy, Process & Procedure?

by Sonji Willingham, MA It is 2 a.m. and I am still up reviewing notes from my staff. I am awake

at this ungodly hour because these notes must be submitted to the director and filed with the State, or our company will lose its certification. You are probably asking yourself, "Why is she just now reviewing this information? Shouldn't she have asked the staff to submit it earlier in the week so she wouldn't be up before the chickens?"

To answer your question, I did in fact ask the staff to submit these notes earlier - an entire week earlier! I gave a clear directive with a due date and no one, not one staff member had any regard for my request. I cannot help but wonder if it would be easier to just fire everyone and start from scratch ... But I had nothing to back up such a decision: • My request was verbal - I never sent an email, voicemail, or had a meeting where minutes were recorded to evidence my directive.

• I did not issue any warnings - verbal or written.

• I did not communicate the importance of the due date or the consequences of non-compliance with my instructions.

There are plenty of employers who would disregard all the above points and fire staff anyway, and for a brief moment, they will feel vindicated by the action. But the other side of the coin is that now NO work will get done AND those same employers will have the Department of Labor living in their lobbies investigating these wrongful terminations.

Document, Document, Document!

Documentation is protection. Not just for the employer, but for the employee as well. Having written policies, procedures and directives assists in clearly communicating expectations, consequences of non-performance, and avenues of recourse/redress. These policies and procedures are crucial once the Hiring Honeymoon is over.

The Hiring Honeymoon encompasses period from Interview through the end of the probationary period. Most people - employers and employees - are on the best behavior during this time. They are incredibly nice, accommodating, hard working, punctual - just perfect in all the major ways. But once the Honeymoon is over, the real people emerge and that is when The Rules are used to ensure civility and compliance. The Rules help when: • Your star employee is not consistent and appears to have lost the concept to do the job • An employee needs to be counseled to improve or transition to another position A hire is just not working out and must be terminated 32

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Most people consider POLICY, PROCESS and PROCEDURE to be interchangeable, but here is a quick guide as to the difference between them: • POLICY are the company's guidelines and rules. They are written instructions that ensure compliance with company rules. The policy will also detail each department of the company and how each department will operate.

• PROCESS is the separation of responsibilities and control points.

They categorize Policy and Procedure requirements. Processes address who (department) is accountable to perform what tasks, what main functions/roles are performed, and when the function is necessary.

• PROCEDURE specifies what is needed to actually perform a task.

The task is broken down into actions that embody the POLICY and PROCESS. Policies, processes, and procedures help you manage and motivate your employees, and help them understand their roles and responsibilities when they become a part of your great organization. But how do you get started? Just start writing things down! If employees need to be in by 8 a.m., then state that. If employees are allowed three tardies before they receive written warning, write that too. If a person may be terminated after six unexplained !ates, then specify that. Be clear, concise, and fair in your policy manual. Give EVERY employee a copy, and require that they sign a statement that they have read it so that there are no misunderstandings later as to expectations.

Process is Essential The hiring process is vital to any business! A good process starts with ensuring the human resource department or the CEO (a small startup may or may not have the resources to have a resource department) has a clear understanding of what they are looking for in a candidate.

Creating a job description of the position or positions that need to be filled is a great starting point. When things are written out, it helps to create a clear picture of what your potential employee should be - at least on paper. It can help to enter an interview with key baseline questions that apply specifically to the needs of the position and the company.

Once a candidate is selected and hired, it is imperative that the job description detail not only the responsibilities of the role and how the work is to be completed, but to whom the person reports.

Bottom line, if a business attempts to operate on a day to day basis without POLICY, PROCESS and PROCEDURE they will continue to be up all night trying to complete work that should have been turned in a week ago with no recourse to write up or terminate an employee much less deal with the complaints and investigations that come when there is a termination.

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e...= w g z

cc

The author is not necessarily complaining, but noticing how this is affecting her. She talks about not being able to wear certain clothes and even the color options are limited due to her size. She goes through a state where she is just really unhappy with herself and begins writing. Writing has been proven to give her freedom.

Confessions of a Fat Girl is a memoir/inspirational book about the author's personal experiences with weight gain, loss and self esteem. The author starts off by discussing her childhood and how food played a major role in her upbringing. Food, from a child ' s point of view, was looked at as an inconvenience because she was forced to eat before she could watch cartoons in the morning and was made to come in from playing to eat dinner. As she got older and learned how to cook for herself, she fell in love with food. She discusses the first meal that she ever prepared and how that contributed to her desire to eat and cook more frequently.

The story progresses to a time when she wanted to eat healthier, then was faced with the reality that eating healthy was expensive.

She discusses the differences that she noticed at the grocery store and uses humor to convey the fact that unhealthy food not only tastes better but is also cost efficient.

After this, the author goes through the "blame game" by highlighting the fact that men can 34

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push you to eat. This is expressed by detailing how men send chocolate on Valentines Day, take you out to eat on holidays and when trying to make up with you. She also states that men can send you into depression that forces you into the doughnut line. She uses an example of having the desire to bust the windows out of a partner' s car but the fear of legal repercussions forced her to go to Five Guys restaurant to get a burger instead.

Complaints about exercise and dieting follow, however, advice is offered to overcome the stress of both.

Next, she touches on the doctor' s visits and the many health problems that can occur due to being overweight. She complains that every complaint or concern that she had about her health, the doctor would blame her weight without testing for any other possible causes.

She also speaks about her personal hurdles with trying to become a mom and being told she was failing due to her weight. At this point in the book, there is a shift.

Although she is getting over her depression, she cannot ignore the fact that there are things that she wishes she could do with her spouse but her weight has limited her. She discusses the emotions that come along with that. The author then travels down memory lane, remembering a time when she was smaller.

She also recalls when she started gaining weight, the birth control did it. The stress associated with dating is discussed along with her spirituality, which condemns gluttony.

