Big, Beautiful and Bold

The Madness Of Baby Pageants

May 18, 2013 by Marie Southard

I’ve never been a beauty pageant kind of girl. I realize this is strange to say considering I will be participating in Miss Plus-Size International 2013 (MPSI). But the reason I was attracted to this pageant is precisely because it seemed like the antithesis of what normal pageants are all about. MPSI isn’t about dictating what beauty should look like. It isn’t about striving to be thin and/or encouraging others to do so. It’s about body love. It’s about showing […]

Categories: Body, Celebrity, Culture, Plus Size • Tags: baby beauty pageants, baby fashion, baby models, baby photo shopping, Fat Pride, Gabi Gregg, Gabifresh, Honey Boo Boo, Miss Plus Size International 2013, perceptions on weight, Plus Size Fashion, plus-size blogger, Swimsuits4All, thin obsession, Toddlers and Tiaras

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The Business Of Curves

May 18, 2013 by Marie Southard

It’s official: I’m done with New York University. But I couldn’t leave without writing about some curves, obviously. Check out my final story, also posted on Fameology: There were curves everywhere. Hoards of plus-size women sipped cocktails while complimenting each other’s outfits, taking turns in the retro photo booth and grabbing “America’s Next Top Model’s” beloved Jay Manuel for brief meet and greets. If it was any other night, Jay and his perfectly gelled, bleached white locks would’ve been the […]

Categories: Body, Celebrity, Culture, Fashion, Lifestyle, Plus Size • Tags: Ashley Falcon, ASOS Curve, Big Girl in a Skinny World, Bob Lotich, Candice Huffine, Domino Dollhouse, fatkinis, Forever 21 plus, Glitter Odyssey, inStyle plus-size, Jay Manuel, Jeni Starr, Lace N Leopard, Lane Bryant, Lane Bryant Flagship Store, Marcy Guevara, Marie Claire plus-size, Marie Denee, Mary Demetra, ModCloth, Nicolette Mason, Nordstrom plus size, People plus size, plus size blogging tips, plus size blogging trend, Plus Size Fashion, plus size vlogging, plus size YouTube, Redbook plus size, Skorch Magazine, Style Blazer plus size, Tanesha Awasthi, The Curvy Fashionista, Tiffany Crawford, Tracy Broxterman, turning your blog into a career, Vogue Curvy, Yossi Loloi

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GabifreshxSwimsuits4All

May 18, 2013 by Marie Southard

I was pretty bummed when I ordered Gabifresh’s new galaxy fatkini and a few days later received that dreaded e-mail that my order had been cancelled. Then I realized…how flippin’ awesome is it that half of Gabi Gregg’s new plus-size swimsuit line for Swimsuits4All sold out within hours? Her collection included two statement pieces, the galaxy print two-piece and the one-piece meshed paint splatter beauty, along with two neon bikinis and a galaxy cover-up. Luckily, I still managed to get […]

Categories: Body, Celebrity, Culture, Fashion, Lifestyle, Photography, Plus Size • Tags: Carrie Wintour, Gabi Gregg, Gabifresh swim line, Marie Southard, plus size bikini, Plus Size Fashion, Plus Size Models, plus size swimwear, plus-size blogger, stylish plus size swimwear, Swimsuits4All, swimsuitsforall.com, Teen Vogue, Teen Vogue plus size

Wobbles And Wine

May 9, 2013 by Marie Southard

I must admit this shoot was done last fall. I visited the Renault Winery in New Jersey with a dear friend — this winery being one of my favorite places in the country, although granted, I’ve never been to the wineries in Napa Valley, even though I have yearned to go ever since watching The Parent Trap (yes, the Lindsay Lohan version) as a kid. The gourmet restaurant offers a super-sized buffet where I tend to over-indulge in dozens of […]

Categories: Body, Culture, Fashion, Food, Lifestyle, Photography, Plus Size • Tags: BBW photography, Fat Pride, Marie Southard, ModCloth, ModCloth plus size, New Jersey wineries, plus size, plus size dresses, plus size photography, plus size vintage, plus-size blogger, Renault Winery, wine tasting

