Petite Curve Matters Pt. 1

I've always been short and have always been picked on for my height, standing at 5'1." People have thought it was okay to pet me, call me names, but I don't think that got under my skin as much as the inability to buy maxi dresses and pants without tripping over them, having to hem them, or not being able to grow in height.

As an aspiring professional artist, specifically a model in this case, not being at least 5'7" was my biggest downfall. As a curvy woman, I always thought, if I were taller my curves would level out more, that I would be deemed good enough to model professionally. It didn't matter if I was good in front of the camera or had a killer walk, no one would hire me because I wasn't tall enough or skinny enough or even big enough for Curve divisions in agencies.

This led to several thoughts of giving up. I had been freelance modeling for eight years and didn't see it going anywhere. I thought I should redirect my attention elsewhere, to my other art. But every time I had this reoccurring thought, an opportunity would present itself to me.

Walking in The Real Catwalk reawakened a part of me I had forgotten about. The free spirit in me, the me that just let it all go and didn't care what the world thought. I was owning my beauty, my shine, my differences, and was learning to love all of me as I am. I was happy to have met so many different people from different walks of life doing the same.

Following TRC, I opened the year with my first National Advertising Campaign for Blink Fitness. My face and name were (and still reside) in all Blink Fitness gyms, on billboards, web + social. I was booked for a major campaign! So why wasn't I having any luck with booking an agent?

The amount of agencies that represent petite models are very small. And these petite models? They're all like 5'4" and a size 00-2. For a while, I tried to slim down to fit this standard, but eventually learned and accepted that I was beautifully made the way I am, curves and all. And I shouldn't try to fit in any "standard" deemed acceptable and beautiful. The industry needs to learn and begin working with models of all shapes and sizes because there are more women that look like me than they'd like to acknowledge and accept.

I did a little research and learned that 40 percent of American women are all 5'3" and under and roughly 25 percent of American women are 5'1" and under. The culture in our heritages influences our curves, our textured hair, and so much more. But the lack of representation in the media and in the fashion industry is a huge problem for women like me, women like you.

Whether you're a young mom, a hard working professional, an artist, a tech savvy queen, a disabled being, if you are both petite and curvy, guarantee is you don't see yourself being represented, guarantee is that you struggle shopping for your body type because clothes are being made for taller bodies, longer torsos and legs. Guarantee is there has been a direct impact on your mental health, your relationship with your body, and a lack of self love given to yourself on a regular basis. With this, with voicing out my experiences and speaking to other women alike, I was inspired to use my creativity to execute a shoot that would not only look great and send a message, but unite and increase the relationship of self to body, increase love given to oneself, mirror your worth through the support of other women alike. Thus came about #PetiteCurveMatters.

To be continued...