Although Nancy was a successful plus size model for quite some time, she wanted to give back and improve the industry. True, many plus size retailers were available to customers, mostly through online ordering or catalogs. Nevertheless, Nancy saw a specific issue that bothered her.

At the time, most plus size clothing wasn’t very …

Whitney’s experiences on the show weren’t always fun and games. Many of the other models mocked her for being fat and continuously taunted her with juvenile comments. Whitney’s strength of character kept her strong regardless of the torment. She knew how sexy she was, and it showed true in every picture. In fact …

Recently, Ashley’s Lane Bryant ads have received some controversial news coverage when ABC deemed them too sexy for primetime. While Lane Bryant argued that ABC is uncomfortable showing full figured women, Ashley looked at the bright side of the situation. All of this media attention has brought the issue of full figured women …

Having been a plus size model since the age of 15, Kailee has been seen in several magazines and catalogs, including Glamour magazine, Laura Canada, Night Moves Prom, Mervyn’s, David’s Prom, Old Navy, MXM and Goody’s. She has also made live appearances on several talk shows, including Ellen and The Early Show.

Currently she …

As a California native, Kelsey has certainly been exposed to the Hollywood hype of being super skinny. Refusing to follow in the media’s concept of anorexic beauty, Kelsey has made her way into the modeling scene, and is now one of the most well paid and respected plus size models in the industry.

Her …

In her home country, Fluvia felt ostracized as a plus size woman. She has often commented that clothing stores in Brazil simply refuse to carry anything above a size 12. Larger women have to stuff themselves into garments that are far too small, have clothing specially made, or go shopping abroad.

Fluvia has …

As the daughter of a prominent British politician, Nigella’s childhood was quite different than most. Moving around due to her father’s career, she switched schools five times before she was 18. While her grades suffered, Nigella still managed to get accepted into Oxford, and studied both medieval and modern literature.

After school she pursued …

Born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, Sara is a Mexican-American who came to the states with her mother at the impressionable age of eight. As a bilingual woman, she has always been proud of her heritage and prefers her first name to be pronounced in the traditional Mexican manner, “Sada.”

As a well-trained actress, Sara …

Breaking the glass ceiling of a male-dominated executive music business, Missy has started her own record label, Goldmine Inc., promoting herself and other artists in the industry. Although she is mostly known for her musical talents as a singer and songwriter, Missy is becoming a true renaissance woman in the industry as a …

Emme’s curvaceous body has been recognized by such accolades as People magazine. They even included her in their “50 Most Beautiful People” list on two separate occasions. Likewise, Biography magazine named her one of the “25 Most Influential Women.”

It’s inspiring to see just how many ‘firsts’ Emme has accomplished throughout her career …

If you’re looking for a ravishing redhead with curves to die for, Christina Hendricks is your woman. Currently playing a sultry secretary on Mad Men, this voluptuous vixen definitely heats things up with her ample frame and saucy wit.

While some may think that a woman as gorgeous as Christina must have been immediately …

When she was a size zero model, hardly anybody knew about Crystal Renn. Now she is the most well-paid and well-known plus size model in the industry. She has appeared in various magazines, such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Seeing her now it’s hard to believe that she started her modeling career practically …

Getting her start on American Idol, Jennifer Hudson has blown audiences away with her soulful voice. Jennifer’s amazing stage presence on Dreamgirls won her an Academy award for best supporting actress in 2006. As a full figured phenomenon, Jennifer is just getting started.

Since she was a young girl, Jennifer has been singing with …

As the youngest person ever to win on American Idol, Jordin Sparks is a rising star with a promising future in front of her. Not only does she have an amazing voice, but her curvaceous frame proves you don’t have to be a skinny twig to be a pop icon.

Even before her appearance …

Before going into television, Megan started out as a dancer. Being trained in ballet from the young age of six, she performed in several respectable companies. Moving on to being a theater actress, Megan relocated to Chicago and performed in various shows and revivals. Leaving Chicago, she ventured toward Los Angeles and Hollywood. …

At only 28 years old, Serena is splitting her time between several activities. Other than being a tennis phenomenon, she has taken up acting, fashion design, product promotion, and even has time to volunteer for worthy causes.

Following the hot trend of reality TV, Serena and her sister starred in ‘Venus and Serena for …

Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Oprah’s childhood was filled with nightmarish events. Although things started out well with her grandmother raising her, things turned for the worst when she moved to Milwaukee to live with her mother. From ages 6-13 Oprah lived in an abusive home where she was beaten and molested. She ran …

While becoming famous overnight is usually just an expression, the phrase couldn’t be truer for Nikki. She had tried out for the stage version of Hairspray and was initially told she was too young to play the part of Tracy Turnblad. Unbeknownst to her at the time, her audition tape made it to …

Unlike many of her young twig-limbed contemporaries, Adele’s ample frame has a sensual quality that’s intensified by her powerful sounding music. Her retro taste in fashion and hairstyles complements Adele’s body shape beautifully.

Her first album, ‘19,’ has a stream of consciousness diary motif that is straight out of her life. Adele has commented …

Born Vickie Lynn Hogan, Anna’s early life was filled with many obstacles. She was raised without a father, dropped out of high school, and was married and pregnant by age 17. Being a small-town girl in Texas, Anna longed for a life of excitement. After her first marriage ended she left for Hollywood …

A native of Houston, Texas, Loretta obtained her BA in speech and drama from the University of Houston. Leaving her home state for schooling in Massachusetts, Loretta obtained her MFA in drama from Brandeis University.

