July 2018 issue by Queen Size Magazine

JULY 2018 ISSUE

KI N G TH E COVER STORY:

ROBERT E. KNIGHT WAS BORN TO DESIGN

MAKING QUEEN SIZE MOVES

SI ZE

IS SU E

ARTICLE TITLE | BY AUTHOR

Fashion + Lifestyle

Robert also shares his experience in being body shamed

WHAT EVERY CLASSIC MAN SHOULD HAVE IN HIS CLOSET THE NEW OLD SCHOOL EARTH DAY FASHION SHOW COVERAGE

OUR FAVORITE LOOKS FROM THE DISTRICT OF CURVES RUNWAY

MODEL SPOTLIGHTS KYLE KELLY SETH ELIJAH SCOTT TRAVIS GRADY JULY 2018 ISSUE

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ARTICLE TITLE | BY AUTHOR MAKING QUEEN SIZE MOVES

FROM THE EDITOR Tawana Blassingame Founder & Editor in Chief Photo by PDrew Photography Dress by Fashion to Figure

Welcome to the July 2018 issue of Queen Size Magazine. THE KING SIZE ISSUE This issue is monumental for us. This is our very first issue that we dedicated solely to the men in our industry. Every article focuses on our men. We have all male model spotlights and we even have Robert E. Knight, male designer for the plus size women. Get used to seeing our big and tall men grace the pages of Queen Size Magazine because effective January 1st of 2018 we have officially gone coed. exciting!!!! So gentlemen, welcome to our pages. In this issue you will get to read the all about how Robert got started as a designer. He also shares his personal struggle with being body shamed and how he relates to plus size women so well. You will also get to read up on some of the male models who are prominent and creating waves in the big and tall community. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support them as they have supported us all these years. 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. 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 Vice President & Director of Photography MEESHA ANN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & Fashion Editor DANA HALL Photographer LAWANDA SANYANG Fashion Editor LAFINA PHILLIPS Stylist ANDREA BLASSINGAME Makeup Artist EYANI COUTURE House Designer FLAVORS OF FULLNESS House Designer Contributing Writers CRYSTAL CARMEN JOY PITTMAN

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

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CONTENTS FEATURED STORY

ROBERT E. KNIGHT TALKS ABOUT WHY HE BECAME A DESIGNER AND SHARES HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH BEING BODY SHAMED By QSM

HEALTH AND FITNESS

MODEL SPOTLIGHTS

JULY 2018 ISSUE

SPRING INTO HEALTHY HABITS By NICOLE FRANTZ

BEAUTY&FASHION

MODEL SPOTLIGHT: KYLE KELLY

MEN’S HAIR CARE NEEDS

By QSM

By CRYSTAL LEWIS

YOU WILL FIND IN A CLASSIC 28 ITEMS MAN’S CLOSET By QSM

30 MODEL SPOTLIGHT: SETH By QSM

34 MODEL SPOTLIGHT: TRAVIS GRADY By QSM

38 MODEL SPOTLIGHT: ELIJAH E. SCOTT By QSM

BUSINESS

THE LIGHT By JOY PITTMAN

NEW OLD SCHOOL EARTH DAY 44 THE FASHION SHOW COVERAGE By QSM

OF OUR FAVORITE LOOKS FROM 48 SOME THE DISTRICT OF CURVES RUNWAY By QSM

38 18 46

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HEALTH AND FITNESS

SPRING INTO HEALTHY HABITS by Nicole Frantz SPRING INTO HEALTHY HABITS. If Winter wasn’t a good enough time for you to get in shape, how about now? They say it’s no time like the present so here we go.

NOT ALL WORKOUTS ARE CREATED EQUAL. In the age of access to anything at our fingertips, a 60 minute vhs tape times 7 days a week is ancient history. High intensity, targeted impact aerobics are available in an instant to accommodate your agenda at all times. It’s important to find what works for you based on your current fitness level and overall goals. If you are looking for a secret to speed up to success, all you really need to know is to get started and never quit!

