Queen Size Magazine December 2017 Issue by Queen Size Magazine

ARTICLE TITLE | BY AUTHOR

COVER STORY:

MONICA DAY

DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE

MAKING QUEEN SIZE MOVES

Fashion + Lifestyle

OPENS UP ABOUT HER ANXIETY DISORDER

How to care for your hair during the Fall and Winter Season Dare to wear a Mini: Affair Ladies Holiday Gift Giving Ideas MODEL SPOTLIGHTS JOJO TEDDER AMANDA BOLES WWW.QUEENSIZEMAGAZINE.COM| DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE

PLACE YOUR AD HERE SEE PAGE 21 FOR DETAILS WWW.QUEENSIZEMAGAZINE.COM|DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE

ARTICLE TITLE | BY AUTHOR MAKING QUEEN SIZE MOVES

FROM THE EDITOR Tawana Blassingame Founder & Editor in Chief Photo by PDrew Photography Dress by Juul Couture Makeup done by Brooklyn Tate

Welcome to the December 2017 issue of Queen Size Magazine. I swear it feels like just a couple of issues back I was just welcoming in the year. Now we are upon our 2017 Holiday Season, about to prepare ourselves to welcome in 2018. YIKES!!! Where is the time going? I have watched many models, designers, photographers, etc. excel in this industry in such a short timeframe. I want to encourage you all to continue to grow and continue to study your crafts. Life is too short to waste precious moments doing absolutely nothing. Find what you are good at, find what you like and LIVE YOUR PURPOSE. As with every issue, I truly thank each and every person that had a hand in making Queen Size Magazine possible. And on behalf of myself and Queen Size Magazine, I would like to thank all of our readers; without you we would not still be here. I certainly hope you enjoy what we have put together for you all in this issue. As always, thank you all for your support. We are six years in and still going strong; all thanks to you. We would love to hear your feedback. Email us at queensizemagazine@gmail. com and let us know what you like, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like and/or want to see in future issues. We value your opinion.

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MAKING QUEEN SIZE MOVES

MASTHEAD TAWANA BLASSINGAME CEO/Editor In Chief PHILIP DREW Executive Director & Director of Photography DOUG SWAIM Director of Photography for the DMV area ELVIRA ANDERSON Photographer DANA HALL Photographer MEESHA ANN Fashion Editor JACKIE PAYTES Fashion Blogger CRYSTAL CARMEN Beauty Editor LAWANDA SANYANG Beauty Blogger LAFINA PHILLIPS Creative Stylist ANDREA BLASSINGAME Makeup Artist EYANI COUTURE House Designer

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FLAVORS OF FULLNESS House Designer

CONTENTS FEATURED STORY

MONICA DAY - SPEAKS OUT ON COPING WITH ANXIETY By QSM

HEALTH AND FITNESS

HUMANITY

By COURTNEY K. PENNINGTON

BEAUTY&FASHION TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HAIR 08 HOW DURING THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS By CRYSTAL LEWIS

18 DARE TO WEAR A MINI: AFFAIR By SABRINA JONES

30 FALL INTO WINTER WITH THE AVENUE

MODEL SPOTLIGHTS

DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE

By QSM

BEAUTY HOLIDAY EDITION 32 FENTY RELEASE By LAWANDA SANYANG

SANTA: LADIES HOLIDAY GIFT 36 DEAR GIVING IDEAS By MEESHA ANN

38 FALL INTO WINTER WITH LORALETTE By QSM

BUSINESS

JOSE PAGAN TAKES TEXAS

MODEL SPOTLIGHT AMANDA BOLES

By QSM

THE LENS SPOTLIGHT - AISHA 34 BEHIND “A.I.” BROWN By QSM

MARIE AND TIFFANY SMITH 44 QUENSETTA GETS READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS By QSM

34 40 38 18 46

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HEALTH AND FITNESS

HUMANITY Hello Readers,

by Courtney K. Pennington

During the winter holiday season people like to emphasize humanity and apparently, I am no different. In this issue, I want to discuss how treating others well is beneficial to our own health. If you give a little good, you can get a lot back. It’s not selfish, its science. There have been many studies that show mentally and chemically our bodies respond positively to being nice, doing good, and kindness.

Be good, feel good, look good. Being kind activates the pleasure centers in your brain, releasing endorphins such as, oxytocin and dopamine, boost serotonin, and aids in the release of nitric oxide, reactions in your body that assist in vasodilation, lowing your blood pressure. Being nice gives you that feeling described as a “helper’s high”, where your mood gets a little pep. Therefore, helping people makes you happier. Lending a hand to someone, or giving a compliment makes the other person feel great, but you will too. A study by Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky at the University of California found that participants that performed numerous acts of random kindness showed an increase in their happiness. The more ways you act with kindness, the greater the impact on your happiness. Complimentary to your own essence, research shows those whom display pleasant, decent, and happy characteristics are found to be more attractive to others than those described as mean, aggressive, or hostile. So, being nice doesn’t just make you feel good, you look good doing it.

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HUMANITY | COURTNEY K. PENNINGTON

Giving back, gives you life. Being charitable and volunteering can help you live longer. Research from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project suggests, that people that have implemented productive activities and regular acts of kindness in their lives have lower markers of inflammation in their bloodstream, increased ability of fighting infections and lower amounts of bad cholesterol. Kindness also lowers anxiety. A study on happiness from the University of British Columbia (UBC), states “social anxiety is associated with low positive affect (PA), a factor that can significantly affect psychological well-being and adaptive functioning.” Positive affect is a response to an experience of positive moods like happiness, and joy. Also, Scientist at Yale are currently studying the Default Mode Network, and “selfing regions” of the brain, which are active when we’re obsessing about ourselves. Compassion helps decrease activity in the “selfing regions”. Taking time to focus on others can be a positive distraction from your personal life stressors. Not constantly dwelling on stress naturally makes you less stressed, thereby decreasing anxiety. Moreover, compassionate people tend to respond better to stress. The emotional reaction is more controlled and chemically they release lower levels of cortisol during periods of stress. If you read my last article in November’s issue you may recall “Cortisol and other hormones produced because of stress are not harmful in small amounts, and are needed periodically. However, if high levels are produced for prolonged periods this can be very damaging.” - Courtney P. Queen Size Magazine (November Health & Wellness Contribution.)