Throughout the book, where is appears the author is complaining, she is really just searching for good enough reasons to lose weight. By the end of the book she finds that loving herself has to be good enough. She will not be successful unless she makes it up in her mind that this is what she wants and is determined to achieve her goals.

This book is not only for women who have weight loss goals. This book has proven to be beneficial to anyone trying to achieve any goal. Although this book tells the story of one woman, it is not telling one woman's story. So many women have found themselves in this book and realized, "I am not alone." That is the beginning of a beautiful journey to not only acceptance but also great changes.

Want to win a copy of "Confessions of a Fat Girl?"

Subscribe today at magpose.com then email anovelidea@magpose.com.

Subject: Confessions!

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by Tiffany Jones-Keaton On May 17, 2014, a delicious event took place in Harlem.

NY. "Not Just Banana Pudding Cake" presented by Dyva D'lights' owner. Robin Lester. and hosted by plus model, Christina Mendez. featured the best soul food, desserts. music, and fashion . POSE had an opportunity to sit down with the visionary and creator of her famous banana pudding cake.

POSE: How long have you been in business? When did you know creating delicious desserts is what you wanted to do full time?

DD: I've been in business for 4 years. In 2010, I was laid off and knew I had to continue to live so I followed my family's advice and started selling my moist delicious cakes.

POSE: What struggles and successes have you overcome and achieved while building Dyva D'lights?

DD: One of the most challenging task was naming my business. I must have changed the name one hundred times. It's always a struggle when I have a new audience to taste my cakes and maintain the same flavor every time. But after while, watching several different facial expressions of people enjoying my cakes for the first time and having so many repeated customers makes me feel successful.

POSE: Tell us about the vision of "Not Just Banana Pudding Cake?" Why was it important to you to employ thatname?

DD: My vision of my event "Not Just Banana Pudding Cake" was a way for me to attract new customers, let my existing customers know I do more than Banana Pudding Cake and to say Thank You for supporting me through my journey.

POSE: You had an incredible menu, a fashion segment, & performers. What was your greatest desire for the event? Did you meet or exceed it?

DD: My greatest desire for my event was to really make my guest happy through delicious food, fabulous entertainment and of course moist delicious cakes ... The menu was comfort food, ribs, glazed wings, garlic shrimp, fried fish, Spanish rice, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and tossed salad ... food is good for the soul! I didn't just want my guests to come eat, I wanted them to support my fabulous vendors and I really wanted to entertain them with my spoken word poet, R&B singer and of course my, "Dyvalicious Fashion Show". I wanted my guest to get their monies worth and I believe I achieved that goal.

POSE: What can we expect from Dyva D'lights over the next six months?

DD: Now that my first event was accomplished, I'm planning my next event for May 2015. It will be bigger and better. In addition, I'm working on creating a few vegan desserts for some special friends and going to take a leap of faith by shipping my cakes. That's a request from my long distance customers!

Dyva D'Lights will continue to reach for the stars!

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Join Dyva D'Lights for a Tasting Gala Enjoy a beautiful spread of desserts, Featuring complimentary food Special guest entertainment & beverages. and Dyvalicious Fashion Show

$34 in advance, more at the door.

For Tickets V1 s1t

http://DyvaDlights.eventbrite.com

''Greatness is achieved through a dedication. I've had ''Triple D'~

-Gwen

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process; discipline, direction and s'' ever since I can remember.''

Devoe

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POE

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Gwen Devoe. If you don't know her name personally, you surely know her work as the creator of the cultural phenomenon, Full Figured Fashion Week (FFFWEEK).

Gwen's passion for the push of plus size fashion came to light with one single idea while sitting in the tents during New York Fashion Week. "Sure, we love the clothes and they are beautiful to look at. but as women of size, we can't buy them . There's nothing here for us to purchase."

With that thought in mind, the idea for Full Figured Fashion Week was born . One thing we can say about Gwen . You never know what's going to come out of her mouth ... and we love it! Today, POSE Magazine talks to the Boss Chick in Charge, The Mogul Herself, all about FFFWEEK, what it takes to be a game player and a game changer in this crazy world of plus size fashion . But. watch your step! This vociferous Virgo is ready to step up her mogul game in a major way with a bombshell that blows our reporter away!

POSE MAGAZINE: Many people already know you as warrior for the plus size community. I read that you were actually a wiry, thin teenage athlete once upon a time. How did you adjust not only to the change in your own body type but becoming so passionate about those changes that you entered into the world of plus sized modeling?

Gwen DeVoe: It was sort of by accident. I didn't really realize I was plus, but my basketball coach sort oflaid me off from the team, if you will, because I had started to gain weight. That thrust me into a whole new thing. Here I am, this larger, more voluptuous woman now. I had been dabbling in the local New York/New Jersey modeling scene. I had met this designer, I can't even remember how we met now, but he became one of my closest friends and confidantes. I started modeling for him exclusively. It was an automatic transition. It's interesting, but I went from sports to plus modeling on the local scene. I was not that diva type, you know what I mean, Cher? But, I've always had such great measurements. I've always thought, ifl wasn't so tall, I would make a great fit model. Even though I go straight up and down, I've always been a good size for plus size Misses modeling. I'm not really wide, I'm tall. Even when I gain weight, I seem to gain weight in the right places. It never really changes my measurements. Even if my measurements do change a little, it's either a straight 18 or a straight 20.

PM: I hear you! We're not only both Virgos, but I wear a straight size 18 as well. I always gain weight in the "right places", too. I look like Kim K. in the back and Dolly Parton in the front. [Laughter from both]. I'm just the 5'2 version of you!

GD: [still laughing] None of my areas really stick out. I'm kind of straight up and down like most athletes are. It' s a larger, athletic body.

I know what works well for my body. That' s really the key to any woman getting dressed. Just knowing what works for you.

PM: Speaking of plus size models, the use of plus sized models in the realm of standard fashion shows have been referred to as a "fad" or "novelty". In 2010, you had some harsh words for Julian Macdonald, one of the judges on "Britain's Next Top Model" when he referred to plus size models as "a joke". Do you think there will ever come a time of acceptance for the plus size woman in fashion?

