Posted by: Bobby G. Keith

AREA 51 Zero Tolerance

The “Plus Size Advocate” is getting set to launch it’s new segment called “AREA 51 ZERO TOLERANCE“. Area 51 has been on my mind for awhile as way to bring awareness to the abnormal size zero stick figure images of fashion and fame. I’m not interested in criticizing skinny people…hey if God gave you the body you have then Rock it, however if you are trying to meet some unhealthy and mostly unatainable size zero body measurement, then this segment is aimed at you.

I know a little bit about the problem as I have someone, shall we say, close to home who practices benge and purge precisely because of the presure she feels to maintain a certain body measurement. For the sake of privacy I will not tell you who it is, but she is an aspiring model with a known modeling agent. When she confessed to me that she had this problem my heart fell and I didn’t really know how to handle it. I encouraged her to just be herself and if she was plus size then she could get into plus size modeling and she just said “NO WAY”! Enough said…you can see the problem she faces and she’s not alone.

What I hope to acheive with this segment is to compare and contrast by way of dry humor, images and articles to show just how rediculous this whole notion of size zero REALLY IS. Basically illustrating the rediculous by being rediculous.

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The Plus Size Advocate - Plus Size Fashion, News & Events

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FATOO

• www.curvesandchaos.com

“Curvy Girl Travels”

Curvy Girl Monique’s first in a series of features called “Curvy Girl Travels” takes you inside the swank Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas.  Complete with her experience, recommendations and yes tons of room photo’s of amenities and  accommodations,  Monique takes you on the guided tour. READ MORE…

• dailyvenusdiva.com

How Women Sabotage Their Relationships with Money

“Unhealthy financial habits often result from emotional conflict or unrest within an individual, and a deeper understanding of the reasons one spends money will help one to get in touch with what is most valuable to them.” READ MORE…

• www.bigfatblog.com

BBC Reports: UK parents ‘do not recognize that their children are obese’

BFB examines the distorted perceptions resulting from the over-use of extreme examples to illustrate media obesity articles. READ MORE…

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Superficial Fat Chicks & Other Myths

CeCe’s mind has been swirling with “Why’s” since her recent outing with girlfriend Kayla.

“Why can’t a Plus Size Princess “deserve” an attractive guy? Why is it that the minute a plus size girl expresses ANY kind of physical desires in her mate, she’s considered superficial or shallow? Why was the idea of my friend Kayla (who is gorgeous, with the perfect hour glass shape) liking a chubby guy so outrageous?” READ MORE…

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The Plus Size Advocate - Plus Size Fashion, News & Events

YULIYA RAQUEL is a natural-born artistic individual through fashion designing.  This Ukrainian-born beautiful woman is a lead designer and founder of IGIGI (pronounced as ee zhee zhee), one of today’s leading brands of clothing for real women of all shapes and sizes, which is based in San Francisco, California.

It is extraordinary for a three year-old child to be fascinated at fashion magazines, or for a seven-year old to have mastered the sewing machines. Fashion designing comes to Yuliya naturally. She has been designing clothes since she was five. Part of her high school program in  Russia was designing. She was so fascinated at it, so she took additional classes while still in Russia. When she transferred to the USA, she took a few classes too.

Thinking of a more stable profession, Yuliya tried herself in the field of medicine. But destiny gave her whole life to fashion designing. Maybe it was fate, or a personal calling that led her to an exclusive passion for plus size market. Her greatest masterpiece is the unbeatable IGIGI.

Yuliya‘s  interest in plus size fashion started when she went shopping with her mother (a beautiful woman size 24 at that time) at the full figured stores. They were disheartened at the reality that there was not enough stylish, form-fitting, and feel good clothes available for curvaceous women like her mother. She went store hopping searching what is available for her mother only to end up frustrated.  She realized that only very few stores offer stylish clothing for fashion loving curvy women.

As I was browsing the net, I was led to www.pasazz.net where I came across the video of Yuliya, which she released on the occasion of IGIGI’s 10th anniversary to share with the women her inspiring story of self acceptance and discovering the beauty inside her. In that video she shared that she had an anorexia when she was ten years old because she had an ugly concept of herself. Everything that she saw in herself was ugly. The anorexia was gone when she was a teenager, but the feeling of ugliness remained. Further she shared that when they moved to America, her mother gained so much weight (from size 12 to size 24) because of medication. This affected her mother’s self-esteem so much. Her mother’s feeling of ugliness was reinforced by the pressure of the people around her to reduce weight.

