PLUS MODEL MAGAZINE May 2016 Issue | Page 114

What role did your family play in moving past the challenges you faced as a straight size model? I think a better way to look at it is that my two children forced me to have a healthier relationship with my natural body shape. First, I want to be a real role model for my children and help them feel secure and happy with who they are; in order to do that, I need to have that peace with myself. Second, my body was (and is, in many ways still) a provider for my children. It housed life and has given me the strength to nurture and care for them. I see the bigger picture now. I may have scars or stretchmarks in places but those plusmodelmag.com 5.16 #plusmodelmag inspiration + style are all indications of a life lived. There is a real peace that comes with knowing the Universe is bigger than you. In finding my purpose as a mother I have certainly become more at peace with my body in general. With the term “plus-size” being in the midst of controversy and having battled an eating disorder, how do you feel about working in the plus size modeling industry? Truthfully, I don’t care if I am called a “plus size” model. It doesn’t bother me at all; I feel like some people are against the term and I really don’t understand why? As a plus size model its our job to represent actual plus size women. There is NO shame in that! At the end of the day, a Model is a Model. We all do the same jobs and, while there are different types of models that fall into different categories,