Archive for August, 2009

• PETA responds to my complaint about their ‘Lose the blubber’ billboard

  Date: 2009.08.19 | Category: Articles | Response: 12

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  As some of you know I wrote to PETA both on their official  blog, but also to their Campaign team regarding the recent billboard campaign in Jacksonville, Florida – which claims by going vegetarian you can get a beach body and that you won’t look like a ‘whale’.

  Many of us were truly disgusted by this. Though many were not surprised by PETA’s hardcore advertising campaign it still begged the question, ‘What were they thinking?’

  I don’t know if my blog response got through, but I have just received an email from Lindsay Rajit – Campaigns Manager for PETA.

  She attempts to respond to some of my comments that :-

  The ad was cruel with its intention and tries to lower self esteem of plus-size people through misleading information – i.e that if you go vegetarian you will have a beach body.

  As you’ll be able to read Ms Rajit does try and woe me with some health factoids. What she doesn’t know is that I’ve spent much of my adult life, prior to my reincarnation as a sassy plus-size model etc working in the health care industry in the UK; in hospitals for incurable diseases being one such place and I’ve never had anyone obese die in my arms.
  And I was present when quite a few people took their last breath on this earth. It’s a hard core fact: WE ALL DIE.  Very few of us in this day and age, with the added hamper of pollution, will die naturally in our sleep.  Unfortunate but true.

  With this in mind I always vowed to myself that I would never  be dictated to or bullied into changing the way I live my life. If I come to a decision to lose weight it will be because I made it on my own – not through name calling, bullying tactics or anything of that ilk.

  Ms Rajit almost implies in her response that America is not aware of their own weight or obesity issues. This insults my American plus-size friends. They know and they choose to live their life the way they want to. If they, like me, wish to lose weight it is because they’ve come to the decision their own.

  What we ask for in size-acceptance is to bring an end to misconceptions that all fat people are lazy and the general name calling to stop. For better understanding in who we are and not what we look like.

  While PETA and many others may say I and other plus-size people are  irresponsible in not wanting to change  our diets – I truly believe that it’s none of their business what I put in my mouth.

  If we really look deep into their campaign it is flawed because their belief is that they love animals. Aren’t whales beautiful too? I thought we were supposed to be saving them? So let’s save our blubber for those cold nights Ladies and Gents. Let’s make the decisions that we want to make. If we should fall ill from our lifestyles then so be it. We can say as we take our last breaths on this earth exactly what Frank Sinatra once sang, ‘I did it my way.’

  Please feel free to add your comments and any links to blogs you’ve written about this topic in the comments.

  
  Picture of me in UK’s Love It Magazine 2008

  Now over to Ms Rajit, who, because she thinks its cruel not to tell me, adds a few links to push the PETA nannying concept further. Now where is my breast milk ice cream, Mama PETA? 
  

  Dear Ms. Reece,

  Thank you for sharing your thoughts on PETA’s “Lose the Blubber” billboard. We apologize for any offense we may have caused; that was certainly not our intent. We agree that a world where self-esteem is unrelated to body size would be a wonderful place. Our aim is not to insult those who are overweight, but to stimulate debate and to persuade people to make a simple, positive change for their health.

  We take obesity very seriously, and we think it would be cruel not to tell people about the health benefits of going vegetarian. Researchers have found that a higher body mass index is associated with a greater risk of premature death from all causes. For example, according to the American Heart Association, obesity contributes to heart disease, America’s number one cause of death. The American Dietetic Association says that vegetarians have lower rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity than meat-eaters do.

  As you mentioned, certainly not every single vegetarian is at a healthy weight, but there are many more meat-eaters who are obese and unhealthy and on average vegetarians are 20-30% slimmer than their meat-eating counterparts. For most people, eating vegetarian meals is an effective way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. But weight loss isn’t the only reason to try a vegetarian diet; we also promote going vegetarian as a great way to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of many diseases. For most people, a vegetarian diet is an effective prevention strategy.

