Plus size and plus size fashion has been making incredible waves in the news and among the fashion industry. As mentioned in a previous article: The Year of the Plus Size Woman, there is a movement afoot here, and all I can say is IT’S TIME!

Gone are the days when mumus and tents were the only thing a woman over the age of 12 could wear. Gone are the days when you had to be ashamed of your curves. Gone are the days when being a plus is a negative. Gone are the days when you were abolished in the dungeon of nowhere in the department store!

When discussing plus size fashion and its advancements, Glen of Full Figure Plus states in his article that “plus size fashion is new even to plus size women, for so many years it has been achieved with clothing that It was just bigger versions of smaller fads.” it created a culture of confusion among ladies and even more so among men who were trying to buy the special curvy diva in their life.” Acknowledging this shift in plus-size fashion consciousness demands a gracious thank you to those who have made it possible! !
However, while we rejoice with happiness and jubilation, we must recognize those who have made and are still making these paths for us, the emerging fashionistas and the fashionistas who dare to challenge the status quo. If it weren’t for these ambassadors who looked adversity in the face, where would we be? Be fashionistas.

This list is in my own opinion and from a fashion point of view. While there are many who are making moves within the plus size industry, these ambassadors have paved the way for America when there was no way out, voice or means to make change. If I’ve missed someone you think should be recognized, please share your thoughts below!

In no particular order:

Emma plus size supermodel

You know her, the supermodel, TV personality, author, speaker, clothing designer, and advocate for women. I have to take a breath just reading that! Emme is the first Plus Size model to receive a contract with a cosmetics company, when she signed with Revlon.

Emme’s mission is to “awaken the inner magnificence inherent in each of us.” Well, coming from someone who was selected as one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People,” Ladies’ Home Journal’s “Most Important Women in America, Most Fascinating Women of the Year,” Glamor’s “Woman of the Year,” and ” Biography magazine’s Woman of the Year. 25 Most Influential Women”, Emme is a woman who has definitely paved the way for Plus Size to be seen as Plus.

At EmmeStyle, Emme aspires to “create a community where women can comfortably connect, observe, discuss, learn, cry, and come out refreshed and empowered to make a difference in the world they live in.”
Way to keep Confident Emme!

catherine schüller Expert in the plus size industry

This woman is dear to me, what an inspiration! Catherine Schuller is The Industry Maven (in my eyes). How do you earn this title? Well, for starters, she was a former Ford model, back when the plus size industry was young, she’s a consumer advocate, promoter, marketer, editor (remember Mode? She was the retail fashion editor here), image consultant (AICI Certified), Author, and Entrepreneur (Owner of Emerging Visions Enterprises as Plus Size Spokesperson, Consultant, and Liaison).

She is an expert in the field of style and image, often featured or quoted for major publications and newspapers and has been the “Fashion Expert” on many morning shows.

In 2002, after Mode closed its doors (such a sad time, as I was a teenager reading inspirational articles that spoke to me), Catherine created Curvestyle: Reshaping Fashion in New York. In addition to this project, Catherine became an image and style consultant for Divabetic: Makeover Your Diabetes. Divabetic is an outreach program for women living with, affected by, or at risk of the diabetes epidemic in the United States (Go Girl!).

Catherine Schuller’s latest venture, Curvestyle: Reshaping Fashion, provides promotion and marketing for the plus size/plus size industry. In addition to Curvestyle, Catherine is a Certified Professional Image Consultant and provides industry consultations, books, seminars, and resources.

Catherine Schuller is OUR The modern Oprah!

cheese lewis Model, Advocate, Plus Size Radio Host

Chenese Lewis is a budding tycoon. This Curvy.Confidence.Chic. The fashionista is making major moves! If you were to read her biography, there is nothing this Curvy.Confident.Chic. Woman has not done! Keynote speaker, expert commentator, plus size advocate, Miss Plus America 2003, model, radio host, actress (watch Fat Rant 3!), and executive producer. Yes, this ambassador is fundamental to laying the foundations of Plus Size fashion! Adding to her success, PLUS Model magazine called her “a leader in the curvy revolution.” With all that she has accomplished in such a short time, there is no reason to question her stature.

Chenese is the creator of Hollywood NOW’s “Love Your Body Day.” This annual event encourages and empowers women of all sizes to confidently come together and celebrate “a day of self-acceptance and promoting positive body image.”

In 2008, Chenese blessed us with the 2008 Flawless Calendar, a sophisticated and elegant calendar that highlights the beauty of Curvy.Confident.Chic. Fashionistas through the use of haute couture editorial images.

However, Chenese is not done! March marks the month that PLUS Model Radio celebrates one year of Curvy’s existence on the radio! PLUS Model Radio is the voice of PLUS Model Magazine. PLUS Model Radio encompasses the Curvy lifestyle for the Plus Size woman.

