SKORCH Jan 2012

MAGAZINE / BLOG / TV

JAN 2013

THE

LOVE YOUR BODY ISSUE FIRST LOOK

CULT OF CALI COLLECTION

SKORCH MAGAZINE COVER PHOTO CREDITS MODEL: LORNA LITZ PHOTOGRAPHER: NICHOLE ALEX WWW.PHOTOBYNICHOLEALEX.COM DESIGNS/WORDROBE BY ASHLEY NELL TIPTON ASSISTANT WARDROBE STYLIST: BRITTANY CLAGG HAIR: TEEONTAY MOORE MAKE UP: TIFFANY CARMONA JEWLERY BY COUSIN*

AND JEWELRY BY HONEY B*

MASTHEAD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF \ Tiffany Kaelin Knight MANAGING EDITOR \ Courtney Mina EXECUTIVE FASHION EDITOR \ Bella Styles CELEB EDITOR-AT-LARGE \ Rosie Mercado LATIN AMERICA EDITOR-AT-LARGE \ Jennifer Barreto-Leyva JR FASHION EDITOR \ Nicole Anderson EDITOR \ Mandy Allen SKORCH TV PRODUCER \ Jovanna Reyes SKORCH TV HOSTS \ Shanda Freeman - Passion Jonesz - Rosie Mercado Dezzie - Nicole Zepeda - Jessica Lika - Jessica Kane SKORCH TV HOSTS - NUTRITION WITH MARGAUX \ Margaux Jean SKORCH RADIO HOST \ Trinia Dotson CO-FOUNDER \ Carrie Woomer PUBLISHER & OWNER \ Jessica Kane OF JESSICA KANE AGENCY

connect skorchmag.com twitter.com/skorchmagazine facebook.com/skorchmagazine youtube.com/skorchmagazine info@skorchmagazine.com

delicious dame

© REVECKA NATALIA PHOTOGTAPHY REVECKA-NATALIA.COM MODEL/HAIR/MAKEUP ROSIE MERCADO

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delicious dame SKORCH MAGAZINE is proud to feature the Delicious Dames project starring one of our very own, Rosie Mercado.

Delicious Dames is a website designed to help shape the perceptions women have of themselves, the media, and overall body wellness. Our audience is anyone who embodies our mission to promote body wellness in America.

• We are a community of like-minded women who want to be motivated to break free from bad lifestyle choices, and to make a positive impact on the wellness of future generations in America.

• We want to be able to have the necessary life skills to help deal with the pressures of a women’s role in today’s society.

• We want to create a strong network of other women with common interests, to offer group support to our members.

• We are a group of women who want to help other women change their self-perceptions, and become self-aware of their bodies and minds.

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delicious dame

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delicious dame

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honor curves The New Year is often a time for making changes, inspired thinking, and new op-

portunities. I like to look at this time of year as our chance to love ourselves a little more than ever before. I believe in the power of self-love and I wholeheartedly feel that it breeds an increased love of others. With all that love, we are bound to change some things in this world. This month I feature four #HonorMyCurves posts from very special women who inspired me with their style, beauty, and constant kindness to others.

These four women, in all their beautiful voluptuousness, provide wonderful inspiration for self-love

Michelle Godfrey aka “Peach” San Diego, California

Instagram @funkypeaches Peach is a statuesque, curvaceous singer (www.funkypeaches.com), who provides daily inspiration for those looking to pursue their dreams, love themselves, and stay true to their beliefs. Peach says: “I’m 5’10” and wear a size 14/16.

It has always been difficult to find clothes for a curvy body type, not to mention everyone having an opinion about your body all the time just because you’re a woman. I started performing and singing on stage a couple of years ago and it has completely brought me out of my shell. I encourage all young women to find something they are passionate about, and surround themselves with deeply positive people.”

and acceptance into a brand new year. View their Instagrams to read their full stories and peruse the #HonorMyCurves hashtag to see countless others whose stories inspire us to love ourselves more and always HONOR OUR CURVES. When you shine, we all shine.

Own your curves, accept yourself, and never apologize for your beauty. Enjoy this time and all the opportunities and possibilities it brings!

xox Honor Curves

#honormycurves

N’TheDBronx, ia Anderson New York Instagram: @2vain)

N’Dia is a beautiful woman who received the most Instagram likes of any post I have featured in the #HonorMyCurves movement. In this photo, taken

by Gtownx, N’dia’s va-vavoom hourglass figure and beautiful outfit clearly show why (hello, red gloves!)