LET’S TALK NUTRITION Now let’s talk nutrition. Show of hands who eats a balanced diet 365 days each year? 65 days? 3 days? Don’t worry; no one can see if your hand is up, but if it is, I challenge you to consider reaching for replacement meal supplement. However, before you purchase a pile of products, do your homework. Your health care provider is a great place to start, and certified nutritionists certainly serve as an aid to finding what best fits your lifestyle. Any successful exercise program should be partnered with an outline for cleaner eating and balanced nutrition, and the best news is it can still taste great, and you don’t have to starve. WHY I HAVE DECIDED TO DITCH THE DIETS. Dieting is a big business, and I am not here to discredit it. What I have found to work best for me is by continually keeping tabs on my health; I then yield a longer lasting, better quality to my overall health. With all things, researching what is available and getting a grasp of what goals you have will make all the difference in the end results, and that is what matters the most. Looking and feeling your best doesn’t have to be painstakingly problematic, and when you do find that perfect balance it will be all worthwhile.

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SPRING INTO HEALTHY HABITS| BY NICOLE FRANZ

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Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Kyle Kelly @ladiesluvk00lk Attire | SOS Denim @sosdenim Sneakers | Nike @nike

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Kyle Kelly

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MODEL SPOTLIGHT| KYLE KELLY

SOS Denimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mr. June 2018

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Kyle Kelly @ladiesluvk00lk Attire | SOS Denim @sosdenim

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Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Kyle Kelly @ladiesluvk00lk Attire | SOS Denim @sosdenim

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

MODEL SPOTLIGHT| KYLE KELLY

yle Kelly was born and raised in Queens, NY. Even from a very young age he was always active and on the go. He played sports for most of his life; football being his main sport of choice. While he was in college there were multiple modeling organizations, but at that time he had no interest in them; he was content on just playing football and being known for that. When he graduated from college he still didn’t have any interest in modeling. In 2017 Kyle jokingly created a post on Facebook stating that he was interested in beard modeling. His cousin Erin, along with some others saw the post and encouraged him to look into it. His first show was Full Figured Fashion in 2017. Afterwards, so many doors have opened for him. He’s had the opportunity to do four runway shows in that year, he did multiple shoots, and he became SOS Denim’s brand ambassador for their fall and spring collection. Kyle participated in the WeAreBigandTall movement where he and a few other Big and Tall models recreated the ASAP Mob Calvin Klein campaign. As a result, he was featured on Fox 5 News. In the short time that Kyle has been modeling he has made some major strides. His goal is to work with some major name brands and to be a face on their big and tall collections. But ultimately he really wants to inspire that young man or young woman who may not feel confident enough to even step in front of a camera to just step outside their box and to give it a try and not to let anyone around them discourage them from something that could potentially make them really happy, and gain a lot of confidence. Follow Kyle’s journey on Instagram @ladiesluvk00lk

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Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Kyle Kelly @ladiesluvk00lk Attire | SOS Denim @sosdenim

BEAUTY AND FASHION

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Female Model | Leanne Mangano @ leanne_j_mangano Dress | Klashaaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Closet @klashaascloset

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Male Model | Kyle Kelly @ladiesluvk00lk Attire | SOS Denim @sosdenim

MODEL SPOTLIGHT| KYLE KELLY 13

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

MEN’S HAIR CARE NEEDS by Crystal Lewis

Hello Gentlemen. I want to give you advice about hair care needs. Men want to look good and feel good about themselves. Men are taking advantage of services offered in the beauty industry; they care about their appearance and their health. Let me start with the most important part of being well groomed.

SCALP and HAIR

Your scalp has to be healthy. Using great shampoo and conditioner is a must. Stay away from shampoos that smell fruity. Please do not wash your hair with the same soap that you use to wash your body. Soap is too harsh on your hair and scalp. Plus soap can leave a residue on your hair and scalp.