The horrible situation of Yuliya‘s mom became an eye opener for her. She knows for a fact that  her mom was truly beautiful inside and out. But how can she convince other people that they are beautiful if she cannot accept herself? Tired of feeling ugly, she finally decided to accept herself and to be beautiful, and made a 180 degrees change in her life. Since then she developed a beautiful perspective about herself, and she took it as a personal conviction to change world’s view of beauty, or redefine beauty. This is the same mission that IGGI is spreading around the globe through their beautiful collections – the latest and stylish apparel designs and accessories for beautiful and fashion loving curvaceous and voluptuous women. IGIGI is committed to break the boundaries that prevent  people from appreciating their innate beauties.

About 12 years ago prior to IGIGI, she was a couturier having a little studio, designing chic evening gowns for women sizes 18, 20, 22, and 24. The main complaint is that they want something beautiful for a wedding occasion, and have nothing to wear because the stores do not cater to them.  After doing some research in plus market, Yuliya realized a void in the plus size clothing market that needs to be met. And because of her strong conviction to change the world’s definition of beauty, she launched in February 2000 igigi.com where she posted online her clothing collection. IGIGI had a humble beginning. She launched IGIGI with just 300 dollars that she paid for the website and sewing machine. She had made the launching of IGIGI a history because she had successfully managed it to become one of the top leading brands in plus size clothing around the globe. She claims that today IGIGI “has tens and tens and tens of thousands of customers around the globe.” She had managed IGIGI to become a landmark in the plus fashion industry.

Yuliya envisions a world that allows everyone to feel beautiful. She promotes size acceptance and advocates that every woman should fall in love with who they are inside and out. She believes that everyone is gorgeous just the way they are, no need to change, no need to be weight conscious.  She believes that every single human being on earth is truly beautiful beyond description.  Everyone is created beautiful.  There’s an innate beauty in a woman, she just needs to unleash them. Beauty is not about size and shape, our body is our body, just the way it is.  She emphasizes that beauty and size are two different things. As women we’ve got to celebrate ourselves and exudes that beauty and be an inspiration to many.

When Yuliya designs, she always situates herself at how a wearer will feel in the garment. Will it make her feel more feminine, sensual or attractive, etc.? She finds joy and fulfillment when she receives positive feedbacks from her happy and satisfied clientele.

Please visit IGIGI’s official website. They offer you an up-to date apparel collection to fulfill your fashion needs. If you want a one-time only design, check out their new line called Limited Collection. You can find trendy, hot style and unique pieces from their Limited Collection.

The Plus Size Advocate - Plus Size Fashion, News & Events

Last month I watched a show with John Stossel and I just wanted to touch on a couple of points that were made on his show concerning people like Mimi Roth and others who want to use legislation to effect change in the foods that our society chooses to eat.

Below is the portion of the show that made the points that I want to cover. After you watch it, I would like to briefly discuss (or rant) about these points.

Point number one is the argument that some want to charge taxes on sodas and junk food to offset the cost of Medicare and Medicaid that your poor choices in diet costs others. Mimi Roth in an earlier segment made the point that she don’t want to control where you eat she just don’t want to be handed the receipt. Seems like a valid point. This point is actually, as stated in the segment above, an excellent argument against Government ran socialized medicine like Medicare and Medicaid. Why should Mimi or anyone else have to pay for other peoples poor food choices. So my question is why don’t people like Mimi Roth focus their efforts against socialized medicine rather than being a voice for taxing junk food?

We actually know that the proponents for regulating food would never side with less government involvement because the goal is to tackle the overall obesity in the U.S. with government regulation. How do we know…well because they often quote how successful their regulatory efforts were with their anti-smoking regulations in significantly reducing the number of smokers and they are now using this illustration as a lever to convince us that since it worked with smoking it will also work with food. Hence more government not less is the answer in their mind.

If their true concern is paying for my poor choices would it not make better since to attack the arm that forces you to pay for my choices rather than attack my right to free choice?

The second issue is the bleeding heart issue…the cause that no one can defend against…”We must do it for the sake of the children because parents are too stupid to make good decisions for them”. This is such a crock of crap that I don’t even know where to begin. I absolutely resent this line of reasoning and I see through it as if it were a squeaky clean glass. I hope that the days of falling for this bleeding heart parlor trick will soon be a thing of the past. Were all adults here…right? So we need to stand up against anyone who tells bleeding heart stories in order to effect the outcome of any issue that requires reason rather than sappy emotions….PLEASE!

