PLUS SIZE DIVA MAGAZINE VOL 4 | Page 46

From a Bud to a Rose

I was asked to write about my life as a working model but I’ve decided to talk to you about my life before becoming a model. Those of you that follow me already know my life as a model because everything is posted. Thanks for joining me on this journey. I’ve always said that a models true success is when there is meaning behind what they do. My mission is to make a difference in the industry. I want to show people that you don’t have to be the “stereotypical” type of model, meaning you have to be a size 0-6 and uneducated to be a super model.

Where do I start? I was born and raised in Dallas, TX weighing 6 lbs. 7 oz. I was born the smallest of 3 brothers and 5 cousins that were born the same year. My mother tells me that the doctor told her right away “this baby girl is going to be a singer”. Mom says that my cry was pretty loud and in tune. I mention that I was the smallest because apparently that was the only time I was destined to be the smallest one. Since I can remember I’ve always been the tallest person of the group. I was always the first or last one in line. In all the school pictures I was always the one in the back row.

I remember being the student who always wanted to help the teachers, because of that my classmates began to bully me and call me teacher’s pet. They would also make fun of me for being “too tall” I went through heavy bullying all throughout my elementary years. The year I remember the most was my 4th grade year. I was a heavyset girl that was the tallest and also “nerdy” looking. My mother worked 2 jobs and father worked 12-hour shifts to put food on the table for my brothers and I so I was not like most kids wearing the name brand type of clothes. Our shopping was done right before the school year started and we looked forward to going to Sears, now keep in mind that I already had a hard time finding nice stuff because I was heavyset AND tall.