SHAMPOO and CONDITIONER

Use top products when it comes to shampooing and conditioning your hair. If you have dry or oily hair, use products that will help your hair stay healthy. Shampoo: You know how bottles are labeled for dry hair or oily hair? That’s not just a marketing scheme; there is a difference. If your hair seems too oily, shampoo more often. Too dry, shampoo less often. On any day, your hair gets shampooed, dried, styled, tousled by hand and wind, greased by natural oils and sweat, slept on, and so forth. The baseline shampoo cycle should be every 2-3 days, though that can change from one man to the next according to your daily activities or lifestyle. You need at least a day to build up natural oils that are good for the scalp. If you have very healthy, resilient hair, you could get away with washing just once a week. This is because shampoo can strip away the good, nourishing oils while it also washes away the grime and product buildup. You need these healthy oils to keep hair hydrated from day to day; these oils also relax the hair and make it easier to style. While you should still rinse your hair every night and morning, it’s the excessive shampooing that should be avoided. It will dry out your hair and cause more harm than good. Men who use a lot of product should be shampooing a little bit more. You want to avoid product buildup and clogged pores.

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MENS HAIR CARE NEEDS | CRYSTAL LEWIS

Conditioner

While you may accept shampoo as a necessary part of living in civilized society, you may view conditioner with deep suspicion. Does it really do anything? Is it crucial in protecting your hair? Shampoo alone can dry out or damage your hair, which makes it more likely to attract oil and dirt. Conditioner is a moisturizer that adds nutrients back to the hair and scalp. You should condition after shampooing. Never use a 2-in-1 shampoo-conditioner. You can also condition between washes since it really only helps the hair. Many stylists also believe that “co-washing” that is, using conditioner as your primary shampoo will help flush away the majority of the grime that you’re targeting with a shampoo. Moreover, use conditioner regularly every other day, at least, and you’ll only see improvements. If you have a fine grade of hair, invest in a good everyday shampoo and avoid conditioner unless you’re trying to get it long and avoid tangles, if you have dry or thick hair, you should be using conditioner every time you shampoo. And, for overly dry hair, I highly recommend deep conditioning. Remember to drink your water and take your vitamins! Love, Crystal Lewis

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BEAUTY AND BUSINESS FASHION

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

1x $100 $60 $45 $300 $240 $200 $140

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

R obert

E K night

Robert E. Knight was born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn New York in 1968. He attended the fashion institute of technology, graduating in 1992 with a degree in menswear. Finding creating menswear boring and having always been a fan of asymmetry, color and prints, he found that he enjoyed injecting all three combinations into that special one of a kind garment; he began concentrating on creating women’s wear in 1995. In 1998 he elevated to creating full figured women’s wear. His philosophy is to “produce timeless, special, fun and often one of a kind creations…all with the intention of providing years of enjoyment to the wearer….” He has assisted at numerous high end designer companies including, but not limited to: Dolce and Gabanna, Zac Posen, Peter Som & Calvin Klein.

In 2017, Robert was honored with the Full Figured Fashion Week™ Designer of the Year Award for his contributions to the full figured community. His ultimate goal is to open his own boutique in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York.

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Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

His looks have draped the bodies of many celebrities including model & reality TV personality Cynthia Bailey, TV & radio personality Wendy Williams, actor & drag performer Harmonica Sunbeam, Grammy award winning vocalist Monica, Grammy nominated vocalist Martha Wash, violinist & mezzosoprano Tona Brown, supermodel & actor Tyson Beckford, actress & comedian Kim Coles, choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson & the late Isaac Hayes.

ROBERT E. KNIGHT | QSM

Pain is pain, hurt is hurt. Everyone just wants to be loved, seen and heard. QSM: Mr. Celebrity designer Robert E. Knight. How are you? Robert: Hey Tawana! I’m great how are you and the QSM folks doing? QSM: We are great. No complaints. What made you decide to get into designing to start with? Robert: I decided to get into fashion because when I was younger my mom would sew and create uniforms for my brother, my sister and myself for private school. She was always sewing and she was always creating dresses and looks for herself. So fashion was always in my blood. My grandmother and my great grandmother would sew clothes for customers before I was born. My mom picked it up and I picked it up from her and decided to create and become a fashion designer at a very young age. QSM: What was it about menswear that you found to be boring? Robert: Menswear has come a long way from the boring blue black and occasional grey suit. Wearing pink at a time was often said to be gay for a man. Now men have embraced all colors of the rainbow and it’s a beautiful thing. QSM: What is something that they don’t teach in school that you and maybe other designers had to learn through trial and error? Robert: Something that the school doesn’t teach you is to how to take rejection and criticism from folks that are not in fashion like a customer or family member. QSM: According to your bio you have dressed some pretty

