Plus Models Today

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Lizzie Haines, 31 wins Plus Size Model of the Year award at the 100percentpeople Plus Size Awards. The 5′4.5″ curvaceous beauty competed against celebrities, models, and other shapely contestants to garner the top spot in the national UK competition.  Ms. Haines is also a new face of  Curvy Kate.

Lizzie had size acceptance issues growing up but now is more than proud of her size 14 body and her 34G bra size.

The fact that she overcame traditional modeling no-no’s like her age, height and very curvy body, just shows that if your are good enough, people will notice.

Photo: H&M

H&M, the giant Swedish-based retailer has recently started using computer generated models and “attaching” a photo of a real model’s head to it for some their swimwear and lingerie online advertising.  The “electronic mannequin”  or “virtual model” has a carefully sculpted body and can be manipulated to match the color of the model’s head.

We do think that a virtual model can be used in a virtual fitting room scenario where customers pick an outfit and it is displayed on a virtual model of the size the customer requests. This helps solve the problem of “I like that dress but how would it look on me?” Most agree that it would be impractical to have photos of 12 different size live models  for each outfit.

Our question is, “why not just use photos of live models” ? We don’t believe H&M is intentionally trying to harm the employability of live models but that may become one of the resultant outcomes of this practice.  We think it best to just “keep it real”.

Photo: Patricia Schlein/ WENN.com

Whitney Thompson, American’s Next Top Model cycle 10 winner launches an online dating website for plus size women and men who are looking for them. The website is called The Big and The Beautiful.  Ms. Thompson is the founder and president of the venture.

The site is designed to be a fun place for any shape or size looking for dating or love.

Fluvia Lacerda once again makes a big splash as she covers the Autumn 2011 issue of Beautiful magazine. The cover image was photographed by Andre Schneider, styled by Gabi Gregg and designed by Kevin Gilmour.

Beautiful is a relatively new glossy print publication from the UK.  According to Beautiful Magazine Editor in Chief  Sue Thomason, “At Beautiful we are a magazine for real women, to us this means Beautiful is for ALL women, thin, fat, tall, petite, athletic, curvy.”  Beautiful also has a policy of only using models size 12 and up, no diet/weight loss ads, and several others designed to make the reader have a more pleasant experience than some other magazines.

Find out more about  Beautiful Magazine and Fluvia Lacerda.

The much anticipated New York Fashion Week runs from September 8-15, showing the Spring 2012 Collections at Lincoln Center, NYC.

Designer Zac Posen returns to New York where he sent a “not as plus size as she used to be”, Crystal Renn down the runway for his  Z Spoke line on September 11, 2010.  This year his show is slated for Sunday, September 11, 2011.

This year, there will be a lot of live streams to check out so it should be more entertaining for those who can’t attend in person.

For more info visit the Official Site:
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Toccara Jones stars in this year’s edition of TV One’s The Ultimate Merger, and she is looking for love. The former contestant on America’s Next Top Model has her pick of several men and that’s when the problems begin.

In the next episode airing Thursday Sept 1, at 6p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET, the tension is building and some of the men believe that an alliance has formed along racial lines. This ought to be good.

In case you missed it TLC’s Big Sexy an unscripted series premiered Tuesday August 30 at 10:00PM ET to rave reviews. The next show airs Tuesday September 6, same time , same channel. The series follows five plus size women who are trying to enter the modeling and fashion business in Manhattan. In the show’s premiere, the women attend New York Fashion Week.

Repeats of the premiere will be shown on TLC so you might want to check it out, if you haven’t already.  It’s not your typical reality show.  Rated (TV-14,L,D).

Abby Valdes and Maggie Tabberer of plus size clothing brand Maggie T.

Abby Valdes and Maggie Tabberer of the designer brand of plus size women’s clothing, Maggie T, are celebrating the brand’s 30^th year in business!!!  Talk about ahead of the curve! The brand is still one of the most success Australian brands around.

Maggie Tabberer’s career as a model before she launched her clothing label is undoubtedly one of the reasons for the brand’s success. However, Maggie’s skills are still put to good use as she and  Abby Valdes model selections from the Maggie T Spring Summer 30^th Birthday Campaign.

Simply Be, in association with 12+ UK Model Management, is conducting a model search for the new face of plus size fashion. If you are at least a size 14 and a UK resident, then there is still time for you to enter the search! The last day to apply is August 31, 2011.

Check the Simply Be Facebook page for information on the wonderful prizes, submission information, and more. Good luck !!!

Robyn Lawley is featured in a 10 page fashion editorial in the September issue of Vogue Australia. Lawley, a top Australian plus model, also covered the June 2011 issue of Vogue Italia with plus models Tara Lynn and Candice Huffine. Marquita Pring also appeared in a sizzling editorial with the cover models.

The September Australian editorial will be the first fashion editorial featuring a plus size model in the magazine’s 52 year history and it doesn’t disappoint. Robyn also covered Elle France’s April 2011 issue. Busy, busy!!!

We at plusmodelstoday.com think that this editorial will offer rock solid proof that plus size models can deliver top quality editorial work that can and  will compete “straight size” models, if there  was ever any doubt.  Lawley delivers big time.

More Robyn Lawley