Spread the love. Being nice makes others more likely to want to spend time with you. Studies have shown that spending too much time by yourself or feeling lonely is bad for your health, so the opposite (being social) must be good for you.

“Lonely people have also been shown to have higher levels of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, and this persistent stressful state produces ‘wear and tear’ that can affect the cardiovascular system.”- Why loneness hurts the heart. “Compassionate people tend to not only be healthier and happier, but also more popular, and even more successful at work. People trust you more, they have better interactions with you, you even get paid better.” According to Professor Dacher Keltner, a scientist at the University of California-Berkeley.

Nothing to it, but to do it. No worries, you don’t have to exhaust all your energies into saving the world. A variety of random acts of kindness are simple, like letting someone checkout before you at the store, saying hello, smiling, holding the door, or saying thank you. Doing things like volunteering, giving to a charity, coaching a children’s sports team, tutoring, or joining a mentor program, are great ways to help in the community and do something for someone else. Try a bunch of ways to raise the positive vibes, from smiling at someone to caring for a person when they’re sick. It can have a great impact on you and the universe we all are a part of. Thank you for reading! I hope everyone has had an amazing year over all, and that next year is even better. Please feel free to contact me with questions, and if you have any ideas or topics, you would be interested in discussing this coming year at CourtneyP@ UaHanSon.com. Lots of Love, Courtney P. Reiki Master, LMT MSG3480, Owner of UaHanSon. Contributing Writer for Queen Size Magazine.

Please take note. The information provided is as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider to discuss if these exercises are appropriate for your lifestyle or medical conditions. Sources: http://www.quietrev.com/6-science-backed-ways-being-kind-is-good-for-your-health/, http://abcnews.go.com/Health/nice-boosthealth/story?id=22783648#2, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/10/facts-about-being-nice_n_5791778.html, http://www.cosmopolitan. com/health-fitness/a54419/being-nicer-could-make-you-healthier/, https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/54/5/830/627130/ Do-Productive-Activities-Reduce-Inflammation-in, http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20286170,00.html, http://www. readersdigest.ca/home-garden/giving-back/4-reasons-why-being-kind-is-good-you/view-all/.

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

How to take care of your hair during the Fall and Winter months BY Crystal Lewis

The Festive Season is here and fall/winter has somewhat set in! This is a time when our hair needs to look its very best, despite the wintry weather outside.

than once or twice a week. Only wash your hair when it’s dirty, visibly oily, itchy, or there’s product build-up.

Not only does winter affect your skin, it also causes problems for your hair. Therefore, it’s time to talk about fall/winter haircare.

SHAMPOO AT THE ROOTS, THEN CONDITION!

You may already moisturize your skin during the fall/winter months BUT- what to do about your hair and scalp? To help you sparkle this season, I Say Yes Salon has put together SOME TIPS about how to keep your hair, whether it’s chemically treated or natural looking, and feeling great all fall/winter! Ok my ladies and gents, I would like to give you the reason and the technical part of why hair does what it does. Now, if your hairbrush seems to be accumulating more strands of hair, now this means it’s officially fall/winter, or you notice more hair to be shedding on your clothes — well, it’s not your imagination. It’s time for a brief lesson on hair growth. The growth process contains three phases: • Anagen phase: During this phase hair grows about half an inch a month. • Catagen phase: In this phase the hair is transitioning and the growth process comes to a halt. • Telogen phase: Hair “rest” for around 100 days before it finally falls out in this phase. Hair tends to sustain damage when conditions are dry: Outside with the freezing air and whipping winds, and indoors when building heaters suck out all the humidity. Let’s begin: DON’T WASH YOUR HAIR EVERY DAY! It’s tempting to shampoo your hair everyday especially if you are very active in sports and or a heavy sweater, but you’re doing a lot of damage to your hair when shampooing more

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Speaking of shampoo, let’s talk about how to do that right. You don’t want to strip your hair of all oils. Shampoo should be applied to the scalp first to help remove any dirt and skin scale. Then as you rinse your hair, the shampoo should be massaged through the hair. And don’t skip conditioning, especially in the fall and winter months when hair needs extra hydration. It is important to use conditioners that leave oils in your hair and have humectants to retain humidity. Humectant is a substance that promotes retention of moisture. During the winter months, it’s a great idea to treat your hair once a week to a deep conditioning treatment. This will help to replenish the moisture; I recommend something like coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil with a little shea butter or cocoa butter. These products are quick and effortless ways to lock moisture back into your hair. Regular trims are a wonderful way to keep your hair in good health during the fall/winter months as well — every six to eight weeks, just get a light dusting of the ends to help reduce the chance of dry, splitting ends. One unexpected secret to keeping your hair looking good in the winter is to invest in a humidifier. I know you’re thinking that humidity equals frizzy hair, but when you have the heat on, the air in your house or apartment becomes very dry, and I find the humidifier helps stop your hair and skin from feeling dry. During the fall/winter season, your scalp will be drier and that can lead to dandruff and scalp irritation, which in the worstcase scenario can lead to your hair falling out. No matter how busy you are, don’t forget to oil your hair and scalp every two or three days. It’s important to keep your scalp moisturized!