GD: Oh, I think so. I just don't know ifl will be alive for it. [laughter] But, yes, I think so. You know, there is no life without progression, so to say something will never happen, it just doesn ' t make sense. I'm sure certain people have said we'd never have an African American president, but look! Here we are! It's just a matter of timing and having enough soldiers on the battlefield. People who are willing to push the envelope a little bit and be more open minded. I see remarkable change .\0

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in the industry, even since 2009 when I started FFF Week. Is it changing as fast as we'd want it to happen or like it to happen?

Probably not. But you know what? Slow change is better than no change.

"Then what happens is, we tend to mix up the body imagery, the 'love your body' campaigns with fashion and they are very, very different animals."

PM: Well, speaking of no change, Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel had a bad case of foot in mouth disease, once again, by saying, ''The hole in social security, it's also [due to] all the diseases caught by people who are too fat," and reiterated that "no one wants to see curvy women on the runway". He was then sued by a French association that fights for the rights of curvy women stating that his words were defamatory, abusive and discriminatory. When someone that powerful in the fashion industry feels this way and is so vocal about it, do you see it as an opportunity to educate or get the feeling that the plus size industry will never be taken seriously by the prominent designers?

GD: Here's the thing. I think that what we have to understand, particularly in our own community, is that we're talking about two different things here. We're talking about the fashion community and we're talking about body imagery. I really believe that one of those areas will move forward faster than the other. There are plus size women who feel, just because they're plus sized, they can model.

That's absolutely not true and it has very little to do with your size! It may have a little to do with it, for example, if you are above or below the ideal size of whoever is casting the models. If they don't want that size, you're blocked out. That happens to models of all sizes! Then what happens is, we tend to mix up the body imagery, the "love your body" campaigns with fashion and they are very, very different animals.

Sometimes I'm reluctant to speak on these subjects because I honestly and truly feel they are so different. The fashion industry is definitely behind and it has left out the plus size model. On the other hand, though, you have really thin girls who are being picked on and left out as well! We should limit or direct our responses to these kind of issues, like the one with Karl Lagerfeld. I would attack [his thought process] on the basis that I'm plus sized and I have no health issues. I would attack it that way, leaving the fashion part of it out entirely. You can't really question the fashion part of it because he is a legendary designer.

However, there really is no denying, he tends to hate all plus sized people. Secondarily, he doesn't want us in his clothes, either! [laughter] That's fine with me, too.

PM: I get that, but there's a crazy misconception out there when we look at the numbers, Gwen. Plus size women were responsible for 22% of all clothing market sales this past retail year. It sounds like a small percentage, yet that 22% equals nearly 20 billion dollars.

Twenty BILLION! With this knowledge, why do you think retailers are so skittish to expand their offerings to the plus sized community?

GD: Let's go back to that nasty Mr. Lagerfield for a moment. What he did say was true. No one actually fantasizes about being plus sized. If you think about it, Cher, and I'm just being honest here, I don't fantasize about it. You probably don't either. We just are who and what we are.

Besides that, what does that have to do with selling clothing anyway?

Or, making sure that clothing is available in my size? Ifl did fantasize about being plus sized and all of my girlfriends, with their disposable income, fantasized about being plus sized, a true business person would

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step up to the plate. They'd say, Wow, those big girls? They've got money! They're hungry to spend it! I may not put them in my couture collection, but let's whip up a few ready to wear pieces to keep them happy. Let's find out what kind of fabrics they like. What kind of colors they like; you understand what I'm saying? Cher, for the life of me, I don't understand what the disdain is about dressing a fuller figured woman. I don't understand it. I don't care what they say. It has nothing to do with fantasizing or not fantasizing about being plus sized.

PM: I agree with you, but generally due to ignorance, people associate plus size women with unhealthy lifestyles or overall poor health. Do you feel that a woman can be healthy at any size or that the goal should always be to be healthier, not necessarily thinner?

GD: Oh, come on now! That's exactly it. Cher, can I keep it 100 percent real with you? You ready for that?

PM: Bring it on! Please do!

GD: Okay, here we go. If you are a designer, it is not your role to tell me to be healthy. Take my money. End of story. Your role is to provide or create fabulous clothing. Yet, you choose to design and create fabulous clothing for a small percentage of the population. Now, you tell me who the smart one is here? It' s ridiculous! Ifl smoke a pack of cigarettes every four hours, ifl eat McDonald's every single day, that's not about you as a designer! Stay in your lane! Create fabulous clothes. You're a designer. Why are you discriminating? It's not for you to tell me how to live my life. You're just supposed to dress me!

PM: One of the things I have always loved about you, Gwen, is that you have a die-hard "size 14 and over" policy for your runway shows. Are you feeling a bit more fashion flexible about that lately or are you sticking with what works for your events?

GD: Out of fifty or so models cast, we had about three who were a size 12. I think in 2012, we might have had a size 10. We really had to hustle for those sizes once upon a time. We typically don't audition them, though. If you notice, on our casting calls, we straight up say we want size 14 and up. However, we have had designers who have registered for the showcase who have specifically said we need an 11112.

We went out of our way to find them those body types for those particular designers. It is what it is. In the industry, plus sizes start at an 8 or a 10. You won't see that on my runway, but if a designer is willing to play ball with me and play by my rules and is willing to dress the sizes I have cast for the show? Sure, I'll go find them a size 12. I'll compromise at a 12. When you work on my runway, you will have measurements similar to the ladies in my audience because they are who matter. They are the women who buy the clothing. This is a consumer show. Let's not get that confused. It's an industry and consumer show.

The people in my audience are not all media members. I am putting the consumer right up front and center so they can see the fabrics and see the designs and see the additional clothing options that are available to them. Full Figured Fashion Week is a bit different from some of the other shows.