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Hips And Curves Photo Shoot

May 8, 2013 by Marie Southard

Confession: I was somewhat reluctant to do a lingerie shoot. Not because there’s anything wrong with posing in lingerie. And not because I was uncomfortable wearing a sexy, lacy, burlesque-y outfit that showcases my jiggly bits. Ashamedly, it just seemed a bit taboo at first. Though I am completely against the opinion that plus-size women shouldn’t post in swimsuits or panties because of their size, I knew I was going to be putting myself at risk for backlash and negative […]

Categories: Body, Celebrity, Culture, Fashion, Lifestyle, Photography, Plus Size • Tags: BBW, BBW lingerie, Gabi Gregg, Gabifresh, Hips and Curves, Paddy McClave, Paddy McClave Photography, Plus Size Fashion, plus size lingerie, plus size photography, plus size pride, sexy bbw

Because Of Gabi Gregg

April 29, 2013 by Marie Southard

Gabi Gregg.Is.Genius. Before Gabi Gregg, the blogosophere was void of any daring pro-plus-size content. I’m sure you had the occasional blog here and there that attempted to put a positive spin on being fat, or that served as a confidence-boosting venue for those struggling with a negative body image. But she’s the one who found a way of doing it that not only appealed to other plus-size women, but to everyone really — albeit especially those plus-size ladies who love […]

Categories: Body, Celebrity, Culture, Fashion, Lifestyle, Plus Size • Tags: 2012 fashion trends, BBW bloggers, BBW industry, bbw models, body image, curvy confidence, fat acceptanc, Fat Acceptance, fat appreciation, Fat Pride, Gabi Gregg, Gabifresh, plus size bloggers, plus size columnists, plus size fashion trends 2012, plus size fashionistas, plus size news, top outfits of 2012, Weight Acceptance, Young Fat and Fabulous

Chic DYO Fashion That Also Comes In Plus-Sizes? Check Out Bow And Drape!

April 25, 2013 by Marie Southard

I’ve seen do-it-yourself fashion before. Milk and Honey does shoes. Zazzle does everything – from pins to totes to tees. But I’ve never seen DYO like this. Meet Bow and Drape.

Categories: Body, Culture, Fashion, Plus Size • Tags: 1950's style icons, a la Dior, Audrey Hepburn, Bow and Drape, Christa Spengeman, DYO fashion, Fat Pride, Jackie Kennedy, Milk and Honey, plus size DYO, Plus Size Fashion, Twiggy, Zazzle

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Sometimes I Feel So Simple…

April 22, 2013 by Marie Southard

…because all it takes to cheer me up is a new outfit and MAC lipstick. Yes, I took these in the bathroom at work. Yes, I know I’m a loser.

Categories: Body, Culture, Fashion, Plus Size • Tags: ASOS, Calvin Klein, Fat Pride, Lord and Taylor, Lord and Taylor plus, MAC cosmetics, Plus Size Fashion, plus-size blogger, spring dresses

And The Plus-Size Blogging Craze Continues

April 22, 2013 by Marie Southard

Just last week, Style Blazer, the self-proclaimed “progressive, cutting-edge site geared towards chic, style-driven women across the globe” announced they were adding a plus-size columnist to their ranks of rockin’ writers – making it the sixth mainstream publication in the U.S. to do so. The new plus guru: Marie Denee.

Categories: Body, Celebrity, Culture, Fashion, Plus Size • Tags: Marie Denee, Plus Model Magazine, plus size bloggers, Plus Size Fashion, plus-size columnist, Style Blazer, The Curvy Fashionista, Vogue Curvy

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My Love For Nicolette Mason

April 16, 2013 by Marie Southard

One of my dreams came true when I met Nicolette Mason. My girl crush on this plus-size fashion guru has been continually growing since she became Marie Claire’s “Big Girl in a Skinny World” columnist, so when I landed my internship at MC, I hoped and hoped I’d stumble upon her in the office. Finally, hoping paid off.

Categories: Body, Celebrity, Culture, Fashion, Lifestyle, Plus Size • Tags: Big Girl in a Skinny World, Gabi Gregg, inStyle, Marcy Guevara, Marie Claire plus-size, Marie Southard, Nicolette Mason, plus size bloggers, plus size celebrities, Plus Size Fashion, Redbook, Tanesha, Vogue Italia curvy