important people in and out of the fashion industry. Tell us more about how those opportunities presented themselves. Robert: A lot of those opportunities came by word of mouth or being in the right place at the right time. For instance, I dressed Tona Brown, she’s the first transgender female to sing at Carnegie Hall. A friend trusted me with her and I have been dressing her ever since. QSM: I want to talk a little with you about size because I know you have made this public about you too being body shamed about your size. Can you share a little of that story with us? Robert: I was always ridiculed about being skinny; it hurt like hell. As I’ve gotten older I realize that I had accepted and started to believe the things people would say as my truth. Some years back I remember being on vacation on the beach and decided not to listen to the voices in my head, because there was actually no one around LOL. I said to myself it’s now or never and that was the beginning of me truly loving all of me. QSM: For that reason do you think this makes you relatable to full figured women? Robert: I am definitely relatable to the full figured women because pain is pain, hurt is hurt. Everyone just wants to be loved, seen and heard. QSM: We had an interesting conversation not too long ago that I’d love to talk more about. We talked about how people misuse the term couture. Can you explain to everyone who may not know what true couture really is?

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FEATURED STORY

Robert: True Couture is when a garment is made entirely by hand, no sewing machines are used. I cringe when I see designers using the term Couture and what they have created were clearly done on a sewing machine. The term haute couture means High fashion by the way and it is nothing to take lightly. So whenever I hear the word couture in a designer’s name I’m looking for all of the little hand work details that come with being a couturier. My favorite is Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel QSM: Do you consider yourself a couture designer? Robert: Nope, nor am I a tailor or seamstress. I do not have the time or the patience to be anything other than a designer who just so happens to know how to sew! QSM: I know myself as a writer; I tend get writer’s block sometimes. Does that happen to you as a designer? And how do you unblock that? Robert: Yes I get designer block and man does it kick rocks. Trying to unblock is a task in itself, my attention span is short now so doing something else would catch it and jolt me back into life .lol QSM: LOL!!! In an industry saturated with designers, how do you make yourself stand out from the rest? Robert: I stand out because I am me. People don’t just buy clothing, they buy the experience. I make sure to take care of my clients as if I was making something for myself; that’s why Folks buy into you… The person ….that’s the real investment! QSM: When you are creating a project for a client what pertinent questions do you ask in order to create what they are looking for? Robert: I always need to know the type of event the client will be attending. I’ll ask questions like what your favorite colors are or what your favorite cologne or perfume etc etc… I also asked for inspirational picture or pictures and I usually take it from there.

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

QSM: Have you ever had a client that did not like what you created for them? How did you or how would you handle that? Robert: Of course I had many clients who weren’t happy with what I created. Listen, life is ying and yang; you can’t have all good or all bad, there has to be a balance. The blessing is that most if not all of my clients are usually happy with our outcome. And I never have a problem working with a client to resolve any issues …..that client is my lifeline.

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QSM: Full Figured Fashion Week Designer of the Year! Once again, congratulations on that. What was that moment like for you when you won? Robert: Thank you yes, Full Figure Fashion Week designer of the year! I still get goose Bumps whenever I say that. When I received the call from Gwen DeVoe, I actually started to cry. I was only trying to secure one of the spots in her showcase. It was a feeling that I will never forget and I am forever humbled by the entire experience. QSM: What is next from you? And where can people find you? Robert: I’m working on a plethora of projects as well with my own Private Clients. I can be reached at www.roberteknight.com, Robert E. Knight on Facebook and on Instagram @robert_e_knight

ROBERT E. KNIGHT | QSM

2017 Full Figured Fashion Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Designer Of The Year

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

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Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Yolelda Ira @fashionmycurves Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

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FEATURED STORY 22

ROBERT E. KNIGHT | QSM

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Sharinna Luna @sharinnaluna Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

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FEATURED STORY

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Jonna Capone @curvy_capone Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