TAKING CARE OF YOUR HAIR | CRYSTAL LEWIS

DRY YOUR HAIR CORRECTLY! When it comes to drying your hair, you should really treat your hair with care. Even though a blow dryer is the best tool if you want to style your hair to perfection, it can also be harmful for your hair as the heat can dry out your hair and scalp. Therefore, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that you protect your hair with heat protection like a nice blow-dry spray or a leave in conditioner before you blow dry it. Keep in mind, that heat protection is as important as the actual blow-drying part! If possible, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an innovative idea to let your hair air dry and limit your use of tools like dryers and flat irons. Still, be aware that going outside with wet hair in wintry weather can cause your hair to freeze and break.

also cause breakages. I usually tell each of my clients to wear a satin or silk scarf around their necks or under their hats. Always Eat a Balanced Meal & Drink Plenty of Water to Stay Hydrated! Having a healthy diet, which includes daily vitamins, is the best way to keep your hair and scalp looking and feeling great. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water to keep your hair and scalp hydrated. If you do these recommended things, you will have healthy hair for the fall/winter months! Recommended vitamins:

When it comes to wearing coats and hats please be careful of the certain fabrics that you wear. Wool, cotton, and polyester can cause winter breakages. Hats, turtlenecks, and scarves can Love and prosperity! I Say Yes! Crystal Lewis

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BUSINESS

Jose Pagan takes Texas Renowned Photographer Jose Pagan recently visited the state of Texas as part of his ongoing successful photo shoot tour. Women came out in anticipation for Jose’s arrival and for an opportunity to be shot by one of the most trending photographers in the industry today. We were honored to sponsor Jose’s stop in Texas. Check out some of the beauties. And while you’re at it, if you are looking for some looks for tthose upcoming holiday parties, they bought some great ideas.

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JOSE PAGAN TEXAS TOUR | QSM 11

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BUSINESS 12

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BUSINESS

Photographer | PDrew Photography Model | Andrea Blassingame Red Dress | Rainbow Stores (makeup and hair done by model) Shoes | Eternity Fashions

MODEL SPOTLIGHT | AMANDA BOLES

Amanda Boles Amanda Boles was born in Jacksonville, Florida to a Navy family. Her mother served 21 years, providing her with the chance to travel and live abroad in places such as Italy and Japan. But she was primarily raised in southern Maryland, until 2012 when she moved to Baltimore to advance her own career in veterinary emergency medicine. Following a path she felt strongly connected to due to her love of animals. As a mother of two, last year she decided to change her life and underwent weight loss surgery. Aside from the positive health effects it also helped her build up confidence and strengthen her self esteem. Everything was falling into place, and then a new love came. She found herself falling in love with plus size modeling and the platform it could provide her to encourage and uplift other people like her. Most people do not search out the role model image but when it fell into her lap she embraced it. In a very short time her drive and determination has opened so many opportunities.

Amanda has worked with many local Photographers in the Baltimore area, Michael Brown, Chris Bivins and Erin Tanner, to name a few. She has modeled for We provoke Thoughts, and she is the face of epic behavior. Most recently Amanda was on DC Fox Five News with Hush Boutique modeling fall fashion wearing torrid. And was recently featured in The Ba-You magazine sports edition. She has been featured on RoyalRax Urban hip hop website and curvy Thick Angels website. She has been on several radio interviews in the Baltimore area and was a guest host on party life in music radio in DC. She has started modeling in the Baltimore area, taking on every new chance that is presented, best described as thirsty for life. With her ambition, creativity, and desire to learn her beauty is more than a surface view all of which come out on camera and in print. The sky is the first floor and her dreams are the limit for her, endless possibilities even as a new comer.

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BUSINESS

WHO IS AMANDA BOLES? QSM: I have heard some great things about you. I was looking forward to having this discussion with you. Tell me about life for you as a child. Amanda: Life has a child was fun and adventurous for me. I grew up all over the world. I’m the only child; my mother and grandmother raised me. I remember our family time was very important to us. We always ate dinner together every night; that’s probably how I got so chunky LoL. I had a lot of laughter and good memories as a child. QSM: You talked about having weight loss surgery. Are you comfortable sharing your weight before surgery and now? Amanda: Absolutely!! My highest weight was 347 lbs and my current weight is 241 lbs. QSM: I am curious, if you don’t mind me asking, was your weight loss surgery physician advised or were you looking for help in losing the weight? Amanda: I was looking for help with my weight, it was not recommended to me. A few people in my close circle were going through their weight loss journeys and it motivated me to start mine. QSM: Kudos to you! Why modeling? I have interviewed tons of people who say they got into the modeling industry to gain confidence. But what is it about modeling that you truly love? Amanda: I have always been a confident woman even at my heaviest. I got into plus modeling to be an inspiration to women. To show that all shapes and sizes are beautiful; every woman is beautiful in her own way. QSM: What is your opinion on the progress of the plus size fashion industry? Amanda: I’m very happy with the progress, the plus size women killed New York Fashion week this year. I see more and more brands for plus size women and beautiful women rocking their look. The confidence is undeniable and I love it. QSM: What are your views on the whole ”drop the plus” controversy? Amanda: I pay small minds no attention, if it’s not something positive I just keep it moving. QSM: What three stores and or designers do you feel cater to the needs of the plus size woman best? Amanda: Fashion to Figure, GS Love, and Fashion Nova curve. QSM: What are your ultimate goals as a model? When you can no longer model for whatever reason, what accomplishments would you want to have made? Amanda: I want to make a name for myself, when people see me I want them to think wow she came a long way, she’s positive, confident, and beautiful and she is really showing love to the plus size community. My accomplishments would be to change someone’s life for the better; bring back a piece of them that may have been missing. QSM: Let people know where they can follow you for updates and bookings. Amanda: At the end of the day we are all human, we all have feelings; some stronger than others. I just want people to keep that in mind when speaking or making comments because you never know what a person is truly going though. There is a lot of negativity in this world but I do believe that the good outweighs the bad. Stay blessed, stay true, stay humble. I can be reached at IG fitandfancy_ facebook Amanda Boles booking: candymandy2862@gmail.com