  Our billboard is just one of the many ways that PETA promotes healthy vegetarian living. Other efforts include distributing free copies of our “Vegetarian Starter Kit,” hosting free public food tastings, offering meal plans and thousands of meat-free recipes at http://www.VegCooking.com, and educating people about the meat industry’s disregard for animal welfare (http://www.GoVeg.com/factoryFarming.asp) and its devastating effect on the environment (http://www.GoVeg.com/environment.asp).

  Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and for giving us the opportunity to share ours.

  Sincerely,
  Lindsay Rajt, Manager

  Campaigns

• PETA saying “Save The Whales, Lose The Blubber: Go Vegetarian.”

  Date: 2009.08.18 | Category: Articles | Response: 2

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  I saw this on Plus-size Lyric’s Facebook. I couldn’t believe it and I don’t think she could either. I thank her for sharing it.  Post this on your blogs and twitters. Let @officialpeta on twitter know they have gone way too far!

  I am disgusted – I thought PETA understood ‘hate and cruelty aren’t right – or do they just think that applys to animals.?’

  I have more to say on this but I’ll let you obsorb this billboard.

  PETA’s new billboard campaign in Florida is raising eyebrows and ire among women and health groups. A drawing on billboards in Jacksonville depicts an obese woman with the phrase, “Save The Whales, Lose The Blubber: Go Vegetarian.”

  In a press release, PETA stated:

  A new PETA billboard campaign that was just launched in Jacksonville reminds people who are struggling to lose weight — and who want to have enough energy to chase a beach ball — that going vegetarian can be an effective way to shed those extra pounds that keep them from looking good in a bikini.

  Anyone wishing to achieve a hot “beach bod” is reminded that studies show that vegetarians are, on average, about 10 to 20 pounds lighter than meat-eaters.

  “Trying to hide your thunder thighs and balloon belly is no day at the beach,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA has a free ‘Vegetarian Starter Kit’ for people who want to lose pounds while eating as much as they like.

  Jessica at Feministing blasts the billboard as “fat-shaming” and that “PETA owes the residents of Jacksonville a serious apology.”

  Holly at Deceiver states, “This is exactly what you would expect [from PETA] — no empathy for humans whatsoever, just a lot of B.S. about how vegetarianism will make fat people just a little bit less of a blight on humanity.”

  PETA is known for its attention-grabbing tactics involving scantily clad-women, like this veggie dog eat-in on Capitol Hill that involved playboy playmates wearing only lettuce bikinis.

  When asked to comment on the charges that the ad is sexist and mocking of overweight people, Ashley Byrne, a senior campaigner for PETA stated, “Our goal is help overweight Jacksonville residents – the best way to do that is to go vegetarian. We’re not trying to insult anyone. Vegetarians look and feel better than meat eaters. This is a life-saving message.”

  When asked specifically if the billboard shames overweight people, Byrne stated, “If the billboard is shocking, hopefully it will gets people’s attention, and help them improve quality of life for themselves and their families…. it’s designed to help people.”

• Life is crazy but rewarding

  Date: 2009.08.18 | Category: Thank you!, Vanessa Reece | Response: 1

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  I often get the feeling I’m about to just collapse. This past week, including the weekend has been crazy – but rewarding.

  I interviewed  Sommer J from Gemini Magazine @gemimimag (you can listen to it here on my site via the Blogtalk radio widget)  and I posted my interview with The Curvy Fashionista Marie Denee @mariedenee also. Then on Sunday I did my pilot for The Curve-V show on Curvy TV @thecurvenetwork.  With all that and lifes ebbs and flows there hasn’t been much time to actually take a breath.

  All is well though. I got some really good feedback from all three projects, so I feel really good about that. I think sometimes that  running on empty and full of emotion actually makes it all worth while.