N’dia fearlessly says: “MY body is MY body and I’ve learned I don’t need to starve to be nor beat myself up to be a size 4! I’m healthy and I have been told my beauty matches my heart. 2013 is the year of the plus size ladies so LET’S WORK!” JAN 2013 \ PG17 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

honor curves

Ava Sfez

Los Angeles, California Instagram: @avassfez Ava is a stunning international plus size model, blogger (www.suckmybeat. tumblr.com), and hat designer. Her flare for beautiful images is matched by her eloquent words. Ava says: “The greatest love story of your life is with yourself, so you better start loving yourself now, curves, style, heart and soul. I honor my curves because I know that if a magic wand gave me the power to be thin immediately I wouldn’t take it. I find comfort and beauty in every fold and bounce of my body. My dream is to see women wake up from fear of strangers’ eyes to see them fall in love with themselves.”

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#honormycurves

Bertha Chan

Hong Kong Instagram: @oil88 Bertha is an incredibly inspirational plus-size fashion blogger from Hong Kong, who deals with almost daily criticism in a culture that so often favors a petite figure to a curvaceous one. I have looked to her and adopted her viewpoint on bullies and it has been so freeing.

Bertha says: “A lot of the time when I walk down the street, there will be people commenting about the way I look because I am so different. How could someone like me be so at ease even though I stand out so much, especially with the way I dress? When they say mean things, I understand they are just being insecure and I always forgive them for being weak.�

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top ladies

Skorch has scoured the globe and we are offering some of our favorite ladies that embody our motto: real IS perfect.

Skorch finds beauty in all shapes and sizes and we were dying to share some of our favorites in alphabetical order.

skorch top ladies

AVA SFEZ JAN 2013 \ PG21 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

skorch top ladies

BROOKE ELLIOT Drop Dead Diva

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DELTA WORK

Ru Paul’s Drag Race

skorch top ladies

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skorch top ladies

FELICITY HAYWARD

skorch top ladies

KATIE.

www.notsostarving.blogspot.com JAN 2013 \ PG25 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

skorch top ladies

KRIS YEO. model

skorch top ladies

NAT.

www.shavedheadsmysticred.tumblr.com

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skorch top ladies

PASSIONJONESZ.

www.passionjonesz.blogspot.com

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skorch top ladies

PRISCILLA ONO.. make-up artist

skorch top ladies

REBEL WILSON.. actress

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skorch top ladies

SHANNON SHAW..

Shannon and the Clams

skorch top ladies

STEPHANIE ZWICKY www.leblogdebigbeauty.com

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Photography by Saima Altunkaya for the Ukrainian L'Official JAN 2013 \ PG34 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

skorch top ladies

VELVET D’AMOUR.

visionary & model www.volup2.com

now an exclusive preview >

cult of cali look book

in the

cult

Exclusive first look of the plus size fashion line taking the industry by storm, Cult of Cali. Plus, we chat with the designer and owner, Jen Wilder.

EDITORIAL CREDITS Photographer: Nichole Alex Wardrobe/Designer: Cult of California Model: Kelsey Olson (the blond) Model: Mindy Gonzalez (the brunette) Hair and Makeup: Stephanie Eloise Stylist: Curly V

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in the

cult

SKORCH: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS PHOTO SHOOT?

too long I feel that the only clothing available to plus girls has been “safe” and not really fashion. I am really trying to come at it from the angle of what is fashionable now and not what is acceptable for bigger bodies to wear. It is not my place to judge whether or not you should wear something, rather it's to offer things that I personally would like to see people wearing and what I hear plus girls asking for. Resoundingly the cry cult” and very heavily influenced by Instagram. The objec- for edgier, fashion forward clothes and styling has reached a fever pitch and I intend tive was to show the lifestyle of the brand, to offer that customer the choice to embody what does the cult girl look like? Where does she live? Also wanted to show the mys- those different aspects of themselves. ticism and magic that inspired the entire SKORCH: WHEN CAN WE ANTICIPATE line. To look within yourself in an artistic THESE ITEMS WILL BE FOR SALE? way, learning to love yourself in your quiet moments when no one is looking. The conJW: This collection is set to ship at the end cept was also to give the feeling of the cult of February 2013 beginning of March 2013. being an actual physical place where the It will be available for preorders immediate“cool girls” hang. There are many aspects we touched on in the shoot, but mainly it is ly and will ship as it becomes available. Plus, to change the mood of plus fashion, to offer Skorch readers can get a free logo tank top by entering “skorch13” in the checkout box! a vision of the plus woman that is outside the norm of what has been marketed in the SKORCH: I SAW YOU SHOW AT THE past. Also, to do a shoot that could stand HAUTE CURVES INTERNATIONAL up next to a Vogue editorial or any other FASHION SHOW AND YOU SAID, AND “straight” size editorial shoot and look as thought-out and have as much meaning and I’M PARAPHRAZING, “FASHION HAS NO SIZE LIMITATIONS”...CAN YOU depth as those shoots, was important. The SHARE THAT WITH OUR SKORCH team wanted to offer up something different and very interesting, to get plus women READERS? thinking of themselves in a new context.