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Photographer | Michael Brown from mp3z Photography Hair and Makeup | Done by Model Purple Dress | Amazon Shoes | Forever21

ARTICLESPOTLIGHT MODEL TITLE | BY AUTHOR | AMANDA BOLES

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

As I sifted through the clothes at a national store chain, which happens to be very popular among teens and 20 something year olds. I thought to myself “Alright now Sabrina, you know better than this; what are you doing in here?” These kinds of thoughts and many others like them have often been a thorn in the sides of millions of curvy women all over. We peruse the store racks and pick things that we feel are way too cute to leave in the store, and then head to the dressing room. And that’s when it happens- this strange overwhelming emotion, that I’ll just call fear for time sake, overtakes us when we step into that often way too small for comfort room and start trying on clothes and we see that our least favorite body part is being displayed like an oddball Christmas ornament on a cactus. That nagging feeling of insecurity shows up like a bad boyfriend and pushes your shoulders down into a slouch, tightens your stomach and forces out a loud sigh that is just loud enough to get that “Is everything working out” knock on your dressing room door. For many curvy women, there is almost a mental marriage to the idea of what can and cannot be worn. I must admit that I myself am guilty of this, but after one very frustrating shopping trip I decided that enough was enough. I needed a different approach to shopping and I needed one now. I decided that since I wasn’t able to completely divorce all of my insecurities right away-I would just step out on them every now and then to see where things go. And In case you’re not following me, I mean an all-out venture of the most daring kind. An Affair! In this case, however, there was no one to answer to but myself and getting caught was actually my ultimate goal. It started out slow with no immediate rules just a few outings to places no one knew me, in sleeves that didn’t come down to my elbows and then shorting my floor-length hemlines to just at the knee. After I got a little more comfortable with my secret lover, I took things up a notch and stepped in a pair of shorts this time. I’m sure many of you can understand what a bold move that is, especially those curvy girls like myself who have pleasingly plump thighs and is scared to death that someone might actually see them….I’m just going to take a little sidebar here and give a PSA to all my curvy girls out there: ”Ah-hmm. Covering up your thighs, arms, and/or tummy does not make them disappear. People still know that they are there and they still know that they are big, so be ok with them!” Then came the fateful day that all cheaters must inevitably face. The day I finally got discovered. I was

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yet again in a dressing room armed with my new found confidence. When I realized that there was another item caught up in the clothing. I took one look at it and threw it like it had just called me out of my name. I wanted to find somewhere to hide it, scared of what the sales clerk might think if they saw me come out with it. I scrambled to stuff it into some other clothing when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. It was then that I felt ashamed. I knew that I had come too far to revert back to the insecure shell of my old self, and yet here I was trying to hide a mini skirt in the back pocket of some jeans that did not fit. I stopped and took a better look at it, holding it between two fingers like it had vomit on it. I held the skirt up to my waist and stared at it against my body and I knew right then that I had to make a decision. I couldn’t keep up this charade anymore I had to pick who I was going to live out the rest of my days with as I looked at the short black stretchy piece of forbidden fashion fruit that looked way too juicy not to bite. The decision became clear I crossed the boundary of no return. I not only purchased it, but I wore that mini skirt that very night. Before I knew it, when I looked in the mirror, I started having feelings that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I felt alive and fierce now that had completely stepped out on my insecurities and I was too far gone to stop now. I’m not going to lie to you and say that there wouldn’t be times when I would worry that I would walk past a mirror one day and not recognize the person in it and then confess all my sins, beg for forgiveness and then go right back to the insecure me. They actually scared me a lot! But in that fear, I realized that everything I did during that time was necessary for me to shed my insecurities-making me the person I am today and that is one thing that I will never regret. I make it a habit to step out on every insecurity I’ve ever been in a relationship with since then. Sure some may think bad of me, but I don’t feel bad, in fact I like it. Even those insecurities that tried to stick around like the unwanted leaches they were. Eventually just dried and withered away once they realized I wasn’t going to feed them anymore. It’s been 3 long years since my evolution and I’m the best version of me that I have ever been. I look forward to shopping and I dare to wear whatever I feel good in. Now I’m no self-proclaimed guru. I’m just a girl who has walked in your shoes, and I know it’s an old cliché, but the grass really was greener on the other side. I’m glad I stepped on it. So until next time ladies don’t just keep it curvy, keep it confident.

DARE TO WEAR A MINI AFFAIR | SABRINA JONES

DARE TO WEAR A MINI: AFFAIR

by Sabrina Jones (The Curve ACTIVIST)

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ARTICLE TITLE | BY AUTHOR

ADVERTISING Rates & Sizes

Founded in 2011, we are a magazine dedicated to Queen Size women. Queen Size is not only about the physical size, but also the mental. We are dedicated to highlighting women of all walks of life. If you are a woman making Queen Size moves, then this is where you belong. We do not limit ourselves to just women; this was the basis of why we created the magazine. We are looking to highlight and promote small businesses owners/entrepreneurs, both men and women. Queen Size Magazine puts out a new issue every month with realistic articles written by real life people. We have writers that cover health and fitness, true life situations and experiences, fashion, recipes and more.