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ROBERT E. KNIGHT | QSM

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Angelique Oates @angeoates Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

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FEATURED STORY

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Jenna Lee @jennsgotcurves Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

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ROBERT E. KNIGHT | QSM

Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Michelle Tez @miss_meechyy Attire |Robert E. Knight @robert_e_knight

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

Items you will find in a Classic Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Closet

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ARE YOU A CLASSIC MAN | QSM

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

SETH Nathon Seth Martino affectionately known as Seth is a 31 year old aspiring model from Southern California. By day he is a repair technician by trade. But above all, he is a husband to a beautiful woman named Sherée and a father to five children. Seth never in a million years thought that he would be modeling. He began following a Big and Tall subscription box service called The Winston Box. One day he noticed that they were having a sale at their warehouse in Los Angeles so I decided to take the trip out there. Little did he know, they were also having a casting call looking for brawn models, Seth decided to throw his hat in the ring. Much to his surprise, he was chosen. He did a test shoot with a photographer named Spencer out of San Diego. He posted a couple on Instagram and received great responses; that’s when everything changed for him. He began his research on how he can make his way into the male modeling industry. He reached out to other industry professionals, researched other brawn models and some big & tall looks. He enjoyed putting together looks and doing photoshoots. He had made his decision to pursue modeling. In March of 2018 he flew out to New York to audition for his first show, Full Figured Fashion Week; and he made it. Seth is grateful for the opportunities that he has gotten so far. He is looking to get more into print work and is currently preparing himself to meet with some agencies in hopes of pursuing modeling full time. Follow Seth’s journey in Instagram @freshtoseth.

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Photographer | Devin Alcantara @digitald.lights Model | Seth @freshtoseth Bomber |The Winston box @thewinstonbox Hat | New Era Cap @neweracap

MODEL SPOTLIGHT | SETH

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

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MODEL SPOTLIGHT | SETH

Top left Photographer | Hector Hernandez @smilenownyc Model | Seth @freshtoseth Puffer Vest and Plaid button up | The Winston box @thewinstonbox Jeans | ASOS @asos

bottom Photographer | Braganza @bbraganza Model | Seth @freshtoseth Bomber Jacket | Rocawear @rocawear Rose T-Shirt | ASOS @asos

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

Photographer | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Travis Grady @_chefunlimited_ Attire | Chubiiline @bullychasers

TRAVIS GRADY

Travis Grady is an aspiring model hailing from Elizabeth, NJ. He is also a Chef who is making a name from himself. Growing up Travis’ grandmother would get dressed up every Sunday in her finest clothing and model for them. He was always impressed by her genius color schemes. Even from a young age she played a major part in his love for fashion. But as he got older and met the love of his life, Shenelle Lapierre who is also a model, she awakened his love for fashion once again. One day Travis attended Runway The Realway, a fashion show hosted by the beautiful Ms. Catherine Schuller, in support of Shenelle as she modeled. Ms. Schuller approached him and asked him if he wanted to be a part of the show. Without hesitation, Travis agreed. From that day he realized that he loved the energy he got from being on the runway and decided that he too wanted to be a model. His motivation goes beyond just showing off fashions, he was to send a message to everyone that is ok to be yourself, it is ok to be different. You can do whatever is on your heart to do no matter who you are and where you come from. As a Chef, Travis feels like he can bring more to the fashion industry than just fashion and style. His mission is to help the fashion industry live healthier lifestyles by bridging the gap between fashion and healthy eating. In his short time modeling, Travis has had the opportunity to model for Runway The Realway, Pink the Runway, UBM Fashion Week, District of Curves, National Curves Day, SOS Denim and Crusade of Curves. He is inspired by models such as Franknthecity, Reginald Sherard, Elijah Scott, John Giampaoli and modeling couple Michael & Lissa; and that is just to name a few. Travis Grady has set out to become a household name in male fashion and he doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. Follow Travis’ journey on Facebook under Travis Grady and on IG @_chefunlimited_

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MODEL SPOTLIGHT| TRAVIS GRADY

Photographer | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Travis Grady @_chefunlimited_ Attire | Chubiiline @bullychasers