JW: The reason I entered into fashion design was because of my plus size body. I SKORCH: WHY DO YOU THINK IT was a plus teen and could never find what IS IMPORTANT TO SHOWCASE THE I was yearning to wear to express my own EDGY SIDE OF PLUS SIZE FASHION? individuality. As most Skorch readers can attest to, there hasn’t been many differing JW: I’m trying very hard to artistically elevate the realm of plus fashion to the strato- voices in plus fashion until recently. You could choose to be business casual or retsphere of the fashion world at large. I’m ro pin up/punk rock for many years those trying to give plus girls an entry-way into what other women have had their whole life were the options. There was never a true contemporary designer brand that was - style and expression of individuality. For offering runway inspired, on trend and on

JEN WILDER: The inspiration behind the shoot was “life in the

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in the

cult time designs up until the last maybe year or two realistically! I began designing at age 14 because of this and at 35 I have finally come to the conclusion that style has no size limitations, style is a state of mind and I intend to offer plus women the chance to express their own personal style through my line.

Buying and designing for plus in the past has been set about by all kinds of rules, often made by people who aren’t plus. I have faced these obstacles when designing and selling throughout my career. The market has told us that we shouldn’t show our arms, or we wouldn’t want to and other such assumptions that may be true for some plus women but on a whole I don’t subscribe to those rules. I design what I like to wear and what I want to own that isn’t offered to me from other brands. I like wild colors, textures and body conscious styling as well as interesting and unique pieces that layer into my basics. I think all women are the same, they all want to be sexy, stylish, comfortable and in step with the current trends. Plus women are demanding these things as well as the opportunity to stand out in a crowd, to not blend in and to be and individual.

SKORCH: WHERE DO YOU SEE CULT OF CALI IN 5 YEARS?

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JW: My ultimate dream for Cult is to be a free-standing store in the next 5 years and to have many locations around the U.S. and the world. I intend to offer a lifestyle brand on the level of other contemporary brands like Juicy Couture, Lulu Lemon Athletica, and The Gap. Cult as an idea started with this goal in mind. We want to offer a gathering place for women of all sizes to commune with fashion, to immerse themselves in trends, beautiful fabrics and wonderful opportunities to grow their own personal style. Although we started as a plus size brand our intent is to offer all our styles in all sizes from 00-30 in one room, no separation of plus/smaller sizes etc. We want to include, not exclude. We want to bring women together around the altar of fashion so they can learn to embrace and worship the beauty that is within them. The Cult is a place where you can have what you want to wear and so can your smaller, skinnier sister or cousin, you can shop together in an environment that includes both of you and recognizes the beauty in both and quit the ugly separations that persist in fashion. Frankly, we want to change the world of fashion by taking it down from a pedestal and offering it to every woman regardless of size.

in the

cult

SKORCH: AS YOU KNOW MUSIC IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO US HERE AT SKORCHDO YOU HAVE MUSIC PLAYING ON YOUR SETS? WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC INSPIRES YOU AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLAYING ON SET?

my desire for pop music. On the other hand I love really dark, depressing music such as Portishead and Morrisey. On this shoot we listened to a lot of Scissor Sisters, Rihanna, Electronica and House along with The Gossip, Lykke Li, Lana Del Rey, Marina and the Diamonds etc.

