mirnabear.com

The entertainment industry is clear on one thing: If you’re a woman, you need to be thin and if you’re a man you must be in shape to make a living and be successful.  But these entertainers took matters into their own hands and actually made a living – in part or in full – based on being overweight. Check it out!

Read the rest of this entry »

Over the weekend, I checked out Montrelle Green’s post on MN called Phat and Fabulous: Our Top 10 Plus Size Clothing Sites, and I got kind of excited…and a bit depressed at the same time. Excited to finally have some good leads on nice clothing for women over a certain size, but a bit depressed that it seems the only place I can find this clothing is online.

It’s been a while since I’ve been shopping. Since I started my new workout routine and sort of a healthy diet, which includes working out regularly, cutting out all the sodas, juices and other sugar-laden drinks and preparing 90 percent of my meals at home, I am proud to say that I have lost a couple of inches around my waist. Unfortunately, it also means that most of my clothing is a little too big for me. So to celebrate my slimming physique, I decided to splurge and buy a new outfit, or two – or five for the summer.

So this past Saturday, I got in my car and headed straight to the mall, ready and willing to burn through my paycheck and leave with a couple of bags of new gear. My first stop was at H&M. I was sifting through the racks, picking and choosing what items I wanted to try on when I noticed that at this particular H&M, none of the garments had sizes larger than a size 12. Now I know I haven’t been shopping in a while, but I do recall that the store used to have larger sizes. “Maybe this 12 compartmentalizes sizes where a “large” now means 12 and above?” At least that’s what I kept telling myself as I loaded my arms up with all the size 12 garments I could find. Can’t give up hope, right?

So I found a pair of hot pink linen capris and some seafoam green skinny jean pants that I really wanted to fit. Imagining all the color and style options I could have if any or both of these pants were graciously enough to be incorporated into my wardrobe, I kept pulling at the fabric, hoping that the two-percent spandex would be enough to maneuver the pants over this size 14 frame. However, when I got into the dressing room, I was in for a rude awakening. The seafoam green skinny jeans were a complete disaster. I couldn’t even get them up past my thighs. And the hot pink capris? Well, I got them up, but they were so tight that you could see every dimple in my a**, and I was wearing underwear.

Disappointed but not dejected. I left the H&M and headed to a few more stores. Perhaps this was just a fluke. We all know that the average size of women in the US ranges between 12-14, so maybe the other average size ladies got there before I did and bought out the store. It happens. But after the third store, I kept running into the same situation. Most of the department stores I went in had sizes extra small up to large, and while the large was size 12, it actually fit like a size 8 or smaller. Suddenly, I no longer felt actively welcome in the mall. So I took my paycheck and we went home.

style-code.blogspot.com

Who said skinny girls were the only ones who valued chic and  fashion trends? Certainly not true! For  all of those plus size sisters out there, searching for more fashionable alternatives, not to fear, there’s a plethora of plus size fashion available online to have you looking like a celebrity in no time. This one’s for the late plus size supermodel Mia Amber Davis, RIP. Here’s our top 10 plus size sites to turn your ensembles from blah to va va voom!

It’s clear that the maxi dress trend isn’t going anywhere and now that warmer temps are becoming more constant, we can shimmy into them sooner rather than later. Lightweight. Comfy. Cool. These three words describe these dresses perfectly, and we think every woman should have at least one of these elongated frocks in her wardrobe. Short ladies, don’t get discouraged, we too can rock this trend with alterations performed by a tailor or by embracing a higher heel.

The hard part is finding a maxi in a print or color that you love. Well, hopefully, we’ve accomplished the hard part for you and – as a bonus – found maxis that will take you from poolside to cocktails with ease. Spring is here ladies, let’s dress accordingly.

Purchase C&C California Color Block Maxi pictured above for $98 at Revolve Clothing. More sizes here.

Read the rest of this entry »

For a lot of us, the common New Year’s resolution, “to work out more,” was abandoned the third week in January. Now that the weather is warmer, it’s the perfect time to update your workout gear and get moving! Save passer-byers the eyesore of you jogging around in a ratty t-shirt and an ex’s faded basketball shorts. And trust us, no one wants to see you in Zumba class or getting down with the downward dog, wearing duds that could easily double as club wear. Looking good equates to feeling good, and who couldn’t use a bit more motivation?

Bright colors, playful patterns, and a great fit are the details one should consider when building an activewear wardrobe. View our picks of cute gear to help you catch your second wind.

Purchase Open Front Cotton Tie Cardigan pictured above here.

Whitney Thompson’s plus size dating site, thebigandthebeautiful.com, is only a month off of the ground, but it’s already involved in controversy—depending on who you ask.