Ad Rates Full Page ½ Page ¼ Page Cover Story Inside Cover Back Cover Inside Back Cover ISSUE December/January February/March April/May June/July August/September October/November

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6x $570 $330 $240 ////// $1,410 $1,170 $810

12x $1,080 $600 $480 ////// $2,760 $2,280 $1,560

Ad Due Date November. 10th January. 10th March 10th May 10th July 10th September 10th

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FEATURED STORY

Monica Day Coping With Anxiety

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MONICA DAY | QSM

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FEATURED STORY

onica Day, The Kurvy Diva, is a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County, Maryland. She believes that embracing your body is one of the most empowering aspects of life. Monica has been a part of the plus size industry since 2013, when she was crowned Ms. Maryland Plus America. Her platform of women’s empowerment has been carried throughout her career as Miss Maryland Plus America Ambassador 2015, Curves Rock Curvy Spokesmodel and event host. She is also a three time host for the annual National Curves Day event. She is a house model for Queen Size Magazine and the host of the new YouTube Talk Show The Plus Report presented by District of Curves. Through her work, she looks to continue to inspire women to embrace their bodies. Monica’s favorite quote is “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”. Many people look at Monica as a role model, but the hardest part for her about being a role model in the plus size industry has been coping with her anxiety. Monica was diagnosed with Anxiety in her junior year of high school. Through years of therapy, she has learned coping skills to use when she becomes anxious; she says she gets anxious about everything, including preparing for photo shoots, hosting events and conducting interviews. In her journey to become a model she said she is sure that it also affected her runway walk. She got so anxious at every casting. It took many years for Monica to get to the point she is in her life right now, and fortunately it all worked out for the best because she still found her purpose as a plus size influencer. One of her coping mechanisms is listening to music. She uses it as a mechanism to help her think, give her inspiration or even just to calm down when she is feeling those oncoming flare ups. Monica says that she also dances to music, which helps to hype her up when she is about to host an event. “I have to thank my friends for understanding my anxiety and helping me cope with it. When I need help they are always there.” One of Monica’s triggers is being unorganized or in an unorganized environment; it makes her nervous. She is often complimented by photographers and event planners on always being prepared. This is one of the reasons why she has dedicated and wonderful Stylists, MUA’s and Hairstylists on her team. They know what she needs and keeps her well prepared. If you know anything about Anxiety then you already know that it is not as easy as it looks to cope with life having this disorder, but Monica is thankful to have had some great therapists. Mental illness is still a taboo subject to a lot of people. She says she owes so much to her mother for now being afraid to get her the help that she needed.

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MONICA DAY | QSM

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FEATURED STORY

“It’s funny to be discussing this, I’ve never been asked about it and don’t tell everyone, but I guess I need to be more open. Maybe one of my next shoots will be showing what coping with anxiety looks like in an artistic way. I might also talk about it on an episode of my YouTube Talk Show “The Plus Report”. I never know who I could be helping to understand the illness and how to cope.”

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MONICA DAY | QSM

Let’s get to know Monica Day QSM: Tell me about life growing up for you. Have you always been a full figured Diva? Share some of your experiences. Monica: I have always been plus size. I don’t really remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a little pudgy figure or curves. I endured some teasing from family members and classmates. At times it hurt and really got to me. Other times I tried not to pay attention to what people said. My grandfather called me Miss Piggy, I guess that was his way of saying I was a fat kid, but she was fabulous and I liked her. I didn’t mind him calling me that. I mean hey she is still an icon and I still love me some Miss Piggy.

self-esteem.

QSM: How long did it take for you to get to the point of loving your body? Monica: I don’t think I ever really hated my entire body. Maybe a body part at different times. At times my stomach was a problem or my thighs. I mainly noticed those in high school. By the time I was a senior in high school neither mattered. I have gained weight in my adult years and am working on my weight, but mainly for health issues. I love to dance and I want to be able to do the most with my body. Now when I look at my high school pictures and think about times I thought I was fat, I laugh. I was a size 14 in high school. I would love to get back to that size now because I wasn’t suffering from 30 and over body issues like joint pain lol. I don’t want to feel a night out dancing through my entire body, so teenage body come back lol.

QSM: Who is your favorite model and why? Yep, you can only choose one. Monica: OMG that is so hard, I have so many I look up to. If I have to choose one, I would have to say Tyra Banks. I watched her a lot growing up. She went from modeling, to acting, to talk show host and creating America’s Next Top Model. I mean you see the trend. It’s basically kind of the path I’m trying to be on. Conquering more than just being a model. I want to create a career I love and that has longevity.

QSM: Tell me about Ms. Maryland Plus America; what made you enter? Was this your only pageant? Monica: Well when I was younger my mother put my sister and I in etiquette school, The K-L Image Developers. We participated in local fashion shows and the schools’ Miss Image Pageant. I didn’t win, but I received the award for Miss Assertive. Since then I always wanted to compete in a National Pageant. I was watching one of my favorite shows “Say Yes to the Dress” on TLC and saw Queen Esther “Ms. Plus America 2010” on the show. I thought oh there is a National Pageant I can compete in. It took me a few years after seeing the show and some researching to enter. Finally in 2013 I decided it was my time and I entered the Miss Plus America Pageant as an at-large delegate from Maryland. It was amazing to see so many plus size women competing in a National Pageant. I was able to make great friends and encourage other women to be a part of the Miss Plus America Pageant System. I actually have two titles with the Miss Plus America Pageant System, Miss Maryland Plus America 2013 and Miss Maryland Plus America Ambassador 2015. QSM: I ask almost everyone this question and so I will ask you. If you had the opportunity to change three things about the plus size fashion industry what would they be? Monica: Oh wow what would I change. More attention on young girls and boys who are plus size. Like I want to see them on the runway. Let’s help build up their confidence. Also more diversity in what’s shown to mainstream media. All of us aren’t tall or an hourglass shape. Oh and definitely better bras and lingerie. I’m a girl who happens to love lingerie, so let’s change the stigma of plus size girls being sexy means that we have low