PM: Let's talk about FFFWEEK which is coming up mighty fast. It is known for its fabulous events like the Curves at Sea All White Dinner Party Cruise, the lndie Designer Showcase and the Educational Series and Blogger Conference. Each year it is getting harder and harder to secure tickets to these events because they are selling out like wildfire! What fabulous events are being featured this year?

GD: We will, of course, still have the blogger events. A lot of our larger brands, they find that the information that comes back from the bloggers to be very important to them and to their brand. They partner with us on the blogger event. As long as the brands want it, it will be

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will be something we will do for them. Of course, the All White Cruise!

It's the hottest ticket in the world! We have a bigger boat this year that will hold approximately 100 more people. That's a scoop, Cher! People keep saying to me, why don ' t you sell the tickets earlier? I would, but I know there are people who will grab all of them up and I just want it to be fair. I think that having the ticket sales two months in advance is

"The 'my way or the highway' formula has always worked for me." good enough. We don't want random individuals buying blocks of tickets and reselling them . I want the tickets in the hands of people who enjoy the event, who want to be at the event and who really want to enjoy all that Full Figured Fashion Week has to offer. We have other things we are working on, but the big thing? Go back to 2012 and the Cabaret Night! We've slotted some really great performers! It's at a different location. We're going to take the ladies somewhere else, out of the Downtown area for some live music! It's going to be great! It can be challenging to find the perfect venues in New York, but we've found them!

PM: Since 2009, this event has grown substantially in both size and sponsorship. Do you think that FFF Week will ever pick up enough momentum to present alongside NY Fashion Week or Mercedes Benz Fashion week? Or, are you perfectly content having a niche in the middle of June, devoted only to us thick gals?

GD: I am content to do the latter. However, I have had some opposition. Some people feel Full Figured Fashion Week can be much bigger, much larger and much greater if only we would. I'm a tough, stubborn and hard kind of chick. The "my way or the highway" formula has always worked for me. I won't say that I won't ever give serious consideration to blending in with those who did not originally want us. However, right now, I am content. It is working for us.

There's been a lot of discussion and recommendation that we move it to coincide with the other fashion weeks. That's not my plan. At this point in time, I don't agree with those thoughts, but you never know.

I'm a game changer, which means I can change the game, my own game, any time I want. We'll see, Cher. Not going to give you any spoilers just yet. [Author's Note: And change the game she

did with a surprise announcement on Facebook last month. At the time this interview goes to press, Gwen Devoe will have already announced that the 2014 FFFWEEK will be the last FFFWEEK she will be producing as she moves onto bigger, better and greater things.

When asked by the author if she would like to use this interview to explain why the sudden decision to end FFFWEEK, she offers this response: "I really don't want to give a reason as I have mentioned to people in person, I'm moving on to other things. Let folks speculate as whatever I say they will devise their own ending anyway." Spoken like a true mogul. POSE

Magazine wishes her well on her continued endeavors.]

PM: Once upon a time, in an interview far, far away, you called out some of the more well-known plus size stores, like Lane Bryant, Torrid and Ashley Stewart for only doing the "best they can", but now, some of these stores are your headliners for FFFWEEK. Is this a great sign that plus size retailers are bringing in fashions that are not only on trend for us big girls, but dare I even say, sexy and sophisticated? Do you think that plus size retailers finally got the hint that we want the same things as our slimmer sisters, only cut to flatter our body types?

GD: I don't know if you are aware of the newest collaboration between visit maopose.com

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''If you're not willing to le If you're determined to le•

-Gwe

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no one can help you. mrn, no one can stop you.'' ~arn,

Devoe

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Lane Bryant and Isabel Toledo [Author Note: This collection was released April of 2014]. I attended the show. I was salivating. It's not for everybody, Cher. I heard a few fashionistas saying "Meh, it wasn't that hot", but you know what? It was so refreshing to see lush fabrics, real quality fabrics.

"I'm a game changer, which means I can change the game, my own game, any time I want."

PM: I know! I actually bought one of the Toledo coat dresses! I was amazed with the quality. The heavy material, the intricate stitching and the soft fabric; it was impeccable. I couldn't believe I was holding an Isabel Toledo dress in my hands, in a size 18! It's strange to feel such shock over being able to hold such quality clothing in our hands, in our size. It's kind of sad, don't you think?

GD: It is sad. You're right. You know, Cher, I came away from that show and that collection thinking, wow, plus size women are going to have to be re-educated about fashion and, more importantly, sizing.

Here's this gorgeous collection. I don't think I saw any or many items that had any percentage of Spandex in it. Now, I could be wrong. My eyesight isn't all that great any more, but I am fairly certain there was not a lot of stretch to this entire collection. Plus sized women are going to have to go through an entire re-education process. With clothes minus the Spandex, you might find you have to go into the store and go up a full size.

PM: You're right. When I bought the coat dress, there was no real give to it. Because of my bust size, I had to go up a full size in order to wear that dress, but given that it is a real designer dress, made for my size, is that really such a bad thing? I mean, I'm willing to go up a size for what fits. Wouldn't any woman who wants quality clothing in their size do that?

GD: That's it! That's exactly it, Cher! That's what I am talking about!

It's not a bad thing! Why wouldn't you want to do that or be willing to?

That's what we have to understand, you can't have it both ways. We've been screaming for fashion. We've been screaming that we want well-made clothing. We've been screaming that we want designer wear like our thinner sisters. A woman said to me, "I don ' t understand it.

When I go and buy my clothes at Lord & Taylor from the high end designers, I actually go down a size!" I said, "You're probably one of those savvy shoppers who has been wearing name brand or even couture clothing most of your life! You know your size!" A lot of us have been relegated to this 2x, 3x even 4x clothing all our lives. What the heck is that?

PM: It almost feels like we are fooling ourselves, Gwen.

We buy items from plus size stores, for example, our jeans. I'm a size 18 in jeans in a normal store. In a plus size store, they now tell us an 18 is a size 2. A size 22 is a size 3. When this happens, how is a plus size women ever really supposed to know what size she actually wears? Isn't it time to stop buying what's on the tag and start buying what fits?