The “America’s Next Top Model” winner claims that NBC rejected an ad for the site that was submitted for consideration during the Super Bowl on the basis of fat discrimination. Her rep stated in a press release:

“I wanted to pass along an ad that has been rejected by NBC. The ad stars America’s Next Top Model winner and plus-sized model Whitney Thompson. She believes they rejected the commercial because it features bigger women and not the skinnier accepted norm.

“The ad is for TheBigAndTheBeautiful.com — a dating site for plus-sized men and women that was founded by Thompson. NBC Universal’s rejection email said: ‘Unfortunately it needs to be completely reworked for our air. S&P [Standards and Practices] wouldn’t approve it.’”

The “rejection email” doesn’t state why S&P wouldn’t approve the spot, but ad execs think it has less to do with a plus-size woman being featured and more to do with poor video quality and a lengthy back-shot of  a skinny actress. Sites like Adage also note that many companies who can’t afford the pricey $3 million baseline cost of an ad during the game—which this new site likely could not—will often cry discrimination just to get attention. Judging from the video, I think I’m inclined to go with Adage on this one.

Check out the ad spot and tell us what you think. Do you think NBC would discriminate against the ad because it features a bigger woman or are Whitney and her team just looking for attention?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Are You A Socially Awkward Black Girl?
• Terribly Tatted Up: When Celebrities Get Ratchet Tattoos for the Ones They Love
• The Most Painful Things A Woman Can Say To A Man
• Huh?!?: 8 Media Moments That Made Us Go WTF
• We Are Family: Shocking Celebrity Relatives!
• Let’s Be Real: Things in Life You Need to Blame Yourself For From Time to Time
• 7 Simple Things Men Can Do That All Women Will Love

Whitney Thompson, the plus-size winner of cycle 10 of America’s Next Top Model, just launched an online dating sight for full-figured women. Thompson says the purpose of TheBigandtheBeautiful.com is to get the whole “big girl elephant” out of the room because potential mates will already know what they’re getting into.

“[When] I would [call myself] a ‘plus-sized model’ . . . guys would expect me to be a really big girl. But if I said, ‘I’m a model,’ [they were] disappointed that I’m bigger. Either way, I wasn’t what the guy was looking for,” she told Page Six.

She told Radar Online,“I created this site so people don’t have to stress over their profile, but can focus on the fun and excitement of meeting and dating other incredible people of all shapes and sizes.”

I get what Whitney is saying. With all the backlash over black women’s use of the word thick to describe a wide variety of sizes, it’s not surprising that “plus-size” is seen as equally ambiguous. No one wants to be badgered with a million questions from someone trying to figure out “just how big are you,” so perhaps this site eliminates all that drama.

Do you think online dating sites tailored specifically to plus-size women are necessary? Have you ever had trouble with people’s expectations about your body when you described yourself as plus-size?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

WOMAN to WOMAN: Sometimes You Have To Be Selfish

Distinguished Gentlemen: Our Fine and Favorite Men Over Forty

He Cheated..Now What? Learn How To Move On After Betrayal

Dapper Dons: Black Hollywood’s 10 Best Dressed Brothas

How They Met: David Tutera Bride, Folshi and Her Husband Kory Plowden

Young Love: Our Celebrity Crushes From Back in the Day That Fell Off… Hard

“On To the Next One: Celebs Who Need a Break From Man Hopping

About This Episode

Monif Clarke has an open heart, a big smile and she make clothes for curvy women. As the co-founder and owner of Monif C., Ms. Clarke was inspired by a European vacation to create a clothing line for full-figured women that was just as fabulous as the collections for women with more modest curves.

Watch and listen as Ms. Clarke dispenses priceless jewels about what it takes to make it in the fashion industry and how and where she gets her inspiration. Find out why she’s the boss!

Want More She’s The Boss? Check out these other episodes:

• Episode 1: Ericka Dotson
• Episode 2: Michelle James
• Episode 3: Meme Omogbai
• Episode 4: Monif Clarke
• Episode 5: Karine Mehu
• Episode 6: Nikima Frenche

Gabi Gregg never expected so much stardom in such a short period of time. The Detroit native was focused on her blog Young, Fat and Fabulous, and inspiring young girls. Now, through a whirlwind MTV competition and gig with Vogue Italia, she’s not only inspiring but embracing the world of fashion.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes we get sick of all the skin and bones smeared across the magazine covers. Someone get Kate Moss a Big Mac!

No seriously, the curvier girls get less praise and it’s not fair. So here is the stance we’re taking: Five Fabulous Women Who Rock the Baddest Curves.