QSM: As a model, tell us about some of your previous shows and are you still actively modeling? Monica: Well actually I casted a lot, but wasn’t chosen to walk in any shows. I mainly had success in print work and being a spokesmodel. I was the 2015 Curvy Spokemodel for Curves Rock Fashion Weekend. I mean I’ve strutted down the runway at shows I’ve hosted, if I was wearing attire from a brand that was showing during the event. I still do print work and hope to be a spokesmodel for other brands.

QSM: I am glad that we are having this conversation about mental illness because when the topic is brought up most people automatically think schizophrenia, or bipolarism; things to that extreme. Can you tell us some of the things that led up to you going to the doctor and then being diagnosed with Anxiety? Monica: I had a hard time coping with things that bothered me. I internalized things that would and let them build up. I would get overwhelmed when I had to do homework or anything that I would be judged on. All of this led to me lashing out in a negative way or having panic attacks. It made me sad and depressed that people would look at me in a negative way and it made me a mean person. I was mean as a defense mechanism, so people wouldn’t bother me, but even that made me anxious. My mom decided to take me to a psychiatrist to get help. I continued to see a therapist on and off as an adult, until I developed better coping skills. I still have flair ups, but I know my triggers. I can recognize when something isn’t right and know what to do. QSM: I do commend your mom because where some of us are from, we don’t talk about these things, and we don’t seek help from professionals out of fear that we would be called crazy or be an embarrassment to our families. Is this something your mom kept under wraps or was your family pretty supportive? Monica: My mom was pretty open about it and let me decide what and when to tell people. Some family members and people understood and others didn’t. Those who didn’t understand wrote me off as sensitive or not knowing how to act. It made me insecure, but as I continued therapy and understood more about myself and anxiety it helped a lot. I guess that’s why I took my time opening up about having anxiety.

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FEATURED STORY

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MONICA DAY | QSM

won’t ever understand. I choose not to argue with them or get myself upset. QSM: The people that you have shared your story with and the ones that you work with, did you tell them beforehand or is it something that they had to learn about you? Monica: I shared it with people at different times. Mainly if something was about to happen that could cause me to have an anxiety attack. I get anxious when things are not organized. People who have worked with me know that I like to have certain things in order. Sometimes they take it as me being a perfectionist, but it’s partially that. I mean, I am building a brand, but mainly I need to know what’s going on. Not knowing what is happening or what’s expected makes me anxious. QSM: What were some of the biggest lessons that you have learned along the way that has impacted the way that you work today? Monica: The biggest lesson I learned is that you can’t plan for everything. Also be patient your time will come, but have some vision. Oh and work within your means. That means monetary and time.

QSM: Can you describe what your flare ups consist of? Monica: Well at times I will have shortness of breath and my chest will get tight. I can’t sleep and often lose my appetite. I might also have a panic attack and can’t calm down. It takes a while and I need time to myself to calm down. Music and dancing helps a lot. I listen to belly dance music, trap music or anything Beyonce, it really helps my spirit. The drum rifts are soothing and then I think of belly dancing. Trust me belly dancing is a spiritual release and very calming. Trap music or Beyonce hypes me up and puts me in good mood. That’s what I generally listen to before hosting an event, because I’m pretty anxious before I go on stage. QSM: I watch you on stage and you just seem so at home; what got you into hosting events? Monica: After being the 2015 Curvy Spokesmodel for Curves Rock Fashion Weekend, I got a lot of good feedback from attendees and my model mentor Samantha Lebbie. Then I remembered what my pageant coach Nina Taylor said to me “The plus size industry needs more than models”. Those words helped because although I wasn’t casted to walk, I knew I still had a purpose. I decided to reach out to people having local events and asked if they needed a host. Luckily they allowed me be their host and people loved me. I love feeding off the positive energy of others and being the life of the party. QSM: You said you don’t share your story with people; why is that? Monica: In minority cultures, mental illness is taboo. People don’t understand and don’t believe it exists. It makes me angry and sad that people don’t understand. I know I’m not crazy and understand that sometimes people are set in their ways and

QSM: How do you measure your success and what else is in the future for Monica Day? Monica: Honestly I have to remind myself of my success. I often think I haven’t done enough until I look at my resume and say you have done something meaningful every year since you stepped into the industry. Also I create a vision board every year and look at it often to see what I’ve accomplished. Hmm what’s coming up, well I plan to get more personal with hosting The Plus Report, so look for new episodes coming. I don’t want the show to be all about events happening in the plus industry. I want a combination of me and things going on in the community. I also want to link with other plus size influencers and brands on some events. I’ll leave the rest out because I want some things to be a surprise, but definitely checkout the show’s website docplusreport.com to see the shows and what I’m up to. QSM: I am extremely grateful and proud that you shared your story. I feel like this is going to be groundbreaking for you. I feel like I am going to be hearing more of Monica Day and how she has helped many cope with their Anxiety. But for now, what would you like to say to people who are reading this and who are suffering in silence? Monica: I want them to talk to a professional first, so they can learn how to cope with anxiety. Also let people know as they feel comfortable. I’m open to people contacting me and asking questions. QSM: Kudos to you Monica. Please provide any final words you want to share here along with your contact info. Monica: First, thank you for this opportunity to share my story. I would like to say for anyone looking to get into the industry, find your niche and start working towards your goal. Remember being a runway model isn’t the only way to be a part of this industry. I’ll leave you with my favorite quote “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets our soul on fire” My contact information is email: monica_day10@yahoo.com, Facebook: Monica D Day, Instagram: monica_thekurvydiva, Twitter: @monicakurvydiva and website: http://www.docplusreport.com