GD: Exactly! I believe that they did those things to make us feel better about ourselves and with good intentions. But now, we're embracing who we are, we're embracing our sizes, it's like anything else, Cher.

Sometimes, to build up, you have to tear down. You have to encourage.

You have to empower. Now we know everything. It's literally all out on the table. I think if we had more plus size collaborations with designers and retailers and got better made clothing on the designer end, we would stop this foolishness and embrace the opportunity to look better in better clothes. This is the calling card of the plus size fashionista who has been crying and whimpering and bitching about not 44

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having fashion at her disposal. I am curious to see what they have to say now. The proof is in the pudding. It's here. It's now. They listened.

What are you going to do now?

PM: You've done so much for women in the full figured industry to help get better fashions to us by having designers really sit up and take notice. Do you think that we will see that same push in men's plus size fashion sometime soon?

GD: No. I'm not a visionary in that area. I would hope, and nothing against the big guys, but I would hope the next push is in plus size teens.

The young girls really need it. They're lost. It's hard as a young girl, let alone a young plus sized girl. As a young girl, I was plus sized. Not necessarily overweight plus sized, I just developed quickly. I outgrew that body as I moved towards a more athletic body. But there weren't many places my mother could take me to buy clothing for me. I used to wear old lady looking stuff because that was all that fit me. I look at young girls now and they are in a lot better shape, clothes wise, than say you and I were, because of the whole Spandex thing and the body con dresses. They're in a better space than we were. We either had to dress like our mothers or our brothers to have clothes that fit us!

"My mother could step into the middle of a fight and have the two people who were fighting, hugging, by the end of the fight."

PM: Speaking of mothers, you've mentioned your mom in previous interviews among the people who would be proud of your accomplishments today. Was she the one who inspired you to be the take charge woman you are today?

GD: My mom empowered me and helped shape me in a different way.

I get my work ethic from my mom. Unfortunately, I came from a very religious background and my mother never really embraced this fashion stuff. Showing off your body or certain body parts was considered taboo, so she never really embraced what I was doing, although I know she was proud ofit. Her belief in God and that sort of thing prevented her from showing as much support as I would have liked her to, but that's okay! Without embracing or trying to copy the work ethic she had, I probably wouldn't have been as successful in this industry as I have been. Even though she didn ' t necessarily understand what I was doing, I still watched her and got a lot of my tenacity and my ability to bring people together from her. My mother could step into the middle of a fight and have the two people who were fighting, hugging, by the end of the fight. She was that kind of person. She was really tough, too.

I get that from her. But you know, she was probably like a lion on the outside but a teddy bear on the inside. That's how I am. You see the work mode Gwen and you think, whoa, she's tough. But when you sit down, break bread, have a glass of wine with me, you'd probably think I'm pretty cool.

PM: Let's get a few fun facts about you, Gwen. What are you reading right now?

GD: Oh my God! I have to go get it! It's in the next room! Ah, here it is. "Cooking In Yesterday's Grease" by a good friend of mine, Jermaine Smith. It's part of a series of novels. I've been taking it on the road with me and reading it on the plane.

PM: What's on your MP3 player? Who are you listening to right now?

GD: I'm listening to a number of things but it's all House music.

PM: If we walked into your house unannounced on a Sunday afternoon, what would Gwen be up to? How do

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GD: I'm always trying to streamline my wardrobe. I have been very, very blessed with a lot of clothes. I am always trying to have a sale or bring them somewhere. Any day you walk into my apartment, there's an industrial clothing rack with anywhere from jeans to leather jackets, sequined jackets to evening gowns. You name it, it's on my rack in my living room. I know it sounds bad but that's how it is.

PM: I don't know. It sounds like a little slice of heaven to me.

GD: I'm going to have to invite you over!

PM: Aside from all your work on Full Figure Fashion Week, what else can we expect from you this coming year?

GD: I will be going into the studio to start doing some work for "Mogul Moments". Mogul Moments is my new project. I aspire to have a talk show! I have been going into the studio in order to get more comfortable on camera and trying to find out about what my voice is going to be. In other words, what am I going to tell people? I mean, I know I have the interview skills, but I am struggling with finding the right personality for the show. I have so many.

PM: What's wrong with the personality you're giving? I love it!

GD: There's not just one Gwen De Voe. There's Business Gwen.

There 's Girlfriend Gwen. There are quite a few Gwen DeVoe's.

When I try to blend them altogether, I come off like a crazy woman. can cry at the drop of a dime and then, suddenly, burst out laughing.

Not that it's a fake personality, but I have to confidently blend all these different attributes that I have into this one Talk Show Host Gwen De Voe. In order to have all these Gwen's running around together, Cher, they have to be controlled! [laughs] .

PM: Did you know that multiple personality disorder runs highest in women who are Virgos?

GD: I did not know that!

PM: It's a fact!

GD: I think it's because we try so hard to be everything to everyone. If I know you' re the kind of person who likes long walks in the park and you come to me upset and need me, I'll know you ' ll need to take a long walk in the park. Now, I'm allergic to bugs and all that kind of stuff, but I'll walk in the park with you. When I tell people who are not Virgos about all these different personalities of mine, they go "Okay, she is bat s*!% crazy". But it's not that I'm crazy! It's just that, it is what it is. I have a group of wonderful girlfriends in my inner circle. They all have these wonderful personalities. They're all different and I have to deal with that. They all like different things. Sometimes, we can't get together but I know that I can adapt to each and every one of them because that is what Virgos do. We take on all this extra stuff. Cindy needs a nurturer? I can do that. Linda is a bad ass type chick. She wants to do tequila shots all night long. I can do that, too! We can do everything!

PM: I know we Virgos also have a hard time saying "No" to people.