  I hesitated to take on Curvy TV because I wanted to make sure I had the time to do it. But my view point of it is; I will treat it like my youtube channel. Just opinions and some fun stuff in the mix. Maybe it will progress into a different type of show? I’m just going with the flow right now and having fun. I’d like to do some live streaming shows too. We’ll see.
  If you’re interested in having a show just contact Drew who runs Curvy TV. The email is curvytv1@gmail.com

  If you have not caught the show yet, its available to view free-on-demand on http://curvenetwork.ning.com You will have to sign up/sign in (click the Curvy TV tab at the top of the screen when you get there)  and you can also enter the competition to win some great skin care products. Just PM me on the Curve Network site with your answer. It’s so simple.

  It was really nice to see The Curve Network team excited about having their first exclusive show. I hope others will actually get their own shows on there. The plus-size community is vast and opinions and ideas vary.  For me personally; I hope it bridges the gap between plus-size and mainstream. I actually hope one day I won’t feel the need to say plus-size quite so much. But more – it’s just me and us, and you – no size discription.

  Sommer J made an excellent point during our radio interview; she said that people should look at what we can do not what we look like. I thought she opened up a great view point of thinking. And I for one will be trying to embrace that on this site and also on my radio and Curve-V show.  Thanks Sommer!

  Before I go I wanted to give you a heads up on a few news items.

  • Kimmoy Matthews has a great blog going I think anyone in the plus-size marketing world/or those who wish to market to plus-size people will get something from. She is the Curvy Coach and she’s got some interesting ideas and tactics to help gain interest in your projects that are geared to the plus-size community. Her link is  http://www.thecurvycoach.com/ and her twitter is @kimmoy
  • Next up – The Scorch Magazine Model Hunt hits Chigaco on Saturday August 22nd!!  Kimberly Dale from Scorch Magazine will be there, as well as Chef Lovely from Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen. You can find out more by going to Skorch’s Model Hunt Facebook page. And of course Kimberly Dale can be found on twitter  @MsKimberlyDale.
  • Fox’s More To Love must be the most hated show in the plus-size community right now. Both @SupathickMami and @bodacioustipsy have expressed their views. Tipsy inparticular has made a video asking for a different stand point. I encourage you to go and watch it. I think she’s right. Although I would ask – how many times do we need to be mis-represented before someone sees sense and does it right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPspkGLG4b4

  I have some more updates later, but for now – have fun!

  Vx

• The Curvy Fashionista, Marie Denee, speaks to V about everything Fashion!

  Date: 2009.08.15 | Category: Inspirational people, Plus-size Fashion | Response: 3

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  Marie Denee came to my attention via Twitter. I can’t remember who added who first but the point was I finally found someone talking about fashion I could relate to.

  After quietly reading her Curvy Fashionista blog and also finding some great articles on examiner.com , which she also writes for; I concluded that not only is this woman a proud plus-size Fashionista she also has her finger on the pulse of what plus-size women really want – style, chic, and for many of us, up-to-the minute information on great clothes.

  I have to tell you that despite being in the modeling world I truly hate shopping for clothes.

  In the UK there is very little to be found by way of up to the minute fashion for plus-size women. Fiddling with zips in non-air-conditioned changing rooms that are not really big enough to swing your fine behind around is not exactly my idea of a fun day.
  I tend to quickly pick up things and try them on at home. I’ve taken a lot of clothes back which simply don’t hang right.

  Marie Denee has given me hope that shopping as a plus-size lady can be fun and less of a strain. Plus, with her new boutique website opening soon www.mariedenee.com the wardrobe shift from summer to fall won’t seem as daunting.

  I caught up with Marie to ask her just what makes her the Curvy Fashionista – Curvy. Confident. Chic.

  Vanessa: Marie, it’s an honor to finally touch base with you because I’m a huge fan of yours, as everyone knows. Thank you for taking the time to chat to me today.

  Marie: Thank you! You are too fabulous and I am a fan of yours as well!