Tell me one child who the government loves more than the parent. I guarantee you it’s not the case. Please don’t tell me that someone setting in any office in Washington D.C. cares about my son or daughter more than me! Am I saying here that there is no such thing as a bad parent…of course not. What I am saying is there is NO SUCH THING AS A BENEVOLENT GOVERNMENT.

If you ask me my children’s birth date, I don’t have to look it up in a computer to tell you that. If you ask me if my son or daughter likes spinach I can tell you that. I know almost every freckle on their body and yet they would have me to believe that a government official cares more for my child than I do….Ridiculous!

We know that some parents don’t care for their children the way they should. So does that mean that the rest of us should move over and give way to the Nanny state for the sake of the few, that we should give up more freedom of choice? I have long since realized it is fool hearted to think that man can be perfected through governance and no government (regardless of intention) can take care of me better than I can take care of myself or my children. I don’t need outside interference limiting my ability to provide in the form of a government or by some self appointed do gooder.

I personally believe that for politicians this is less about saving our children and more about using this issue as a vehicle to gain more power over the people of a free nation. And for the Mimi Roth’s of the world I think its a way to bring meaning to their lives, more related to purpose of life or career choice than to benevolence.

Nick Gillespie of Reason.com said people like Mimi Roth and some of the other guests of John Stossel believe “Fat people, poor people and other classes of people make bad decisions defined as I know the good decisions and if people aren’t following my decision making process then we need to nudge them, we need to control them, we need to regulate them”. So what do you say? Is our future better off in the hands of a few people who obviously think we are too stupid to make good decisions for ourselves or our children or are you the best resource of you and your children’s future?

The Plus Size Advocate - Plus Size Fashion, News & Events

PSA Glen I appreciate the opportunity to be granted an interview with you. I first came across your blog a few month’s back but you’ve been around the blogoshphere for quite awhile now. So tell us, what inspired you to get involved in plus size fashion?

Glen Believe it or not my original goal was not to get into fashion at all.  I was looking to help my wife out and everything else grew from browsing the Internet to find plus size lingerie websites.

PSA What gave you the idea of starting your blog Full Figure Plus?

Glen Full Figure Plus was born from the idea to help my wife find affordable lingerie.  We were spending 40-60 dollars each on her bras.  I like to write so the decision was made for me to post the links I found with common sense tips.  At least things I thought made sense.

PSA How many years have you been blogging?

Glen I started my first blog in September of 2004, Full Figure Plus Was born in November 2004 with the sister blog Curvy Silhouettes after 2 years I closed Curvy Silhouettes and merged Full Figure Plus in to a blog dealing with clothing, lingerie and so much more!

PSA I was able to catch your interview with Kimmoy Matthews of The Curvy Coach and what I found most encouraging was in the early years of your blog you really struggled but didn’t give up. Can you tell us what the journey has been like?

Glen Whew! The journey has been wild.  The original deal my wife made with me is for two years if the business was not moving in a positive direction then we would have to redo things.  The first twelve months I did not make a penny even though I was writing every day.  Halfway through year two I made the first 5k for my company which made both me and my wife happy!  Since then I have met tons of fantastic people and been blessed enough to take my blog from being a cool hobby to a full fledged business venture.

PSA I really admire your dedication.  As I understand it, when running a successful blog, “content is king”. How do you keep it fresh?

Glen Google email alerts have been my best friend for years, as well as Google News.  Being a full-time blogger is just like being a writer for any other publication you have to research.  In other words I go out and look for interesting things.  I also think because I am not female I look at the plus size community from a different set of eyes which enables me to direct my passion differently and keep things fresh and on point.

PSA That’s very good advice for any aspiring blogger.  People of size face a lot of challenges from finding stylish plus size clothing that fit to being targeted by obesity legislation and more.  Are there any plus size issues that you especially feel passionate about?

Glen The supposed Fat Tax is something that makes my blood boil.  There have been studies done for years that state obesity increases the RISK of things but the fat critics out there view it as obesity is a CAUSE of disease which in my opinion is a bunch of bull.  The CDC and people like Meme Roth just chap my hide when they try to politicize people’s weight.

PSA I couldn’t agree more Glen and I think your doing a great job advocating for plus size issues. I’m a little aware of your involvement in the first ever Full Figure Fashion Week in New York, what can you share with us about your experience there and what do you think the future has in store for the event?

