Plus size people and fashion have made amazing waves in the news and fashion industry. Gone are the days when mumus and tents were the only things a woman above a size 12 could wear. We live in a time where we can celebrate our shape no matter what that shape is, and dress it to the nines!
As we rejoice at the progress in plus-size fashion, we must recognize those who forged (and are still forging) the path forward for us up-and-coming fashionistas and others who dare to challenge the status quo. If not for these ambassadors who stared adversity in the face, we’d still be dressing like our grandmothers.
While there are many people making moves within the plus-size industry, these ambassadors paved the way for us when there was no outlet, voice, or medium to make a change.
7 Plus Size Fashion Pioneers to Know
Emme — Plus Size Supermodel
Emme is a supermodel, television personality, author, lecturer, clothing designer, women’s advocate, and the first plus-size model to receive a contract with a cosmetics company — Revlon.
Emme’s mission is to awaken the inner magnificence inherent in each of us. How does she do this? Well, coming from someone who People magazine selected as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People,” Ladies Home Journal’s “Most Important Women in America, Most Fascinating Women of the Year,” Glamour’s “Woman of the Year” and Biography’s magazine 25 Most Influential Women, Emme is a woman who has definitively paved the road for plus size to be viewed as a plus in every sense of the word! Way to keep it confident, Emme!
Catherine Schuller Plus Size Industry Maven
Catherine Schuller has every right to be considered a plus size fashion pioneer as she is an industry maven: a former Ford model, consumer advocate, promoter, marketer, editor (remember Mode?), image consultant (Certified by AICI), author, and entrepreneur. As we’ve said before, “There isn’t a stone Schuller hasn’t turned over.”
She is an expert in the field of style and image, often featured or quoted for major publications and newspapers, and has been the Fashion Expert on many morning shows.
In 2002, after Mode closed its doors, Catherine created Curvestyle: Reshaping Fashion in New York. In addition to this project, Catherine became the Image and Style Advisor of Divabetic: Makeover Your Diabetes. Divabetic is an outreach program targeting women living with, affected by, or at risk of the epidemic of diabetes in the United States.
Catherine Schuller’s latest venture, Curvestyle: Reshaping Fashion, offers promotion and marketing for the plus size/full-figured industry. In addition to Curvestyle, Catherine is a certified professional image consultant, who offers consultation, books, seminars, and resources for and to the industry.
Chenese Lewis Model, Advocate, Host of the Chenese Lewis Show
Chenese Lewis is a plus size fashion pioneer and a mogul in the making. This Curvy, Confident, and Chic Fashionista is making moves in a major way! There isn’t much she hasn’t done. Keynote Speaker, Expert Commentator, Plus Size Advocate, 2003 Miss Plus America, Model, Radio Host, Actress (see Fat Rant 3!), and executive producer! Yes, this ambassador is integral in laying the foundation for plus-size fashion. To add to her success, PLUS Model Magazine deemed her “a leader in the curvy revolution!”
With all that she has accomplished in such a short period, there is no reason to question if she qualifies as a plus size fashion pioneer. Chenese is the creator of Hollywood NOW’s Love Your Body Day. This annual event encourages and fosters women of all sizes to gather and celebrate with confidence – a day of self-acceptance that promotes positive body image.
In 2008, Chenese blessed us with the 2008 Flawless Calendar, a sophisticated and elegant calendar highlighting the beauty of the Curvy, Confident, and Chic Fashionistas through the use of high fashion editorial images.
Nevertheless, Chenese is not finished! March marks the month PLUS Model Radio celebrates one year of Curvy’s existence on the radio! PLUS Model Radio is the voice of PLUS Model Magazine, and encompasses the Curvy lifestyle for the plus-size woman.
Chenese inspires all Curvy Fashionistas to pursue their dreams, thrive in their curves, crave modern fashion, and shape their life on their own terms without apologies. In addition, Chenese attributes her success to “not conforming to society’s ideals of beauty but rather showing by example, that you can be beautiful and confident regardless of your size.” Chenese Lewis is the epitome of a Curvy Fashionista.
Gayla Bentley Plus Size Fashion Pioneer
Gayla Bentley is no stranger to the fashion scene. Flash back thirty years, and you will find the passion and goal that inspired this pioneer to establish fashion and style for plus-size women. AS a plus size fashion pioneer, she is dedicated to achieving her goal of fashion not being about size, but style, Gayla Bentley has been on this mission ever since.