GD: You are correct, but, Cher? I have good news for you. When you tum 50? You' re going to learn how to say "no", baby! It's much easier for me now. One of the greatest things about turning 50 was I have a "freak it" attitude now. I don't need a reason for not wanting to do something. I just don't want to do it. I have a certain arrogance now. I wasn't always this way. Now, I don ' t do anything I don 't want to do. I may change my mind in a day, but for right now? This woman just feels like telling you "NO" today, and that's going to have to be okay.

PM: Because that's what Moguls do.

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GD: Exactly.

POSE: How does it feel to be the new FACE of Full Figured Fashion Week?

BREE: I'm going to be completely honest with you. It has not resonated with me as yet. I'm a full-time college student right now, so when I won I was in the middle of a lot of projects for school. I feel like I'm still in college mode. I haven't really tapped into my "FACE" mode, yet- but I'm really excited. I know I won. It's my reality; however, I'm still super focused with just completing my day to day. It will probably hit me in June when things are really picking up. That's when I think I'll realize this is really happening!

I'm incredibly honored and happy to have this platform. It's amazing!

The more I look at the past winners and what it' s done for them, I get excited about what my potential could be. I'm just really happy.

POSE: What inspired you to pursue this opportunity, knowing there would be so many others vying for the same spot?

BREE: Funny story. This particular opportunity came full circle to me

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three times. The first couple of times I saw it because I follow some bloggers, and they would post it as J.fyou want to be the FACE, try out for this competition. It didn ' t hit me until my third view of it. I clicked on the link and watched the video of last year's winner, Toy Monique,

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which included submission tips. Then I read an excerpt, and it mirrored who I am: Some curvy girls aren 't runway divas and they 're not ready to shut the runway down, but some are just beautiful people with great spirits, and they have that presence. I thought to myself--that sounds a lot like me!

POSE: There is an awesome responsibility that comes with being the FACE of anything, with any brand. How do you plan to use this new platform afforded you beyond the event?

BREE: I feel as ifl am a talent bomb! I really do. The plethora of imaginative options God has blessed me with allow me access to

I was going through some things before and not really finding my niche.

I was attending school and working as a private nanny- just doing my day to day- but I wasn ' t really passionate about anything in particular.

I had been asking God for an opportunity; I felt like this was His answer to me. It seemed so simple: Submit a two-minute video of why you should be the FACE ofFull Figured Fashion Week. I did a little background on FFFW, because another honest moment is that I haven't been so invested in the industry like a lot of the other women who were participating. They had so much modeling background and time and effort devoted to the industry, and I was more the bystander looking at it with peripheral vision. I felt perhaps I could bring a different edge to it as a day-to-day woman with something a little different to offer, even though she ' s not in the limelight and not so much a part of that scene. I just presented myself as myself and conveyed my message clearly. As it turns out, my message was received in the spirit in which it was given. I believe I won fairytale style like the story of the girl who popped up out of the woodwork and well , world ... Now, here she is!

POSE: In your audition video, you spoke very passionately about your message of positivity, embracing a beautiful self-image-especially as a full-figured woman. Can you expound on that a little for our readers?

BREE: In doctors ' terms, I have always been overweight and needed to take off20 lbs. Someone was always critiquing my weight. I have never been slim- not even as a child. Over the years I just accepted that my build was not going to fit society's "norms". I was going to be my size- Bree Healthy. That's how I describe it. However, I did lose more than 50 lbs because I was heavier than when I shot the video and that was me making a conscious decision to be mindful of what I was eating.

I know I'm not going to be a size 6 or 8, but I know that everything I put in my body can either help me or hurt me. As a full-figured woman, although I am all for a body-positive image, I am also for health awareness. I know that being full figured doesn't necessarily mean being unhealthy. It just means that God has given you a nice hourglass figure or some "extra love." So, you can be thick, you can healthy, and you can be thriving. I have come to a place within myself where I embrace the difference. Just a while ago before we began our phone conversation, I was working out. When I get up each day I have to be active and do something that involves movement because I know it will benefit me in the long run. I really want that to be a part of my staple.

If anyone takes anything from me, it should be that health and fitness is also very big in my life, especially because I am a full-figured woman.

POSE: You are a photographer, a natural model, and a creative art director, and also a student! Full time, as you put it. What has helped you to manage your newfound responsibilities as the FACE of Full Figured Fashion Week with what you already had on your plate?

BREE: Number one, Gwen is amazing! She ' s very aware of my schedule. I love that she pushes me to continue to make school my first priority. We correspond regularly, and she requires that I provide her with my school schedule and let her know whatever else I have going on, and then she works around that. She ' s been incredible in that regard.

So, my plate has not yet filled to overwhelming capacity just yet as the FACE of Full Figured Fashion Week, although many seem to think it has. My first tasks were a photo shoot with your magazine and this accompanying interview. I just received an email today for another interview, which is scheduled to happen during FFFW. Right now, I'm very happy that it's not as hectic as it could be because this is my crunch time with school, and I do have my plate full with school and babysitting.

POSE

"All I really wanted was a cracked door, and Gwen (Devoe) has given me a wide-open door." unlimited appealing avenues. As a photographer, I am as comfortable behind a camera as I am modeling in front of one. As an art director, I style, compose and direct the art of a set with just as much passion and ease. This opportunity to be the FACE of Full Figured Fashion Week affords me the privilege to network with so many others who represent innovative projects. Once my own creative juices begin to flow together with similar ingenuity, I have no doubt the outcome will be limitless. In fact, just last night I had a conversation with Shaina Harisson, owner of the boutique, Out of the Corner (I think I saw your post to her about the Army fatigue I was wearing). We're going to meet on Saturday to brain storm about a potential prom season project. Both of us missed the chance to attend prom and want to develop a "give-back" starting with a photo shoot of some prom dresses. Whichever girl fits the sizes, we're going to give away those dresses, together with the entire prom experience. I foresee this as the first of many such projects. All I really wanted was a cracked door, and Gwen (Devoe) has given me a wide-open door. I'm just going to run with the opportunity.

POSE: Excellent! As you should. Tell me a little bit about why you didn't go to prom?

