- Some of the things that bring me joy
in my plus size body is,
loving me,
whether I gain weight or lose weight.
Seeing a brand, expand their size range,
or seeing other models
get campaigns and they're plus size.
Those are the things that make me think
the steps that I, and other models
who came before them,
that it was all worth it.
(funky music)
My journey with modeling has been a long one.
I got the idea that I could do it
when I was in elementary school,
but I really didn't start to pursue it,
till I was in, the end of middle school,
going into high school.
One day,
my spirit just told me,
"You just need to move to New York.
You just never know what can happen."
I know that some of my family thought I was crazy,
probably thought I would never make it.
But look at me now. (laughing)
I became one of the first plus models
to when the model portion of "Project Runway",
on season 16.
I became the first black plus model
to walk the prestigious,
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week.
And I recently became an ambassador for Athleta.
And I'm excited about that because
not only I'm a model,
but I have a voice,
and I speak up.
Don't get frustrated.
Don't get impatient, stop worrying,
do what you can in the natural,
put your best foot forward.
As far as the landscape profession right now,
I will say, I'm excited that we're seeing
more diversity and inclusion,
but I still feel a lot of times
that black plus models are left behind
and I want to see more of us.
It doesn't always have to start with
a white plus model to create the change.
Black plus models have been here.
(laughing)
Black plus size women
have money to spend.
We're not given the same opportunities,
the same breaks, the same platforms,
the same campaigns.
Guess what?
My Blackness is
just as mainstream
and as beautiful
and as wanted, and I can sell
product just like the best of them.
So my thing is,
when you are making those decisions
for diversity and inclusion,
don't forget about us.
We've been putting in work
behind the scenes for years.
We've been putting in work
in front of the cameras for years.
Our look should be celebrated,
plastered across magazines.
I'll tell you a quick story.
I am the curvy spokesperson
for Maggie Sottero Designs,
which is in over 60 countries.
And they go from sizes zero to 28.
I'm in Barcelona,
I'm doing this big runway show,
Cardoso, on the Bridal Fashion Week.
And I remember,
I talked to a lady from South Africa afterwards,
and she said,
"You just don't realize the impact it's been
since you started to work with Maggie."
And she said, "I handle the distribution and sales
over in Africa."
She said, "When I sent your pictures
from the very first campaign."
She said, "Oh my God, oh my God,
my prayers have been answered."
Because of the overwhelming amount of pictures
and bridal that are white women
with light hair, light eyes,
she literally, orders the samples
from the different designers
and re-shoots them all on Black models.
So, that way the brides could see themselves
because otherwise,
they would literally be coming into the boutique
and just seeing all white brides.
Imagine how much money and time
she would have to invest,
all the time to do this.
And this is one less brand that she has to do that with.
That just shows you the power
of representation.
When I heard those words,
I was literally
brought to tears,
to tears.
You know, some days
this life of a working model, (laughing)
some days are good,
some days are not so good.
It's like, you want to tap on the microphone
and say, "Hey, is this thing on?
Do you see me?
Do you hear me?
Do you feel me?"
That day I know I was felt.
That day I know I was seen.
That day I know I was heard.
And you know,
I may not be on the covers of some magazines
yet.
But,
knowing that I'm having
an effect at the grassroots
of the bridal industry
and that there are people in
different countries across the world
who see my face and who buy a dress
for their special day
because they saw a piece of themselves
because they used me.
It's indescribable.
It feels so, so good.
(funky music)