With ten years at Saks Fifth Avenue as the Director of The Fifth Avenue Club, Gayla Bentley took her experience and passion for style, and left Saks to begin her business, Cou-Tours, which hosted private, personalized shopping excursions to Paris.
From Cou-Tours, Gayla Bentley formed The Gayla Bentley Fashion Design Group, set out to dispel judgments and stereotypes of plus size fashion. As expected, she encountered opposition, but forged ahead by bringing fashionable, desirable, modern clothing to women of all sizes and shapes.
The Gayla Bentley Fashion Design Group has continually (and successfully) delivered classic and chic fashion with clean design lines that transcend seasonal dressing. She designs clothing intended to be worn for multiple seasons and can be easily worn in more than one way. Her designs and philosophy allow Gayla Bentley to integrate the sizes, so you can shop at the same locations, that no matter what size and/or shape you are. She is accomplishing things that most department stores fail to deliver.
If you can believe this, Gayla Bentley Fashion Design Group has been around since 2001, when plus-size designer fashion was only a dream. Most importantly, she is comfortable and looks like she is wearing the clothes, not like the clothes are wearing her. She has her own style and her own confidence, and it radiates from her.”
Gwen DeVoe THE Plus Size Event Coordinator
The Plus Academy, Full Figured and Fabulous, Dangerous Curves- the Tour, and Project Curves. These are the events that have been championed by the host with the most, Gwen DeVoe. With all these events under her fashionable belt, it is no surprise that one would ask: Who is this amazing Curvy, Confident, and Chic diva Gwen DeVoe?
Gwen DeVoe, former plus model, is now a plus model trainer, developer, and manager. In addition to these hats, Gwen is also an advocate and supporter of plus size models on fashion runways.
Not only is she all these things aforementioned, but she is also a highly sought-after motivational speaker on the topics of body image, plus modeling and fashion consultation for plus size women and teens. Gwen DeVoe created DeVoe Signature Events, a full service event production and management company, to serve as a launching pad and home base for fashion events and lifestyle events for the plus size community.
Sharon Quinn THE Runway Diva
You know her—the beautiful, six-foot, shaved-head Amazon, catwalk queen, and runway walker extraordinaire Sharon Quinn. A former model who gained popularity in the ’80s, Quinn was pivotal in breaking stereotypes of plus-size models. Most recognizable from her appearance on MoNique’s F.A.T. Chance, Sharon Quinn has rightfully become a pillar and mentor for plus size models.
Quinn also has an advice column, The Runway Diva Says, tailored to aspiring plus-sized models. On her site, she features her personal blogs, samples of her music, and a slide slow of her notable career highlights.
Not only does she fashion an amazing resource for Plus Size models, but she is also in the process of writing her book, The Runway Diva’s Guide to Becoming a Plus-Sized Model (or just looking like one). Most notably, Quinn can also be reached through her popular column in Plus Model Magazine.
Paul McAleer Founder of the Big Fat Blog
You may know the blog, but you may not know the founder of this long-standing blog community. Founded in 2000, Big Fat Blog is the brainchild of Paul McAleer, stemming from his size discrimination research accumulated while in college. The Big Fat Blog (BFB) is the largest fat acceptance blog on the web; encompassing over 3,000 members who have joined in the fight for fat acceptance and fat rights.
Many times quoted as the Grandfather of the Fatosphere, Paul McAleer has authored, facilitated, hosted, empowered, and given voice to those all of us who battle with size acceptance, rights, and discrimination for the plus size person.
While the Big Fat Blog is media focused, its scope has broadened to support the fatosphere with an events calendar, forums, activism, and lots more. In January 2025, Paul expressed to the community that, as of April 1st, BFB would close its doors. To the shock and dismay of the entire community, many halted with disbelief. In the recognition of BFB’s service to its community, The Fat Rights Coalition stepped up to take on the day-to-day operations at BFB.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg. Make sure that you check out the Part Two of the Plus Size Pioneers to know!
Did you know any of these plus size fashion pioneers? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
This article, 7 Plus Size Fashion Pioneers Who Rewrote the Rules first appeared on The Curvy Fashionista and is written by Katie Bradshaw.
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