BREE: Back in high school, I wasn't as confident as I am now. I am more evolved today. Many can probably relate to the social pressures in high school. In this day and age, it seems more challenging than when my mother and grandmother went to school. I experienced the stress of being an outsider. Throughout school- middle school and high school, alike- I was always the teacher's friend, trying to make the teacher's job easier. I was more like an "old soul" and not really into the silly antics my peers demonstrated. I was a bit ahead of my time, which placed me on the outside of most things. When I was a freshman, all of my friends were seniors and were leaving; I was also in student government. When my friends had prom, my participation was helping them get ready for it- but that was their experience. When time came for my prom, I didn't connect with any of the students in my class. We didn ' t form the type of relationship I had formed with the older students.

I felt had I gone to prom, who would I be with? What would I be doing?

It wouldn't be that same magical experience for me were I not with the people with whom I had spent my school year. It was difficult inasmuch as I felt I was missing out on something. At the same time, I felt it was not going to be a complete win. I might go and feel uncomfortable and a little lonely; or maybe I'd go and feel only apathy and not have the best time I could have. I was torn between the two. Then, I found out that Shaina didn ' t go to prom, either- although I haven't heard her complete story about it. My reason was because I felt like such an outsider.

POSE: Please tell our readers something about Bree that they cannot find on social media or YouTube that would further endear them to you.

BREE: I'm such an open book but actually extremely silly. It's comedy hour at my house every day! I live in Brooklyn in a private house. There are four apartments in our home but everyone is family in the building. My great-grandmother, my grandmother, my aunt, and my cousins live there with me. We're a super tight family. When I'm home, often my mom or my grandmother say You know what, if these people knew that this was the FACE, I'm not sure ... - I get really silly and I am not always prim and proper and looking fantastic. Sometimes, visit maopose.com

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I'm just doing ridiculous things like wearing food as clothing or doing anything I can to make my family laugh because I Jove laughter, and I Jove to see them happy. I'll go above and beyond to make a joke. I'll burst out in a Two-Step or a Dougie anywhere! Sometimes even on the train when I see people who look sad or not doing anything, I' ll go right up to a stranger and say I noticed you from across the way and I just thought you were so beautiful-especially if they're not smiling. I'm

"I believe that once women-young or old-realize the kind of power we possess-and not just women , men , too -our dreams will become reality . I promise you!" the person who'll just put it out there to see someone smile. That's the best feeling for me- to do whatever I can to make people happy. I think people take things a bit too seriously when things can always be worse.

I make that a constant reminder to myself and want to shed that kind of light everywhere I go. It doesn ' t matter who or where or what, I can get silly just to see you laugh. That's probably something you won ' t find on YouTube ... yet!

POSE: Yup! That video has yet to be uploaded on Vimeo, YouTube or vine.

BREE: And that is a rule in my house. My family will always try to record me, but I remind them- No! No! No! This is for you, only! It 's a secret thing. Let's get it together. In the house- whatever happens here, stays here. It 's/or you, only.

POSE: You've got to formulate the brand, first, right?

BREE: Yeah! They wanna put me all out there with grapes in my nose and everything! [Laughing]

POSE: [Laughing] Finally, Bree-what advice would you give to a young person who was striving toward their aspirations and dreams?

BREE: That's a great question, Tiffany. Because I'm 21, I'm a babythat is, in my spirit. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a great position to reach young women who are saying, Wait, she's 21. She's doing it. So, my advice to young women would be to spend time investing and figuring out who you are. Spend time developing self-love. Spend time focusing on your purpose or figuring out what your purpose is. Once you discover that purpose- where you want to be and how your character is going to be displayed to the world- once you tap into that greatness, take no prisoners. Run for it! Go hard at it as if you knew it was your last day on earth. Attack it! I honestly believe that age is no factor in completing one ' s goal or aspiration or dream. It' s the depth of the faith in one's heart; the development of the mind. If you have a mind that believes anything is possible, that is what it's going to be.

Just as I said in my video, I'm a strong believer that I can speak my visions into existence. Scripture tells us that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue " (Proverbs 18:21). Whatever you put out there will formulate, it will grab onto energy, and it will come to pass, depending on what you say. And when I realized that my voice carried that kind of power, everything I spoke was in the positive or and in the present.

There was no "I hope "-there was only "I will! " It might seem small or subtle, but it is so powerful, Tiffany. I believe that once womenyoung or old- realize the kind of power we possess- and not just women, men, too-our dreams will become reality. I promise you!

Guaranteed!

POSE: Well, I thank you for that. You ministered to me as well, and I really do appreciate that.

Check out Bree 's audition video at magpose. com and follow her on Instagram @beeewooods.

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11

Curves and Chaos

Where are the Standards in the

by Giselle Grayson Every plus size model, designer, and curvy woman purchasing clothes, at one time or another, has felt excluded from the mainstream fashion industry. The plus size industry has been striving, fighting, and clawing its way into mainstream fashion from its very inception, and I firmly believe it belongs there.

But for an industry that is trying so hard to be included among the "standard" in the fashion world, I have to ask .. . where are the plus size standards?

I've lived on both coasts, and several cities in between, and I can say from East to West, there is a serious lack of standards among the plus industry. You ' re probably wondering what I know about the subject, or why I'm so willing to comment on it. As a singer and former plus model who is engaged to a fellow plus size model, and has several plus model friends and colleagues, you could say that I'm surrounded by it. And let's be honest, my tour costumes don't come straight off the runway like Beyonce's do, they are custom made by plus size designers. I've been to some incredible plus fashion shows and wondered to myself ' WHY aren't these beautiful models and designers being featured in New York Fashion Week or Milan?' only to attend a dozen other fashion shows that answer that same question.

is, curves or not, not everyone is meant to be a MODEL.

Plus Model Ivory May I sat down with plus size super model Ivory May to discuss the issue and she had a passionate response to my questions about the lack of standards.