I love electronic music for working. It has a JW: Music is a huge inspiration for me. Comrepetitive beat that drives me and usually has ing from a family of artists and musicians it is some insane vocalist loops that I love singing literally in my blood. In my “past lives” I have along to. When I’m drawing and creating I been a lead singer, a hand-drum player and also listen to a lot of “XX”, First Aid Kit and Lykke a back-up vocalist in many bands. I like a lot of Li because it’s soft and doesn’t interfere with my pop music…I call it junk food music…it sounds thinking. The Gossip is probably my favorite good and you get addicted to it but it doesn’t band and I have been in love with them since do much for the soul. I like knowing what the around ’99/’00 when my sister saw them play in masses are thinking about and I will never lose a tiny club and bought me their album which JAN 2013 \ PG44 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

was on a cassette tape that they made!! Music is a huge influence on my design and what I want to wear also. You can tell what I’ve been listening to by what I’m wearing a lot of times!

SKORCH: WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH NICHOLE ALEX ONE OF SKORCH’S FAV PHOTOGRAPHERS? JW: Nichole and I have this insane understanding of what our verbal language represents in visual terms. I only have to tell her once what I am thinking of expressing and she gets it. She is a really hard worker and has an amazing attitude on set. I am a very focused individual and can tend to be very OCD and very direct with

what I want. Nichole has a way of taking direction while at the same time adding her own expertise to the equation to get the shot. I LOVED working with her, but more than that, I love her photos. This shoot was highly conceptual and all about mood and attitude and she was able to capture exactly what I wanted to convey, that is not an easy task and she did it, never missing a beat and making it look easy. As soon as I saw the finished photos I sent her a text that said “When can we get together and plan our World Domination?” and that is how I feel about her, her talent is limitless and her work ethic is at the highest level. I cannot wait to see what we come up with for the next shoot!

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in the

cult

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in the

cult JAN 2013 \ PG49 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

SKORCH

INTERVIEW

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“I did not always love my curves and just like every woman faces their own insecurities, I had to face mine.

We all struggle with something in our lives but it takes strength

and love for oneself to overcome it.�

LORNA LITZ

EDITORIAL CREDITS: Model: Lorna Litz Photographer: Nichole Alex www.PhotobyNicholeAlex.com Designs/Wordrobe by Ashley Nell Tipton Assistant Wardrobe Stylist: Brittany Clagg Hair: Teeontay Moore Make Up: Tiffany Carmona Jewelry by Cousin* & Jewelry by Honey B*

SKORCH

INTERVIEW

LORNA LITZ JAN 2013 \ PG54 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

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SKORCH

INTERVIEW

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LORNA LITZ SKORCH: LORNA, YOU ARE MODELING MORE AND MORE I SEE. HOW IS THAT GOING? LORNA LITZ: My career as a plus model has finally picked up. I have to say I thought it was going to take forever having to start from scratch with my transition from straight to plus. I did my best with building my new plus portfolio and finding a great agency to represent me. I am thankful things are finally starting to look up. Recently, I have been focusing on my first line of clothes. A lot of people don’t know I have my B.B.A. and I want to put it to use. I love fashion (what model doesn’t right!). I want to promote to women of all sizes. I am starting with a small line of tee shirts to get my feet wet and eventually develop my own line of women lingerie and swim suits.

SAGE YOU WANTED TO GET ACROSS TO OUR READERS THAT DIDN'T COME ACROSS ON THE SHOW? LL: The show focuses on four plus models personal and business life styles. All of our stories are completely different.

You have the two single full time mommies’, which also work full time. The older model wanting to settle down. My story of breaking into the plus industry, the real struggles that come with chasing your dream while trying to make ends meet on your own. I think every viewer will be able to relate to one of us, some way and some how.

SKORCH: SO AS YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN OUR LOVE YOUR BODY ISSUE, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD SOME STRUGGLES WITH AGENCIES SKORCH: WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING TOO SMALL? I CAN ALSO WORKING ON A SHOW LIKE CURVY SAY THAT SOME OF OUR READERS GIRLS? MIGHT NOT CONSIDER YOU PLUS SIZE...WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY LL: I get asked this question all the time TO THEM? (LOL). I have to say working with stage 3 productions and NuVoTV is amazing.