Starting off as a stage actress, Loretta was in the original onstage production of ‘Dreamgirls.’ Maneuvering her skills …

As the daughter of actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli, Liza is no stranger to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Starstruck, Liza dropped out of high school and moved to New York in hopes of becoming a stage actress. She managed to get a part in an off-Broadway play, which …

Such a picture caused a huge public response. Magazine editors may have been worried about offending people, but to their surprise almost all the responses were positive. Women were amazed to finally see someone in a magazine that actually looked like they did. Not some stick thin waif of a woman, but a …

Born Mary Jane West in Brooklyn, New York, Mae was a stunning Vaudeville child star. Heavily encouraged by her mother, Matilda “Tillie” West, Mae was definitely a child who was both seen and heard.

Growing up as a performer, it’s not surprising that Mae started writing plays. In 1926 her play, “Sex,” actually got …

From as young as five years old, Trisha knew she was meant to be a country singer. She even asked Santa Claus for a tape recorder for Christmas, and claims to own tapes of herself singing when she was between the ages of five and six. Raised in a small town, her dreams …

While Barbara’s name may not be as recognized as some of her fellow plus size models, her extensive work in the industry is hard to miss. Almost every catalog or magazine featuring larger sizes has most likely shown dozens of Barbara’s gorgeous pictures.

A native of Seattle, Barbara got her start as a model …

Originally Brooke was a stage performer, and made her debut on Broadway in the play “Taboo.” It was during Taboo’s auditions that she met Rosie O’Donnell, who helped her prepare for the role. Rosie has been quoted to have said that when she first saw Brooke she looked like a sweet-heart of a …

Born in Ireland, Charlotte was taunted as a child for being fat and remembers going on her first diet at age 8. Many times she would starve herself all day and only eat one evening meal. Her binging fits got worse, and her relationship with food was completely unhealthy. Worse were her false …

The vivacious curves and contours of Kate Dillon are wonderfully matched with her strong voice advocating for women to embrace their uniqueness. Once a size 6 skin-and-bones model, Kate has fought anorexia and found her own personal truth to beauty.

Having spoken at Harvard University’s Eating Disorder Convention, as well as speaking in her …

As a plus size model, Chenese has been featured in eye-catching promotions for Kmart and Torrid, and has also been the main celebrity focus for Sizeappeal.com. In 2003 she was the first woman ever to be crowned Miss Plus America. Her journey as a full figured model has been difficult, and she has …

At the young age of only 17 when she entered the contest, Chloe’s positive attitude kept her going, despite all the negative comment she was receiving from fellow pageant members in the media. She had won first place in her own county, so Chloe knew she had just as much right to compete …

On “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” Christina played Terri MacGregor, who ironically was a plus size model in the show. This complicated character’s emotional state was an interesting portrayal of an understated yet sensitive individual. Christina’s performance impressed audiences, and in 2005 she won “Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama)—Supporting Young …

While it might be difficult for some to believe that a plus size model is on the Parisian catwalk, Johanna sure isn’t going to let anything stop her. In 2006 she appeared in John Galliano’s ‘Everybody is Beautiful’ show, hosted by French Vogue. Not only was she a stunning vision to behold, but …

As a well-trained comedic actress, Jennifer has worked with the Gotham City Improv Group in New York as well as the Groundlings Comedy Troupe in Los Angeles. In her early career she had to work several other jobs to pay the bills, including waitressing alongside other rising stars, such as Sandra Bullock. Being …

Having a desire for beauty from a young age, Delta did the beauty pageant circuit throughout her childhood and adolescence. She won several pageants, but lost the Miss America pageant in 1976. It was after this loss when Delta was assaulted by a stalker. The traumatic experience was intense enough to drive her …

Although Keely tried to be an actress in her early career, none of her attempts ever seemed to pan out. Instead she decided to follow her passions and be a correspondent. Her work in journalism has included writing for The Today Show and Entertainment Tonight. Keeley also spent time working as a correspondent …

As the daughter a famous rock musician, Mia Tyler is a hard-core chick with curves to die for. With father Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and half-sister Liv Tyler, Mia is no stranger to fame. Not having inherited the skin and bones body of her father and half-sister, she has led a different …

It’ll take a lot more than a pair of glasses and frumpy clothes to hide the beauty of America Ferrera. As the star of ABC’s hit series Ugly Betty, America has proven to audiences that real beauty isn’t about being a size 0, it’s about character and confidence.

Having acted professionally for the past …

As the first plus size woman to have five consecutive billboards in New York’s Times Square, Natalie Laughlin helped open the doors for other plus size models in the industry. Her journey was not easy, as she fought with weight control and negative body images throughout most of her adolescence and early 20s. …

Some people say you can only be happy with yourself if you can make fun of yourself, and that seems to be the case for Kirstie Alley. Although in her early career she was a fairly skinny actress, over the years she has blossomed into a full figured woman full of attitude.

Since …

A true artist and poet of the 21st century, Jill Scott’s well-crafted words and phenomenal imagery have been making an impact on the music world since 2000. Her presence as a strong and insightful person wonderfully complements her voluptuous frame. Jill’s ever evolving music is packed with messages about life and relationships that …

Her start as a standup comedian might have been considered somewhat impulsive. Mo’Nique’s brother dared her to go onstage during an open improv comedy night, and she has been loving it ever since. Though work as a standup comedian can be grueling, Mo’Nique has stuck with it. Her perseverance built up her fame …

Talk about a woman who can do it all — musician, actress, author, entrepreneur, philanthropist — the list just goes on and on. Queen Latifah, AKA Dana Owens, has been a phenomenal on-screen force since 1991 when she debuted in Spike Lee’s film Jungle Fever.

Even before her first screen appearance, Queen Latifah …