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

Photographer | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Travis Grady @_chefunlimited_ Attire | Chubiiline @bullychasers

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MODEL SPOTLIGHT| TRAVIS GRADY

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

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MODEL SPOTLIGHT | ELIJAH E. SCOTT

Who is Elijah “E. Scott” Lewis? Elijah is the Gifted Gentle Giant, all the way from Freeport, NY who has been blessed with a few talents under his belt. He is a singer/songwriter, actor, writer, captured storyteller, and a unique individual with a vision plus edge. Elijah has faced many obstacles through life but that wasn’t enough to stop him. With the love of God and determination, he keeps rolling. Most always felt because Elijah is 6’3 and wears a size 16 shoe, he should be drafted for a football team. But that wasn’t the case! The art of being uniquely different is what excited Elijah. Being able to express how he feels through song is what captives him, along with capturing art. Creating a story with a camera and giving emotion to bring it to life. One of Elijah’s goals is to show the world it’s ok to be the real authentic you! Never to hide behind flaws and to be proud of what you think may not be perfect. Elijah often calls himself the imperfect masterpiece who’s transposed differently!

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BEAUTY AND FASHION

Elijah E. Scott

Photography | Philip Drew (IG: PDrew Photography) Makeup | DMarie Beauty (IG: Dmariebeauty824) Hair | Flawless Designz by Charisse (IG: flawlessdesignznyc) CEO, Kabi926 | Yashica Russell (IG: kabi926)

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Photographer | Tommy Cannonville @cannonvile Model | Elijah Scott Lewis @escott_music Vest |VIM @vimstores Fitted |LIDS @lids

MODEL SPOTLIGHT | ELIJAH E. SCOTT

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BUSINESS

The Light By: Joy A. Pittman

A few weeks ago, I got a call from the CEO and Editor of QSM. To my complete and utter frustration, she informed me that this month’s magazine will focus on MEN (slow blinks). Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with a volume dedicated to men. I also have no issue with men, and Father’s Day is coming up… I get it… BUT I, me, Joy am a WOMAN writing for QSM about MY journey as a WOMAN… and she is telling me this month piece needs to be about MEN.

Do you see the problem here? My experiences with MEN are through the eyes of a WOMAN. My words, despite their intent, are spoken through the voice of my wants, needs and expectations from MEN. As such how could I write about MEN in a way that would be of value to them? As these thoughts ran through my mind, my little voice said, “she never said write about men, she said focus on them.” Welp, the voice was right as usual and so instead of writing about men, I decided to write to them. (Whew!).

Ok… decision made… but, here I am, way behind deadline thinking of what I want to relay to the men who would take the time to read this article. Men who I do not know. Men who do not know me. Men who may be expecting my words to be dipped in daddy issues, baby daddy drama, broken hearts and bitterness. Men who will read my words through the lens of their needs, wants and expectations of me as a woman. So, after many deleted introductory paragraphs, google searches and glasses of wi… I mean coffee, I come across this quote:

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark, the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light”

(Insert long sigh, and moment of deep meditation) …When men are afraid of the light.

There’s so much symbolism in this quote begging for further dissection. The child versus the man, light versus darkness, and fear as a vehicle of both pardon and tragedy are all heavy concepts to explore. However, my experience with MEN seen through my female perspective was challenged by the reality of this quote.

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THE LIGHT| JOY PITTMAN

Despite my passion for women’s empowerment, my feminist tendencies, and my pride in being a boss, the MEN in my life have been impactful and essential. The MEN in my life have been able to make me feel stable, safe, loved, beautiful, important and worthy in ways that women have not. While my experience is not indicative of every woman’s experiences, I can say that no matter the narrative in every instance where a man should have been present, and he was not, a hole was left by his absence.

This fact (not open for debate) speaks to the power and necessity of men in the lives of their children, families and communities. Although we may have subsequently learned to cope without a male presence, it did not change the fact that their presence was necessary. And sometimes in our efforts to manage the hole left by men, we (women) become a version of ourselves that serves to widen the gap between us; often in fear of our own light as well.