LL: Unfortunately, the modeling industry Being on set doesn’t feel like work at all defined where plus size begins and ends. I and that’s not always the case with evhonestly feel the industries requirements ery job so I appreciate CG’s production. are a little extreme. I say we drop the Looking forward to CG season two! plus and just call it modeling. Who cares if you are a size 2 or size 20, we are all SKORCH: WAS THERE ANY MESwomen and we should all love ourselves

SKORCH

INTERVIEW

ON BEING CALLED A PLUS SIZE MODEL

“I say we drop the plus and just call it modeling. Who cares if you are a size 2 or size 20, we are all women and we should all love ourselves no matter what size.”

LORNA LITZ JAN 2013 \ PG58 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

SKORCH

INTERVIEW

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LORNA LITZ no matter what size. This is the love your body issue and I have to say I LOVE my BODY at my healthy size 12/14.

SKORCH: WHAT DESIGNERS WOULD YOU LOVE TO WORK WITH?

LL: There are too many to name. Marc SKORCH: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT Jacobs is one of my favorite designers.

TO YOU TO LOVE YOUR BODY? I own a lot of his designs from clothes, to bags, to wallets, to perfumes, I would LL: It is very important to me to love Love to work with him. I would love to your body. I did not always love my also get the chance to work with Jessica curves and just like every woman faces Simpson, Levis Curve ID, Torrid, Lane their own insecurities, I had to face mine. Bryant, Ashley Stewart, Igigi, Rachel We all struggle with something in our Pally, Monif C, F21+, Hanes, Department lives but it takes strength and love for stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingoneself to overcome it. dales, Lord and Taylor just to name a few because I can go on and on (smile).

SKORCH: BEING ON THE SMALLER END OF PLUS SIZE WHAT STRUGSKORCH: AND FINALLY, WHAT CAN GLES DO YOU HAVE WITH FANS, WE EXPECT IN 2013?

CLOTHING, WORKING, AND EVEN MEN? LL: In 2013 you can expect to see another great season of Curvy Girls. My beautiful LL: Well, I have to say I have no struggles face in Kmart department stores. Modelin the men department (LOL). Thanking for a few designers previously listed fully, I am signed to an agency that proabove and my T-shirt line being sold off motes me and my current size very well my website. to clients. Then again my agent knows how to market me. If a client wants to book a size 18, I obviously won’t be in that category. It all depends on what the client is looking for.

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SKORCH

INTERVIEW

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SKORCH

INTERVIEW

LORNA LITZ

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SKORCH SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT MODEL cecilia EDITORIAL CREDITS Photographer: Nichole Alex www.PhotobyNicholeAlex.com Hair and Make-up: Cecilia Reveles Wardrobe: Domino Dollhouse

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SKORCH SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT MODEL cecilia JAN 2013 \ PG69 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

SKORCH SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT MODEL cecilia JAN 2013 \ PG71 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

SKORCH SPOTLIGHT

MEET CECiLIA 5'9 Size 18 Dream client

Anything that does plus size couture and pin up.

Why do you love working with SKORCH?

I love working with skorch! I'm very pleased with the outcome of each shoot! I have Met fun talented people . I love how the magazine gives a positive perspective in the plus size world. And shows a variety of clothing for any size. It's a great experiance and I'm thankful for being part of it!

Fun facts:

* the baby and the boldest of ten siblings (5boys 5 girls) * guilty pleasure is that I can spend hours on Xbox call of duty black ops. * classic movie freak! Love the early fashion styles too. * obsessed with doing my hair and makeup * loves street art and modern art favorite street artist is banksy. * love tattoos have 3 so far * fascinated with Tim Burton love his work and I have almost every movie that he's contributed in. * love reinventing myself from hairdos to clothing. * love going to retro 80's new wave bars.

Fav music and bands:

I have a variety of music I can listen to almost anything!

Love: Morrissey , Robin Thick, Deftones, Crystal Castles, yeah yeah yeahs, The Strokes, Metronomy, The Drums, The Horrors, Common, Dead mans bones.

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SKORCH SPOTLIGHT

Seen in

Curvy Girls, Skorch Shoots, Cult of Cali

Why we love her

She is sweet and VERY creative. Nichole understands your idea and sees it through all the way to completion.

Why you should love her

She will make any new model or non model looking to get some gorgeous photos done completely at ease and in love with the final product.

connect with nichole www.PhotobyNicholeAlex.com www.facebook.com/pages/Photography-by-Nichole-Alex/210915062267372 www..twitter.com/NicThePhotoChic

SPOTLIGHT photographer

nichole alex

Q: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? A: I first picked up a camera (with serious intentions) back in high school, almost 17 years ago when taking photography courses. However, I did not really get into working with models and designers until a couple of years ago. With a combination of me just booking my own models and getting myself out there, and a few people who believed in me, I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people, including the team at SKORCH.

