I was so enthralled when I checked into the recent taster audio by Kimmoy Matthews who really does have some amazing ideas on how to boost your business on her site http://www.thecurvycoach.com.
Primarily, Kimmoy advises individuals and businesses that are based in the plus-size world – however many of the tips I picked up during her complimentary taster session could be used by virtually any business. With more and more people choosing to become self employed it is vital the tools for building partnerships and promotion outlets are not ignored.
I asked Kimmoy to come over to my humble site and write a guest post to share some more hints and tips….Over to Kimmoy; and thank you!
Tips to Treating Your Plus Size Modeling Career as a Business
by Kimmoy Matthews, The Curvy Coach
Get to know the world you want to be a part of.
I get embarrassed for the women on America’s Next Top Model who can’t name their favorite photographer or who were some of the first models. I don’t need to be a model to know that if you don’t do your homework, then you’re really not passionate about it. Google, Wikipedia, and Online News Archives make it easy for you to learn about the plus-size modeling world. Online Plus-size magazines and blogs are great resource s too; do a little bit of research on who’s being featured, who’s being interviewed. Subscribe to sites like
The Curvy Fashionista and Mia Amber.
Stay informed
One of the best tools to help you stay on top of things is to subscribe to Google Alerts on a specific topic such as “plus-sized model”. It aggregates the latest blogs, news, and updates with any reference to “plus-sized model” and send it straight to your inbox on a regular basis. Easy!
Get Involved
Attend castings without the intent of getting the gig, see how it’s organized, see who’s involved, and see how the women prep themselves. Is there something that could be improved? Could you teach the model hopefuls a thing or two? Ms. Gwen Devoe, a pioneer in the plus-size fashion world and executive producer of the Full-Figured Fashion Week saw there was a need for change and she made it happen. Do you have what it takes to bring about or be a part of that change? Sure you do!
One of the best ways to get involved and get a sneak peek behind the curtains is to volunteer for a fashion event. Fashion show planners are always looking for an extra helping hand – which is a perfect opportunity for you. Even if applications aren’t public, volunteer your services. Then do your job well. Be observant, take notes, make connections, and more importantly make your presence known. Think about it, you are surrounding yourself with all the people who do what they do so that you can walk down the runway, why not help them out for a change?
Stay Connected with the Right People
Yes, we hear about networking all the time, but there are many models that really don’t do much outside of wasting money traveling across the country, hoping to land a gig. Take the time out to get to know the designer and/or magazine editor. Don’t forget about the aspiring designers as well, you never know what journey they might take you as they grow, and it’s actually one of the quickest ways to land a cover or modeling gig.
As you network with designers and fashion editors, see if their point-of-view resonates with you; figure out how their vision fits in with yours. Find out if their clothing line hugs your curves in all the right places. Subscribe to the magazines, fill out their surveys, subscribe to their e-newsletters, and make comments on their website. The key here is to establish a presence and familiarity with the people you would love to work with. Twitter and Facebook are free and easy tools that allow you to quickly connect with so many great people in the plus modeling world. Picking up the phone does wonder too 
Build a Brand, Not Just a Portfolio
Modeling is an art, an expression of who you are, your inner most feelings, your appreciation for your curves, how what you’re wearing makes you feel. However, I’m pretty sure that modeling is not your only talent. For example, maybe you love to, write, dance or enjoy event planning. Try to incorporate these skills into your modeling portfolio. Take some time doing this so that everything you do ties well together. For example, maybe you can write about what’s happening in the modeling industry like Mia Amber does or plan events/workshops like Ms. Gwen DeVoe does. There are so many people who work to make you the model that you are, why not create your own mini-empire and make them your clients? J
Don’t limit yourself to just a book with pictures. Whatever you do, incorporate others in your modeling journey. Recognize that outside of the camera clicking, it’s really not about you. To stand out, you must have others to help you build a meaningful brand. Remember, the industry is always looking for something fresh, always looking for a great story. Developing a unique brand can help you stand out among the myriad of women who are competing with you for the next cover page. Check out these tips on building a plus-size brand and creating a strong plus-size image.