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

SHOP

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FALL INTO WINTER FASHION WITH THE AVENUE | QSM

AVENUE.COM

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BUSINESS

FENTY BEAUTY HOLIDAY EDITION RELEASE | LAWANDA SANYANG

FENTY BEAUTY HOLIDAY EDITION RELEASE Rihanna has released a new Holiday Limited Edition Collection of Fenty Beauty. And it is not your traditional fall colors of oranges, browns and nudes. This Collection is all about shimmer and glitter; oh it’s so RIRI. The Collection ranges in price from $19 to $59 which includes an Eyeshadow Palette, Two-way eyeshadow brush, lips Glitter Release Eyeliner, the Starlight Hyper Glitz Lipstick and the Cosmic gloss. She has done it again with this holiday collection and it is flying off the shelves at Sephora. This collection has been rated 5-stars on the Fenty Beauty website. If you’re looking for something different for the Holiday Season check out this collection. What ladies seem to be the most fascinated with is the Galaxy eyeshadow palette and all of the Beauty Gurus have given this palette two thumbs up. The Galaxy Eyeshadow Palette has hyper reflective sparkle with 14 celestial inspired hues ranging from shear to smoky shimmer drenched colors. The Galaxy edition is definitely out of this planet and the names speak for themselves. You have Extra Terrestrial, Light Year, Midnight Bolt, Planet Ex, Jupiter Sand, Ultaviolit, Spaced Owt, Oh-Zone, Mars On Fire, Milky Way, Sublime Sunburst, Meter Crush, and Cosmic Ocean which are all 100% cruelty free. Keep in mind that this is a limited holiday edition so it will not be around for long. Be sure to head on over to Sephora and pick yours up today.

by Lawanda ”Lala Faces” Sanyang

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BUSINESS

BEHIND

AISHA “A.I.” BROWN

Image by Noy Brown of “Distinct Eye Photography”

THE LENS

Aisha “A.i.” Brown was born and raised in Baltimore Maryland, a self taught photographer who loves to capture unique photos that tell stories at just one glance or the essence of one’s beauty when they’re in front of her lens. She established Distinct Eye Photography in July of 2016, working with a variety of local clients, magazines, organizations, real estate agents and has been showcased on the LED Baltimore Billboard. She has been described as a very distinct, creative, engaging, detailed and relaxed photographer. Her photography journey started back when she was younger and from that moment she completely fell in love with capturing love, emotion, creative, and significant moments when working with her clients. She takes pride in every photo captured by putting her heart and soul into her work. She has a wide range of photography experience, but not limited to portraits, weddings, events, real estate, lifestyle, and boudoir photography . One of her recent, strongest experiences has been with Fashion Model Photography. It has definitely provided a even stronger inspiration for her photography business. In March of 2017, She decided to launch “Distinct and Curvy Models”, to promote self image, a platform for thick and curvy women to love themselves, be confident in the skin they’re in and loving others. “Distinct Eye Photography Captures Every Magical Moment” www.distincteyephotography.com www.facebook.com/distincteye @distinct_eye_photography @distinctandcurvymodels 410-575-4697 WWW.QUEENSIZEMAGAZINE.COM|DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE

Models | (Top) Shilene Johnson, (Bottom) Noy Brown Frisby

BEHIND THE LENS | AISHA “A.I.” BROWN

Models | Left to Right (Bottom) Donsha Webb and Noy Brown-Frisby Left to Right )Top) Chandra Parker and Shilene Johnson

Model | Nita Lynch

Model | Donsha Webb

DISTINCT EYE PHOTOGRAPHY

Model | Chandra Parker

Model | Shilene Johnson

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BUSINESS

DEAR SANTA | MEESHA ANN

Dear Santa, Am I the only one that feels like this year flew by in the twinkle of an eye? Ohh Santa, I promise you that I will be on my very best behavior for the rest of the year, no matter how short a time we have left. Every year around this time I am faced with questions from my friends and families about gift ideas. The whole process of buying gifts can be extremely chaotic and tiresome. Not to worry though, I will be giving you a list of gift ideas that you can’t go wrong with. Let me do the work for you, so that you can relax and enjoy watching the smile on everyone’s face as they open their gifts. Here go my top ten gift ideas:

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

FALL INTO WINTER FASHION WITH LORALETTE | QSM

Loralette.com

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BUSINESS

Photographer | Asade and Tonya Thompson for Images By Comfesta LLC Model | JoJo Tedder Designer/Seamstress |JoJo Tedder MUA | Tracey L. Jenkins Company: StellarVisage Beauty

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MODEL SPOTLIGHT | JOJO TEDDER