Chenese inspires all Curvy Fashionistas “to chase your dreams, thrive on your curves, yearn for modern fashion, and shape your life on your own terms, unapologetically.” In addition, Chenese attributes her success to “not conforming to society’s ideals of beauty, but showing by example that you can be beautiful and confident regardless of your size”, Chenese Lewis emulates that of a Curvy.Confident. Chic. Plus size fashionista.

Gayla Bentley Plus Size Fashion Pioneer

Gayla Bentley is no stranger to the fashion scene. Go back thirty years and she will find the passion and purpose that inspired this pioneer to establish fashion and style for the Plus Size woman. Dedicated to achieving her goal that “it’s not about size, it’s about style,” Gayla Bentley has been on this mission ever since.

With ten years at Saks Fifth Avenue as director of The Fifth Avenue Club, Gayla Bentley took her experience and passion for style and left Saks to start her business, Cou-Tours, which arranged private, personalized shopping excursions to Paris. From Cou-Tours, Gayla Bentley formed The Gayla Bentley Fashion Design Group, set out to dispel the judgments and stereotypes of Plus Size fashion, and countered opposition by providing “fashionable, desirable, modern clothing for women of all shapes and sizes.” “, something that everyone Curvy.Confidence.Elegant. Fashionistas strive to find.

Gayla Bentley’s fashion design group has continually (and successfully) delivered classic, elegant fashion with clean design lines that transcend seasonal dress. She designs clothes that are meant to be worn for multiple seasons and can easily be worn in more than one way. Her designs and philosophy allow Gayla Bentley to integrate sizes, so it doesn’t matter what size and/or shape you are; they can shop at the same places, something most department stores don’t offer.

If you can believe this, Gayla Bentley Fashion Design Group has been around since 2001, a time when plus-size designer fashion was just a dream. The company’s beliefs are passionately expressed, giving all aspiring designers and plus-size fashionistas something to aspire to: “We don’t believe in covering it up. We create shapes that emphasize a woman’s femininity and sensuality. More importantly, it’s comfortable and looks like she’s wearing the clothes, not like the clothes are wearing her. She has her own style and her own confidence, and that radiates from her.”

gwen devo THE Plus Size Event Coordinator

The Plus Academy, Full Figured and Fabulous, Dangerous Curves- the Tour and Project Curves. These are the events that the presenter, Gwen DeVoe, has defended the most. With all these events under her fashion belt, it’s no wonder one wonders: Who is this amazing Curvy.Confident.Chic? Diva Gwen DeVoe?

Gwen DeVoe, trainer plus model, is now a plus model trainer, developer and director. In addition to these hats, Gwen is also an advocate and supporter of Plus Size models on fashion runways.

But wait, not only is she all of these things listed above, but she’s also a “highly sought after motivational speaker on body image topics, as well as modeling and fashion consulting for plus size women and teens.”

Gwen DeVoe created DeVoe Signature Events, a full-service event management and production company, to serve as a launch pad and base of operations for fashion events and lifestyle events for the Plus Size community.

Sharon Quinn THE DIVA OF THE RUNWAY

You know her, the beautiful, six foot, shaven head, horsewoman, catwalk queen and parade extraordinaire: Sharon Quinn. Former 1980s model, Sharon Quinn was instrumental in breaking down the stereotypes of the Plus Size model. Most recognizable for her appearance on “MoNique’s FAT Chance,” Sharon Quinn has rightfully become a mainstay and mentor to Plus Size models within the Plus Size community.

Sharon Quinn creates the website sharonquinn.com which features her advice column “The Runway Diva Says”, tailored for aspiring plus size models. On her site, she features her personal blogs, samples of her music, and a slow slide of her career highlights. Not only does she create an amazing resource for plus size models, but she is in the process of writing her book, “The Runway Diva’s Guide to Becoming a Plus Size Model (or just looking great). like a)”. Notably, Sharon Quinn can also be reached through her popular column in Plus Model Magazine.

Paul McAleer Founder of the Big Fat Blog

You may know the blog, but you may not know the founder of this long-standing blogging community. Founded in 2000, Big Fat Blog is the brainchild of Paul McAleer, stemming from his research on accumulated size discrimination while in college. The Big Fat Blog (BFB) is the web’s largest fat acceptance blog; encompassing over 3,000 members who have joined the fight for acceptance and fat rights.

Often cited as the “grandfather of the Fatosphere,” Paul McAleer has been the author, facilitator, host, empowerer, and voice for all of us who fight against size acceptance, plus-size rights, and discrimination.

Although Big Fat Blog is media-focused, its reach has expanded to support the fatosphere with a calendar of events, forums, activism, and more. Last January, Paul told the community that as of April 1, BFB would close its doors. To the surprise and dismay of the entire community, many stopped in disbelief. In recognition of BFB’s service to its community, The Fat Rights Coalition took over day-to-day operations at BFB.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. In the future, I will be expanding my list of Top Plus Size Ambassadors who are making continuous moves.