Q: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS? A: As much as I dream big, to be photographing for some major brands, magazines or agency, I know myself and I know I will always be a part of things that are growing, things that will be breaking the mold some day. Don’t get me wrong, I am not holding myself back, in fact, the more successful I am, the more I can help and support others and their dreams. Models trying to break into the industry and need someone to support and believe in them, Q: WHY DO YOU LIKE WORKING WITH designers just launching their business and need a SKORCH? photographer to see their vision, everyday women A: I love working with SKORCH. Being a plus size who come to me wanting to liberate themselves with woman myself, I feel completely in my element when a boudoir session and feel like a model for a day. working with them. Now only do I get to photoThese are the types of things I love doing and being graph models and fashion, but I get to work with a part of, so I know I will still be doing these things other wonderful plus size women while doing it. along with making my big dreams happen, and of course, never leaving the side of the plus size fashion Q: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF industry.

IN THE PLUS SIZE FASHION WORLD? A: First and foremost, acceptance. I am not referQ: WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT ring to mainstream accepting us, but for US as plus YOU BEFORE THEY BOOK? size women to accept EACH OTHER. It is about A: While I am very serious about capturing great imsize acceptance, whether you are a size 12 or a 26, we ages and getting the job done, it is very important to are still plus size and we are fighting the same battle. me that everyone on set has a great experience. I am Plus, one thing I have learned by having women of often told I am very easy to work with and most of all shapes and sizes in front of my camera, is that no the time my shoots are fun. I like to get to know my matter what size you are, we all have our insecuriclient and what they want, and being prepared and ties and want to be accepted. I would also like to see organized is a must, but most of all, lets have a blast more stylish and edgy fashion. I think that we are while creating something amazing! definitely making some headway when it comes to this, but it is still a very small industry and I would love to see it grow.

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loving What I’m

by Tiffany Kaelin-Knight Editor-in-Chief

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skorch style

My hot items are studded accessories! Here are some great options to spike up any outfit.

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OUTFIT DETAILS 1. FOREVER21 TOP, CULT OF CALI BOTTOM 2. BOTH ITEMS BABYPHAT 3. ASOS TOP AND BOTTOM 4. SIMPLYBE TOP, BABYPHAT BOTTOM 5. SIMPLY BE JACKET, CULT OF CALI DRESS 6. SWAK DESIGNS DRESS, ASOS BELT STUDDED ACCESSORIES FROM LEFT JEFFERY CAMPBELL TARGET FOREVER21 DOMINO DOLLHOUSE (CLUTCH) JEFFREY CAMPBELL DOMINO DOLLHOUSE (COLLAR)

for more skorch style visit www.skorchmag.com JAN 2013 \ PG77 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

CURVY CHICK SPOTLIGHT

BY CHARITY LYNETTE, HEALTHY CURVES EDITOR Happy New Year my curvy chicks!

I hope that everyone has had happy holiday season. This time of the year is extremely hard for me so if you read my first line and thought to yourself "bah humbug" then I totally understand! This months issue as you know is about loving your body. I have come a long way but with confidence I can say that I absolutely love my body. I didn't always feel that way in high school heck even after high school there were kids that used make fun me because of what I wore, or didn't wear, my size and my hair. I spent a great deal of my teenage and young adult life comparing myself to the bodies around me. I know for a fact that there are readers that do this we are human. Something we have to remember that is one body is not better than another if so we all would have been created with the same hair type, skin color, and body shape. That clearly is not the case our bodies were created with beauty in mind. Now if you don't believe we were "created" and that we "evolved" then your belief is your belief. I feel that our creator makes no mistakes and we have to embrace what we were given.

Love who you are, love what you were given, there were no mistakes when you were formed.

CURVY CHICK SPOTLIGHT: Mob Wives Christina Scoleri In curvy chick spot light I will highlight a woman so that our readers will be encouraged despite their circumstances. The truth is we all are going through something that at one point makes us think twice about a decision, feel inadequate in a situation, or

hurts our feelings in a way that is embarrassing. Trust me I have felt that way on numerous occasions and as woman I know that I am not alone. Social media and reality shows share a lot of information just as easy as it hides our feelings and the truth. My first spotlight of the year is Mob wives Christina Scoleri.

