The Curvy Blogger

I just read your post, and I immediately wanted to respond.

I’ve been a follower of your blog for some time now, and I think what you do is really inspiring, and that you are definitely a role model.

As for my thoughts on the industry, I really do feel that every size should be represented in both mass fashion and haute couture. As a fashion lover myself, it’s a definite bummer knowing that only certain sizes are “accepted” in the fashion world. I remember being 13, and watching America’s Next Top Model, wanting so badly to be in front of a camera wearing such spectacular fashion, but knowing I never could because i was only 5’2”. Yes, that is a different perception of size, but a perception nonetheless. As for the weight side of things, that 13 year old version of me certainly struggled with that too. All through high school I struggled with my weight. I barely ate anything, but I thought it was OK because the label on my homecoming dress said I was a size 2, when my body was screaming at me that it wasn’t supposed to be so frail. And now, at 20, in the midst of college and planning my wedding, those thoughts creep back up and I have to physically remind myself that I’m supposed to be the size 6/8 that I am. I feel like its the fashion industry I love so much that causes women to have these thoughts. We really need to change it’s perspective about what is “plus” and what is “accepted”. If it were up to me, there would be no “plus” industry - models used would be based solely on talent.

-Amanda

Thank you Amanda for sharing with everyone! Want to share too? Click here.

It seems that the world is still having issues with the “plus size” industry.

After being the only plus size designer to show and open Milan’s Fashion Week for the last five years, Elena Miro was EXCLUDED from the schedule. Their answer to this:

-Head of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion Mario Boselli told the AFP, “Some labels just weren’t in line with what ready-to-wear week should be. We wanted to champion the values of creativity to reaffirm Milan’s role in the world.”-

The show did go on, but to a smaller crowd in a standing room.

Sure, she isn’t over the top artsy as some, but she has fantastic, realistic designs that many women prefer. I do not understand how Milan could leave her out. I think it absolutely disgusting that something like this has happened.

I wish I could tell the people who decided to leave her out of Milan’s Fashion Week that they need to get over themselves and do something that will benefit the world. What say you?

(FYI: THESE PHOTOS I GOT FROM The Curvy Fashionista, LINK HERE.)

1. First time in California.

2. First time flying alone.

3. First time a company flew me out to shoot product!

4. First time I modeled lingerie!

This weekend was crazy, and unforgettable! I am going to take you through little my journey! If you don’t like it then scroll down and get to the shoot details! lol :)

I get to the airport about 3 hours early, and it was completely dead in there. It took me about 10 mins to get to my gate! The funny thing is I had a water bottle in my purse, and didn’t use a plastic bag for my liquids and security said nothing! So, I get to my gate and realize I have nothing to do for three hours…

That was really quite horrible considering I was so anxious/excited/nervous/freaking out! Three hours felt like ten days! But I made some friends! I talked to this older woman in a wheel chair who was sooo dolled up, and asked her about her necklace. She told me this long, grandiose story about how her grandmother passed it to her mother and on to her. She was very interesting and loved to talk! I love pple like that! Great distraction. 

NEXT- I meet a wedding counselor from LA who sits next to me. She had long gorgeous blond/white hair and a beautiful black satin dress on. We discuss things like if you should live with your significant other before you get married, when you should get married etc. She asked about Kevin and I, I told her all about us. She said that we passed her “test” to see if the marriage will last! haha And told me to get married ASAP. Then I told her my age and she changed her thoughts by saying “take your time”. lol

We finally get on the plane, the wedding counselor and I realize that we have the same flight schedule and say we will meet up at the next gate. I have a seat in between a beautiful, mysterious girl who was reading about archeology and evolution (we didn’t talk much she read a lot) and an older, rich looking woman. The older lady started up a conversation almost immediately. She was on her way to Hawaii! Long story short, she was an interior decorator, an international lama judge, and a nurse… She is retired so she only does the interior decorating on the side for a creative outlet. She was such a sweetheart, and encouraged me on my modeling lingerie fear. I could tell you much more about her, but this is getting lengthy already!

YAY we arrive in Arizona! I meet up with the wedding counselor and briefly made a new fashion friend who lives in Cali too.

Get on the plane to Los Angeles! (can you believe it?)

I sit next to a soon-to-be marine, quite a hunk if you ask me. But don’t worry Kevin, he had a girlfriend! ;-} We talked about life, the military world, and California.

OMG we land in LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I find my way to the hotel, meet up with Natalie! Then I call my friend to come pick us up to go to dinner! (A very late dinner that is.) We go to “Father’s Office”, I have never heard of it before but was more than willing to visit this fancy gastropub <click if you don’t know what it means! I didn’t!

Had the best burger everrrrrr!

Maybe less spinach next time father!

This was insanely sweet!

Hung out for a bit then headed back into the hotel, I had “the handicapped” room so I could have fit like 30 ppl in my room lol. MY BED WAS AWESOME.

I miss you large bed! :(

Next day we shot, shot and shot some more! Everyone at this company was great, friendly, and funny! Natalie and I got some serious outfits in! Cannot wait to show you all! :) If you don’t shop at hips & curves now, you should. They stand for feeling beautiful and sexy in your own skin. I mean look at the diversely sized models on their site! I know my next corset will be from them! :}

The Hips and Curves office! :)

We were tired after! I laid around for an hour, then Natalie left me to go to an awesome diner that I couldn’t go to because I had to catch my flight! :( haha No worries though, I was happy for her (it seemed awesome) and I would have been too stressed on getting back in time anyways.

So I get to the airport and sit… lol For about 2 hours, catch my redeye flight back to Philly, have a three hour layover to get to Pittsburgh, and NOW IM HOME! :) I feel kind of behind with schoolwork, and I am stressed. But all of it was so worth it, I love flying! And I love the ladies of Hips & Curves!!!! :D

<33333

I leave for LA tomorrow afternoon and it still hasn’t exactly hit me. I called my mom this morning because I was really excited! She was really excited too, but then I told her what the website was and she got nervous… My mom is a very conservative dresser so knowing that I will be doing scandalous photos made her nervous! She even pulled the “do you want your dad, boyfriends dad, or family seeing these”?? No I really don’t, but I am not going to say “heyyyy family check out hipsandcurves.com and look at my ass!” lol you know?

This is also the most “sexy” shoot I have ever decided to do. I know I will be very comfortable, because when I start shooting I go into another world. I just don’t want to look trashy. It is all about the poses, a good model can make a trash bag look hot!

So anyways, I am going to do it, and I am NOT going to think about my family while shooting. Natalie said: “I am going to think about all the ex-boyfriends I have ever had, kind of like a F U to them” lol. I think that is the perfect thought! But I will also be thinking about Kevin, he has been so supportive of me, so I have to make him proud!

Also, about showing my body, isn’t that what a plus model is? I mean I am confident in my skin, but I don’t feel like sharing my naked body with the world if you know what I am saying!

Sorry, I am so scatterbrained right now: I am exhausted, stressed about school, flying to LA tomorrow, have photo assignments due, need to make up missing this weekend at DCL to Kevin and his cousin.

Ugh, I need to go to bed. BUT I AM SOOOO EXCITED! SO I am off to pack! I will be updating my blog/twitter as much as possible! I won’t have a lap top, so I will posting from my phone!!! <3333 you allll! Thank you for being so supportive through all of this!

Did I mention its my first time in California?