Glen I had the pleasure of being involved with Full Figured Fashion Week last year as a witness to history as well as a member of a panel discussion on issues within the plus size community.  Before this even I considered myself a behind the scenes blogger, but when I hit the ground running there were people who knew me and my blog and treated me like I was a celebrity.  LOL I still don’t know how to deal with people treating a grunt level guy like me special.  Let me tell you it was an honor to be the only man among some of the movers and shakers in the plus size fashion and modeling community and blogging.  Meeting people like Gwen Devoe, Sharon Quinn, Marie Denee, Johara Tucker and others was surreal!  This year’s activities are June 16-19 and just like last year I will be there.  I think this event will be the future of plus size events in the world!

PSA Grunt level guy or not your still part of the movers and shakers that are forming the future of the web and the plus size movement. For a long time traditional forms of media had all the power and that’s not the case anymore.  The internet has really expanded the individual’s power and options. What roll do you think blogs will play in the future of the plus size community?

Glen I think that blogs will play a big part not only how information is created but the speed in which it can be disseminated to the masses.  When you combine blogging with social networking I think there is going to be a major shift in traditional media channels.  One sign is a good friend of mine worked for 15 years as the art director for a major US Newspaper.  Last year he walked away from it to start his own design business with a big emphasis on social media.  I think if blogs can affect change like that then the sky is the limit to their influence on the media..

PSA If you’re like me there are several blogs you like to hang out in from time to time. Which blogs do you frequent?

Glen Wow this is kind of a tough one.  First off I must say that a lot of the blogs I liked are now defunct.  But when it comes to the ones I read on a regular they are the plus size clothing scoop, Plus Size Network, Problogger, Shoemoney though I have dozens in my Google Reader account.

PSA What are some of the oldest plus size blogs that you are aware of?

Glen Plus Size Network is the oldest plus size blogs I know about at 10 years old.  Sizenet is a UK blog that give a very good account of the plus-size issues in UK.  After that I would have to say Big Fat Blog at 9 years.  And of course Full Figure Plus which is 5 years old!

PSA You and I have exchanged emails in the past and one of the things that we both agree on is that we are currently riding the crest of a wave when it comes to plus size fashion and businesses catering to plus size needs. What are some of the up and coming areas that you see on our horizon?

Glen I feel that there will be a huge jump in plus size modeling as well as more plus size fashion brick and mortar stores to open up.  Additionally I think there will be many barriers broken down as a result of the exposure from Glamour and V Magazines.  Also be on the lookout for magazines like SKORCH to break new ground in 2010.

PSA What do you think about shopping for plus size clothing online?  What are the advantages and pitfalls that you see?

Glen The first thing I think about is the look of the clothes.  If there is one thing I cannot stand to see if clothes for larger sizes without any shape or trendy personality to them.  It is sad that plus size fashion had to explode online before it is being accepted in a luke warm fashion in retail stores.  The advantage to shopping online is getting what you want and sometimes being able to get piece not available everywhere.  Another advantage is being able to shop anytime you want.  The disadvantage is dealing with various sizes from independent designers combined with a core audience who does not know much about getting properly measured so problems involving returns gum up the process.

PSA Now for some light hearted questions, what do you like to do in your spare time, what’s your favorite food, you know just tell us a little bit about Glen the person.

Glen Well when I do get a bit of free time I spend it with my wife who is the principle model on Full Figure Plus for the items companies send me.  I am currently in grad school attending Ashford University to earn my MBA in Entrepreneurship.  Running a business by myself is tough and I need all the knowledge I can get!  I like to read and travel two things I haven’t been able to do much of.  I have a huge weakness for bread.  I have not met a type of bread that I will not figure out some way of making a sandwich or using it in soup.  To give back I am Cubmaster of my son’s Cub Scout pack.  Let me tell you helping to shape 1^st-5^th grade boys is a challenge but I love it!  I also like to take pictures.  All of the photos of my wife on FFP are taken and edited by me personally.

PSA I think those Cub Scouts are in pretty good hands. If there was one thing you would like to say to the readers of PSA about Full Figure Plus what would it be?

Glen Full Figure Plus is a labor of love for plus size women and a few big and tall men to be able to find whatever they need to build a quality wardrobe at an affordable price without the frustrations of going into stores they know nothing is in their size.  Thank you for taking the time to read about me and my blog I am truly honored by the chance to share my story with you.

PSA Thanks Glen, it’s been a real pleasure. We will be keeping an eye on you and Full Figure Plus as well as looking forward to the continued success of Full Figure Fashion Week!  More power to you.

Article and Interview done by Bobby G. Keith

The Plus Size Advocate - Plus Size Fashion, News & Events