Christina and I chatted about her health, bullying and what is next for her and her daughter.

After game of phone tag, which is to be expected over the holiday season and two different time zones, I finally got the chance to get it down and have a conversation with the Chicago native. Scoleri's father is an alleged thief for the Chicago mob and has been locked up since 1987 to this day their relationship remains unstable and she refuses to make the same mistake with her daughter. Christina admits to feeling some pressure with being in front of the camera. Not just with her body but with being a private person, going through a divorce, and trying to protect her 10 year old daughter.

Christina's attitude towards bullying were tested during spat with former cast

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mem-

ber Leah DeSimone. Leah took to Twitter with offensive comments about Christi-

na. Leah attempted to get the fans involved in her jab at a Twitter war with Christina. Not wanting to feed into the negative attention Scoleri completely ignored her rants. For nine days DeSimmone bashed Scoleri after the 9th day Christina contacted VH1 and asked them what she should do about it. She didn't want to get involved in war where her fans and people that look up to her could witness such negativity that basically happened for no reason. "We're supposed to be set-

CURVY CHICK SPOTLIGHT

BY CHARITY LYNETTE, HEALTHY CURVES EDITOR ting examples for people" young people kill themselves over bullying and that is not something that Christina wants to endorse. She admits to defending herself if someone approaches her but does not go around throwing her status around for a reason to act a hot mess.

During the show Scoleri was going through a divorce. Being hit with the effects of the economy her and her husband at the time decided it would be best to stay in the same household until Christina could make that power move on her own. Having to face the comments that were said about her because of the decision she made to remain in the household did not make the process any easier. Her daughter knew what was going and was explained that they family would remain in the same household. Christina felt that it was important for her daughter to witness them not being together but able to remain civil given the circumstances. Her daughter was never in any danger with this decision she was able to still have both parents and understand what was going on.

Despite how the camera makes her look Christina stands 5 feet 3 inches tall. Being in front of the camera brought the issue of her weight to her attention. Not excited with what she saw she made a point to direct her habits to a healthy lifestyle so that she can feel more comfortable in her skin.

Keeping up this lifestyle was not hard because she felt so good from the inside and that is what helped her shine on the outside. Her workout regimen includes a lot of weights and strength train "I'm one to do a lot of jumping around".

Christina has her daughter to thank for some of her eating habits the 10 year old is allergic to milk so she to make things differently for her.

She also found that gluten and wheat are not her friends so she steers clear of them. It's important to Scoleri that she shows her daughter how to

maintain the balance of a healthy lifestyle mind, body and soul.

The curvy chick has design on her plate next.

Christina studied design at Columbia College she is very interested in designing bathing suits.

Me being a curvy plus model wanted to know the sizes she was going to cater to. She said that while she was going through issues with her weight gain made her conscious of other woman feeling the same way. She wants to design suits that accentuate our curvy features. Christina admits to wanting a second season of Mob Wives Chicago but right now that doesn't seem to be happening but would definitely be on board if she gets that phone call. Doing the show has made see how strong she really is. Being challenged and in uncomfortable situations will show you what you are really made of and she is darn proud of the person she has become.

Curvy readers adversity happens to everyone at some point in one form or another. Don't let your problems dictate who you are or where you are trying to go please believe that I need to hear this from time to time as well, know that you are not alone. You have to remember that you were created for a reason with a purpose the journey of life is just figuring out what it is.

Those that are lucky enough to figure it out earlier rather than later then that's great. For those that take a little bit more time worry about your journey and don't compare it with some else's.

We all can't be on the same path at the same time.

I hope that this finds you in good health if not then I hope it helps get you there!

Sincerely, Charity Lynette of Curvy Chick Fitness @charitylynette & @curvychickfit @chrisScoleriVh1

JAN 2013 \ PG81 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

designer alert Skorch Executive Fashion Editor Bella Styles is in love with Chinoo Designs

www.chinoodesigns.com

JAN 2013 \ PG82 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

Outfit Details: Jersey Cowl Neck Blouse with Cap Sleeves, $44, Sizes L-3X in purple and the Jersey Skirt with Pleated Overlay, $89, Sizes L-3X in pink. I paired it up with the turquoise bandeau belt.

NOV 2012 MUSIC ISSUE \ PG83 \ WWW.SKORCHMAG.COM

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