Goddess Magazine Stories/Articles

Plus Size Revolution (May, 2012)

We are strong. We are fierce. We are confident and ready to take on the world with our contours and curves. We are soldiers in the the Plus-Size Revolution, and we are taking fashion runways, television, magazines and THE WORLD by storm! Watch out everyone, we are in command and there is nothing holding us back!

Curvy women have been around for centuries. They are depicted in many famous pieces of art, they are our mothers, they are our mentors. They are us. And a plus for those of us who are full-figured, single and on the prowl, studies say that men prefer a woman with some meat on their bones; when they scan a room, their eyes are immediately drawn to a woman with a full bust and set of hips. So, why are we being discriminated against?

Just as some thin people can't help that they can't gain weight, at the same time, us plus size women may not be able to help that we are voluptuous. And who cares? Much of the world's population is plus sized, full-figured, however you want to word it, and we are usually judged and ostracized for our curvy physiques and often called unhealthy because we have a little extra under our clothes. That is so false. We are just as healthy, along with smart, confident, determined and just as proud as any “average” sized person. We bleed, we feel, we mother children, so tell me, what's so different between us and those averagely built people? And, ho wants to be run of the mill anyways? Certainly not any of us. Us “bigger girls” have a new and different kind of fearless spirit and pride that is a breath of fresh air to the stale, close-minded, one way thinking.

If it's always been acceptable for men to have Big & Tall shops, why can't we? Finally, we have been noticed and are we are winning the battle! Our curves have caused controversy in the past, but today, there are more and more fashion designers and retailers, such as Torrid and Lane Bryant, accommodating larger sizes for clothing and more attention is being given to our body types and our needs. We are going from frumpy, ill fitting looks to sexy, curve fitting, glamorous, and trendy clothing that shows off our assets and gives us an even more encouraging and confident edge – and we work it!

I've had my own personal experience being a plus size woman. My curves have opened a new chapter in the story of my life and it can for others also, if you take the stand an embrace your body. I've always wanted to model, and have had several opportunities throughout my 31 years, but never took the leap. One day, I received a phone call from my best friend, Nikki, who told me about an up and coming entrepreneur from our area who was featured in our local newspaper. That person was none other than Miss Juanita Kelly, the woman who would forever change the plus size world. Who would have thought that this part-time career all began with a model search for Juanita's plus size clothing line (and a nudge from my best friend to finally take the leap). Off to New York I went and met and networked with some really great people and was introduced to a whole new world! Suffice it to say, I was not very experienced as a model, but I stayed in contact with JK, and a short time later, I was offered the greatest opportunity to fulfill another lifelong passion of mine – writing. And not just for anyone, but for Goddess Magazine, another successful venture for JK! As all you readers know, the Goddess franchise devotes blood, sweat and tears for the plus size community and gives us a voice to be heard. JK and her teams have worked hard to give all of us plus sized beauties something to empower us and to come out of the shadows in a world of the stereotypical “perfection” that society has led us to think is the right way. Many negative things that have been said about full-figured people, but that negativity has been canceled out and overpowered by positivity and the perseverance of plus size role models. We applaud you JK and other plus size entrepreneurs, actresses, models, writers and bloggers out there for banding us together!

We are perfection! Each and everyone one of us! It's our time, girls! The Plus Size Revolution has begun and is in full swing. Defeat and conquer as we embrace what God gave us, suit up and march on with our curves!!!