  Vanessa: Thank you! I think the beginning is a good place to start right? So I read you started in the fashion world by working in department stores. How did that shape your views towards plus-size fashion?

  Marie: You know, it has been hard and quite saddening. Working not only in department stores but specialty stores, I straddled the line at that time as a 14. There were already options that were not available to me. I would always be the “go-to” person who would know where the clients could get options that they were looking for. This opened the door for me to find out just who was making what we see in those stores- but in our size.

  In addition, it frustrated me to see the stores that DID have plus and how they represented it or merchandised it. If it was not in the basement, it was next to the men’s department or across from the bathing suits… we were an afterthought, not a forethought.

  On top of that, the items that they did have were frumpy or just plain ugly. When did the world decide that anything over a 12 is deemed unfashionable?

  So I made it my mission to unearth these designers who delivered the fashion forward options.

  Vanessa: When did you decide to become ‘The Curvy Fashionista’ and what was the catalyst that sparked you wanting to set up a blog?

  Marie: While pursuing my Masters in Marketing, I was fortunate to dedicate this to the Plus Size industry. While I amassed my resources, I knew and I felt it was my responsibility to share! I had always wanted to do a blog, and thus The Curvy Fashionista was born!

  Vanessa: Define your own personal fashion style.

  Marie: I lean more on the Boho chic side- I love effortless style! Therefore you will often find me in dresses and pieces that are always timeless and still have an interesting edge to them. Every once in a while I will don a fierce piece as it reflects my mood! Lol

  Vanessa: We get told a lot that making clothes for plus-size women is more expensive, therefore we pay more; however there are stores like Ross, Torrid and even Lane Bryant that seem to make affordable clothes. So I’m wondering; why more stores aren’t making ranges for plus-size women? I mean are we being sold a lie about the cost of making these clothes?

  Marie: I think the focus should be getting what you pay for. I would rather invest in quality pieces that are going to last me more than one wash rather than certain fast fashion that will not afford me a full season’s wear.

  However- to answer your questions- many companies do not know HOW to make items that will sell (i.e. take our curves into account and more than a tent or muumuu) and not sell only at a reduced price point. It is what they put out that sits there and then gets marked down and does not come back because it does not make money. Then using this logic (does not make money) as an excuse to not carry the brand.

  I find that rather getting to know and understand their customer, they would rather cater to her with disdain, but happily take her money.

  Vanessa: Let’s talk about the designers. Judging from the pictures from Fuller Figured Fashion week there are some excellent designers who are catering for plus-size women. I’m guessing you spoke to quite of few of them so can you tell me if they have any frustrations with getting their work to the masses?

  Marie: From what I have understood, there are two frustrations. The buyers for the department stores- taking a risk and having a keen eye for plus fashion and us the consumer not understanding why it costs more for their items.

  While I cannot elaborate about the buyers, I can share about the “us” concerns. When dealing with “designer” fashion, there is a lot more that comes with it than a cute dress. If you look at the items in Glamour, Vogue, etc. those contemporary items are aligned with a lot of the emerging plus size designers who are making inroads in contemporary fashion! Each item should be viewed (especially in regards to the curves) as an investment!

  Vanessa: What would be your advice for any designer of plus-size clothes wanting to get their work seen?

  Marie: Do not be afraid to reach out to your audience, bloggers, media, etc. Be accessible. If we are trying to reach you, say hi! The person who is trying to reach you can help link you up with other people and in this age of social media, it can only help!

  Vanessa: O.K Marie, I know you can help me with this. Jeans! Who makes the best plus-sized jeans that offer curve appeal?

  Marie: Ha! That would depend on your shape! And there are quite a few! I love Svoboda, David Kahn, and Embody Denim! These fit the thighs and rear all while having an amazing blend and right amount of stretch!

  Vanessa: I’m excited about your online boutique a www.mariedenee.com You know that is going to have a big fan fare on my site when it opens in the fall. What can you tell me about it?