"There 's something women love about being able to say 'I'm A Model. ' Not everyone that 's fat gets to be a plus model. There should be integration of all sizes in the media, but the job of a model is to glorifY the clothes and sell them. I'm the first to say every woman is beautiful, but there is something to be said that a garment is going to look better on a size 14 than a size 28. " Known for being a straight-shooter, Ivory's credits include Lane Bryant, Target, Playtex, Just My Size, JC Penny and many more. The Curvy Girls star went on to say,

"Don 't base your happiness or your worth on how pretty you are, or ifyou 're a model or not. We all need to treat ourselves, love ourselves and embrace our beauty, but that doesn't mean you will ever grace the pages of a magazine. " Of the many things I discussed with Ivory, one

I attended a landmark fashion show recently and where I expected to see plus size models who embody the very definition of the statuesque ideal. What I found instead were a lot of the designers 'friends' walking the runway. There were no Denise Bidots or Ashley Grahams to be seen! And while there were a few stunning ingenues who will no doubt be sprinting up that elusive plus model ladder, the majority of the curves on that runway belonged to regular women. As lovely as each of them was, they were simply not models. They all had beautiful traits about them, but as I watched a parade of long fake nails, overly tanned skin, and Spanx-free bodies bounce down the catwalk, I shook my head in sadness for how this makes the plus industry look. Quite frankly it makes us look like a joke. That might sound like an awfully harsh thing to say, and I would agree if this had been an isolated incident, but this is the norm ... even here in Los Angeles, which truly shocked me. As beautiful as EVERY woman

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"They all had beautiful traits a bout them, but as I watched a parade of long fake nails, overly tanned skin, and Spanx-free bodies bounce down the catwalk, I shook my head in sadness for how this makes the plus industry look."

Madison Plus

of the biggest things we agreed on is that there must be a return to industry standards. It might be unfair and antiquated but when you ' re representing something that isn't the standard or ideal, you have to be twice as perfect to be seen. Now this is an area I know all too well. I've sat at the table with several record labels who expect that before I can ever hope to sign on the bottom line I have to be ready to rock a Britney-style tour within 6 months of signing. I better come to the table with fans, album sales, a spectacular live performance show, music videos bringing in thousands of views (if not millions) and a "look" that will garner attention and envy; I have to have what it takes to become an icon.

Even after attaining all of those things, the requirement still might be "we need you to lose x-number of pounds?." Just like raw talent alone didn ' t make me a chart-topping artist, being pretty doesn ' t make you a model and being plus sized doesn't make you a plus model. Where is the commitment to excellence in the plus industry? Sure, there are a handful of designers, models, and plus magazines out there that are putting forward a very polished, pulled-together look, but on the very best day I'd estimate they only make up maybe 20% of the industry. That means 80% of our beloved industry is made up of thousands of 'Tina plusmodel Smiths' out there bouncing up and down every runway they can find and doing it all for FREE! visit maopose.cam

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"It might be unfair and antiquated but when you're representing something that isn't the standard or ideal, you have to be twice as perfect to be seen."

You Are What You Require Which brings me to my next issue among lack of standards ... where's the money? This past March at the historical STYLE L.A. Fashion Week, a plus designer was featured for the very first time; a huge landmark for the plus industry and how far we've come with our size 16s. I was once again saddened, and a bit ticked off, to find out later that while every straight size model walking at STYLE L.A. Fashion Week was paid, on average, $200 per show, the plus size models were paid ZERO. Granted, not every designer has the backing to put paid models down the runway, but all that tells me is you're not ready to be operating at that level. Are you going to give your clothes away for free? Because that's the only justification I can imagine in asking models to walk for free or for the "opportunity" as it is so often disguised. Let me put it this way, unless it's for charity, I don ' t get on stage and sing one single note without being paid. As much as I love this career, I also need it to pay my bills. You are what you require, and to all the models out there working for free, you're not doing yourself or the industry any favors. It's a vicious cycle! As long as there are "models" willing to work for free, the designers won't pay. And as long as it's acceptable to put your cousin, Lisa, or your best friend, Tisha, down the runway, who's going to pay for real models anyway?

"Just like raw talent alone didn't make me a chart-topping artist, being pretty doesn't make you a model and being plus sized doesn't make you a plus model."

NuvoTV

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"You are what you require, and to all the models out there working for free, you're not doing yourself or the industry any favors."

Learn the Industry Standards Now I'm sure I've ruffled a few feathers and there are many of you out there who believe that every spectrum of beauty and curvalicious awesomeness should be represented throughout the industry, and we may even achieve that SOMEDAY. But before we can even hope for that we have to start where we are and change how we present ourselves to the world. Challenge yourself to be the best at whatever it is you do. If you have a great look and you're committed to being a model, do your research! Learn what is industry standard for the straight size models and adopt that into your routine. Go-sees are not the time to rock out your latest maxi skirt or giant neon earrings. You're a canvas, don't pull focus from yourself.

If you're a designer, don't send unfinished hem-lines and the same recycled fashions down the runway show after show.

Remember that every garment you send down the runway, every model that wears your clothes, is not only representing you, but our industry as a whole and our desire to be taken seriously. I'd rather see one perfectly executed plus size fashion show a year, with new styles, stunning models, and a polished look than to see dozens of thrown-together events that leave me shaking my head.

At the end of the day, we as an industry must be united, and willing to hold ourselves to a set of standards that pushes us to be greater than we are. We want to be heard, to be seen for the voluptuous goddesses that we are. And to that I say, Rome wasn't built in a day, but you can bet your curves that they used the very best bricks to build it!

What's your opinion on the issue? Send your comments to model@nuigpose.com.

POSE

Hosted by Rosie Mercado International Plus Size Model & Star of Curvy Girls on NUVOtv Featuring designs by

Lifestyle Seminars • Shopping • Pool Party Fashion Show • Beauty Workshops Curve Nation's Curves in Paradise Party Beauty, Empowerment & Modeling with Rosie Mercado Sponsored by

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