…When men are afraid of the light… I thoroughly understand that THE LIGHT can be scary. IT REVEALS EVERYTHING, including our fears and feelings of inadequacy. The light highlights deficiencies and can leaving us feeling like we are not enough, we cannot give enough, we cannot provide enough and we are not strong enough. However, the light, if we are willing to let it search us will also empower us and prepare us for purpose.

When men are afraid of the light we all suffer. Manhood comes with great privilege AND great responsibility and to whom much is given much is required. When men are afraid to address the truth of their purpose, to bear on their shoulders the reality of the weight of their existence, we are robbed of their greatness, and subsequently we are robbed of pieces of our greatness as well. When men are afraid of the light they risk leading us into the darkness. I pray that each man that reads this article finds or has found his light and walks bravely in it… we are waiting to follow.

-Dedicated to the memory of Jerald L. Pittman, my daddy, my first love; a man who walked boldly in his light!

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Photography | Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography Model | Bobby Stone @thenewoldschoolbrand

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EARTH DAY FASHION SHOW| QSM

THE NEW OLD SCHOOL PRESENTS ITS ANNUAL EARTH DAY FASHION SHOW The New Old School presented its annual Earth Day Fashion Show in honor of Mother Earth on April 22, 2018; and what a show it was. The room was filled with guests who came out with the purpose of networking and supporting. The New Old School is the brainchild of Bobby Stone who founded the company and movement in 2011. The inspiration behind it was to be able to provide opportunities and platforms for people like you and me. Opening the show was this year’s Mother Earth Goddess, Leanne Mangano, wearing a beautiful mother earth inspired dress created by Lola Pierre (event coordinator); Bobby Stone’s right hand and partner in crime. Guests were awed from watching the amazing models and designs hit the runway. Designers for the day were Mashood Creations, Frantzy Face, B. Pretty Inc., Ankara Crowns, and Kool Kat. But the New Old School would not be the New Old School without showcasing some amazing talent. Kevin Guillaume brought tears to my eyes as he belted the tunes of Lay Me Down, by Sam Smith. I am definitely looking forward to buying that young man’s record should he decide to pursue his music career because his voice is soothing and absolutely amazing. Obviously Queen Size Magazine was in the building, but also in the audience were some heavy hitters from the music industry. Big Sav you may know him as Young Ma’s manager, multi-platinum record producer and CEO of Platinum Boy Music, Inc. Antwan “Amadeus” Thompson, Big Rock aka Ruck from Heltah Skeltah and Lenneia Batiste of News 12. And we have to acknowledge DJ Thunder for the amazing music and last but not least Bobby’s mom who served up some of the best food I’ve ever had (don’t tell my mom though lol) There are a lot of fashion shows put on by women so it was definitely nice to see a man take front stage. Even though we all know Lola probably smacked Bobby around a few times to get it together. Just kidding Bobby, you know I love you lol. Check out some of our favorite pieces to hit the runway.

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All images by Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography

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EARTH DAY FASHION SHOW| QSM

All images by Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography

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DOC Distict Of Curves

District of Curves is the premier full figured fashion showcase in the Washington DC area produced by Mickey Leon. DOC is currently in its fifth year of production and each year brings forth some of the latest and greatest designs in plus size fashion. Showcasing in the finale show were CayJor Boutique, Dressin’ Trendy, Madame Ravish, 7twenty5 Designs, Madame Ravish, Nicole B. Designs, SOS Denim, Eyani Couture, Massive Collection, and HGE Designs. This year’s show was hosted by the fabulous Liris Cross. In addition the fashion showcase, the week also consisted of events such as a Business Development Workshop, Branding & Marketing Workshop, the Community Service Project, the Zumba Party & Health & Wellness Event, Curves En Noir!, the very FIRST DMV Plus Awards & Dinner Party. Check out some of our favorite looks from the runway.

All images by Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography

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DISTRICT OF CURVES RUNWAY FAVES | QSM

All images by Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography

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All images by Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography

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DISTRICT OF CURVES RUNWAY FAVES | QSM

All images by Philip Drew, PDrew Photography @pdrewphotography

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From our family to yours Happy Holidays