  Marie: Well, I have created Marie Denee as an upscale contemporary online boutique that offers today’s fashion forward, curvy, confident, and chic plus size woman, a haven where she can confidently shop the latest designer fashions in her size, without sacrificing her desires for premium, fashion forward, and impeccably fit options.

  I have carefully edited and sourced designers from all over the globe by those who see fashion beyond a size 12! I will feature lifestyle apparel and accessories from designers like Gayla Bentley, Kingley & Posh, Embody Denim by Natalie Wakeling, Melissa Masse, David Kahn Jeanswear, BGU and Amanda Uprichard, Spree Girl Curves, Marie Melodie and many more.

  To stay informed on the launching of Marie Denee, make sure you sign up for my newsletter at www.mariedenee.com !

  Vanessa: How easy or difficult is it to source great fashion for plus-size people?

  Marie: A little bit of both! Easy I am a blogger and have had the benefit of research at my fingertips! I am naturally an inquisitive person, so I am always searching and scouring what is new! On the other hand, it is difficult finding quality, edgy, fierce, mouth-watering items! It’s funny as I happen to find those across the pond!

  Vanessa: I’ve always thought women should have a few key items in their wardrobe – with this in mind, what key five items would you suggest a woman has in her wardrobe and why.

  Marie: Ohhh I love this question and I might even blog about this! Lets see…

  • An perfectly fitting bra/ shapewear! You have to lay the right foundation
  • A great pair of bootcut jeans- these can be dressed up or down, but a great option that fits the curves, in a dark wash to polish your look
  • A great white button up or white blouse- a must for the work to night fashionista as she can easily take an amazing blouse to jeans, from that pencil skirt or pantsuit.
  • The LBD “Little Black Dress” a classic –need I say more?
  • The last one is a wild card, but I would say something in a bold color! Something that makes you feel sexy and fabulous!

  Vanessa: Now, Marie I’m going to throw one word at you and you have to tell me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear or see this word. BRAS!

  Marie: Boobies! LOL. Very hard to find.

  Vanessa: Ha! Yes, indeed! Where is a good place to get good lingerie for a buxom bigger girl?

  Marie: Place? Hips and Curves, Kiyonna, Elomi- oooh! You have Gok Wan killing it over there! We cannot get our hands on him over here!

  Vanessa: Now onto something a little different; you recently voiced your opinions about the Fox show, More to Love. It doesn’t seem to be getting any better does it? In your opinion what could have FOX done better with this show?

  Marie: What I find appalling is that for a show that portrayed curves as sexy and confident, they could have showed women who were happy with their body and their lives! What bothers me even more is the message that its sending to the young women- if you are fat, you will never go on a date, you will eat all your depression away, and you will cry all the time. Really?

  Why separate these women with a Big and Tall man? Why not integrate, or to really show them , why not put a couple of Curvy.Confident.Chic. Fashionistas amongst the straight size divas and have the man choose a curvy gal- unbeknownst to the ladies? How about that?

  Vanessa: Now I know you’re super busy so let me end with one last question. What is your top tip for plus-size women seeking affordable fashionable clothes?

  Rather than trying to buy up all the trendy items you see, INVEST in a strong foundation of a wardrobe and updating it will not be a headache! Buy items that accentuate the positive and camouflage the unmentionables!

  Never let your curves Define your style- let your Style Define your Curves!

  Vanessa: Thank you for chatting with me today, Marie. I think it’s safe to say you’d be every plus-size woman’s favorite clothes shopping buddy!

  Marie: Thank you so much!!!! I am so happy you wanted to chat!

  For more information on Marie and to connect with her go to any of the following links:

  Marie Denee Boutique
  Marie Denee on Twitter
  The Curvy Fashionista
  

  Other Links:
  
  http://vanessareece.com/2009/08/25/guest-post-curvy-fashionista/