JoJo Tedder Jojo Tedder was born and raised in Maryland. She grew up in a small town, a dry town. She was never much of a girly girl and always preferred to get dirty rather than play dress up. She got into sports and excelled at fast pitch softball. She did so well her talent and hard work earned her a full ride to college. While she studied Business at The University of Coastal Carolina, she really only went to college to play softball; the degree was an added bonus. Jojo’s parents, Rozanne and John, have been together for over 50 years. Even with a seven year gap between her and her younger brother Jonathan, Jojo says that they are still very close. Jojo has always loved being in the shop with her dad working who is a mechanic. She says that the shop is her comfort zone. Straight out of college she went right back to the shop to work. She is currently working full time in a body shop for a successful dealership in Maryland. As far as modeling goes, this is something that happened for her by accident; she never intentionally set out on this path. It started three years ago when her cousin suggested doing a photoshoot to help boost her selfesteem. The pictures were so great that they ended up being featured in a magazine. Since she was never very girly, having her hair and makeup done and seeing the photos turn out so beautiful sparked a fire in her. She was

determined to see how far she could take her new venture. She was offered to walk in a runway fashion show and she accepted before she had any idea what she was getting into. She realized that taking pictures and walking a runway was two completely different beasts. At the time she had no experience walking in heels; the closest she’d ever gotten to walking in heels was wearing cleats on the field. She quickly learned that the hustle and bustle behind the scenes of a runway show can be so intoxicating. She was so full of fear before her initial walk but she got through it and received an offer to walk in another show. Throughout her journey she has met many amazing women and developed friendships and professional relationships that will last her a lifetime. The plus size movement has proven to be very empowering and uplifting for Jojo. She has gained confidence that she only dreamed of having before. Within two years of beginning her journey, her career as a model has skyrocketed. She has walked in over 50 runway shows, including New York Fashion Week 2017, graced the pages of more than 10 magazines and debuted in two calendars. Stepping out of her comfort zone was the best decision she’s ever made. “There is so much support within my network and helping other women come to realize the beauty we all see that they might not is the best blessing of it all. Today, I am a plus size woman, model, mechanic and foster mother. My life is a gift, and I am so blessed to be able to share it with all of you. I am so excited to see what 2018 brings us all.”

Photographer | Asade and Tonya Thompson for Images By Comfesta LLC Model | JoJo Tedder MUA | Tracey L. Jenkins Company: StellarVisage Beauty

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BUSINESS

QSM: I love seeing women with the jobs that society thinks are only for men. Lol. Do you get the “you don’t know what you doing” looks from men when they come into the shop with their cars? Jojo: I get that look every day. When I greet men OR women initially and they ask for an estimate, I will input their information into the computer and then ask them to show me the damage to their car. A majority of the time, they ask me if an estimator or tech is going to look at their car. I smile at them and let them know that’s what I am, and that is what I am here for. QSM: After college, what made you decide to not play sports professionally? Jojo: The only reason I did not play sports professionally after school is because, there is no professional fast pitch softball. On the west coast there are some leagues that you can play and receive some income but it is not enough to live off of. That was always my dream to be a professional softball player. Now I just play in some coed leagues for fun. QSM: How did you manage to stay upright on the runway your first time in heels? That must have been pretty scary. JoJo: Lol, It was beyond scary, especially with no experience. I just put one foot in front of the other. I smiled and kept playing the instructions I was told prior to walking, over and over in my head.

QSM: Name a designer AND photographer that you would love the opportunity to work with before you hang up your heels. Also name a show. JoJo: I would love to work with Marina Rinaldi. The clothes, shoes and accessories are so awesome. Classic, trendy and versatile. I would love to walk in the Oxford Fashion Show in Paris. QSM: What advice would you offer to anyone that may be reading this and want to jump into modeling like you did? JoJo: Many don’t realize it takes time, dedication and money to get started. You have to build your brand, which is yourself. It takes money to pay the photographers, MUA’s, hair stylists, studios, printing comp cards, etc. What you put into it, is what you will get out of it. Always build up those around you and help whenever you can. You never know, the one you help get started, could be your boss one day. QSM: Any final thoughts you want to leave us with? Please also leave your contact info. JoJo: If Modeling is a dream of yours, DO IT!!! Fake it till you make it, Don’t stop, and never give up! Dreams only last one night. People can follow me on Facebook under JoJo TheModel, Instagram @one_loco_jojo, Twitter @JoJoTheModel http://www.modelmayhem.com/3518822

QSM: Fifty shows in two years is pretty impressive. Have you done any training at all? JoJo: I have not received any formal training from a school or trainer. I have however, been house models for a couple designers and shows in the DMV area, I was provided training by being a house model. Aushia Smith, the founder and CEO of Reussir School of Modeling, acting and Refinement, has become a huge inspiration, teacher, motivator and the best part of this relationship, she is my friend. She is such an amazing woman, with more knowledge, skill, and poise than anyone I have had the pleasure of working with. QSM: Are you currently signed with an agency? JoJo: I am not signed with an agency currently. I have had a couple of offers, but I enjoy not being tied down, because I am foster parent. I never know when or how many children I might have at any given moment. I am still very open to the idea, just haven’t found the right fit. QSM: So you are currently modeling part time and a mechanic full time correct? Would you ever give up one for the other? JoJo: I would ABSOLUTLEY give up working in the shop to be a full time model. If and when the compensation is equal or even close to equal, I would love to.

Photographer | Asade and Tonya Thompson for Images By Comfesta LLC Model | JoJo Tedder Shirt | Harley Davision T-shirt from Harley Davidson of Outer Banks, NC MUA | Tracey L. Jenkins Company: StellarVisage Beauty

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MODEL SPOTLIGHT | JOJO TEDDER

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Model | Quensetta Marie Photographer | Duane Jones for Antoinne Duane Jones Media Dress | Viwenni

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BUSINESS

READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS| QSM

Quensetta Marie

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BUSINESS

Tiffany Beautifullyme Smith

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Model | Tiffany Beautifullyme Smith Makeup | Cheyenne Woods of CXO Beauty Bar Photographer | Antoinne Duane Jones for Antoinne Duane Jones Media

READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS| QSM 47

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QUEEN SIZE MAGAZINE

MAKING QUEEN SIZE MOVES

From our family to yours Happy Holidays