I am so excited to share this with you guys!
Plus-sized fashion currently still isn't considered "MAIN STREAM" fashion....but Michelle Resendiz is here to change that!!! Coming from a small t0wn outside our great city, Michelle has been wanting to work in the fashion industry since she was a small girl. She started her path as a make-up artist, having been certified right after high school. She worked as a make-up artist, when she was asked to model, so from behind the scenes she started her venture in front of the camera. Then her career took off, from fashion publications to currently being the Public & Media relations manager; this curveous lady is on top of the world.
Where you always interested in fashion? What career choices did you imagine yourself doing when you were younger?
I have always been interested in fashion, I was that little girl in the supermarket asking my mom to buy me a Vogue magazine before I could even read. I loved looking at the pictures of the pretty dresses and models. When I was in high school I got a little discouraged with my surroundings because there were no options for plus size girls when I was younger. It wasn't until my 20's that I really started the movement of plus and beauty. When I was younger I thought I was going to be in make-up, in fact, I went to college to study make-up artistry and got my certification. I worked as an artist for the better part of almost 6 years before I realized that my job wasn't to make others beautiful, but to change the perception of beauty. That's when I put down my brushes and decided that Plus Modeling and Fashion was my passion.
How did you enter Public Relations? Do you love it??
You know, Public Relations wasn't something that I really looked for... I got into it at Plus Fashion Week. Our Creator and mentor Myisha Hill decided that I had the spark, and wanted me to run the team. I think I do love it, it's just stressful sometimes because of all the hats that I typically wear. I work as our PR manager, then I'm also a writer and head of the Fashion and Beauty Dept at Affairs Magazine www.affairsmagazine.com, and I still model and write for freelance locations like Fusion Radio, and Pop Fusion Radio Chicago. Life can run away with you sometimes! (Laughs)
Explain your passion for Plus (in my wording) curvy girls fashion? How did you become the PR manager for Plus Fashion Week?
I have a serious passion for Plus! Even when I started modeling back in 2006 I never wanted to conform to that "Mattel Standard of Beauty" because there was enough of that out there. I was made to show the world that Plus is Beautiful, that you don't have to kill yourself to be a size 2 in order to be recognized as beauty (THANK YOU-from me). I believe in being healthy, and happy, and loving yourself no matter what size you are. That's what this is all about! To me its about accepting that you are different, and that's the difference in beauty. Plus Fashion week had a mission... it was about FASHION DESIGN. It's the first Plus Fashion event that's really tailored around what FASHION is all about. It made me take it serious, because it was serious. Its a REAL fashion week, for plus size women! The industry is hungry for it, and I was so glad that someone really finally got it.
"Our mission is to be a resource connecting plus designers to their target consumer. Fashion is a form of self empowerment, which helps individuals feel good about themselves." Each of our showcases raises awareness and proceeds for three Chicago non-profit organizations Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization, Compass to Care, and the Thycke Troup of Chicago. Fashion with a cause and for a cause is the foundation in which our organization was built on. "We are serving as an international brand that increases awareness and support of various community service organizations.” Our creator Myisha T. Hill took the simplicity of a fashion show and broke it down, made it simple... A fashion show showcases fashion, design, and brings the designers to light.
Is there a Plus fashion week in every major city? When do they occur?
That is the plan! Plus Fashion Week is starting in Chicago, and they are hoping to become an INTERNATIONAL brand. Bringing Plus Fashion week GLOBAL is the dream of our creator Myisha Hill. She has big plans for this company, and I cannot wait! Chicago is happening October 24th thru the 28th, 2012!
What are you goals for Plus Fashion Week? In the near future.
My personal goals for Plus Fashion Week in the near future would be to get more backing from the city. Chicago is a wonderful city, and if we can take over our home turf that would be the best! It's hard to break out in this city though... the double edged swords are all around the city. For example, the plus community is hungry for a real in the flesh positive PLUS SIZE role model, yet they have a hard time embracing it. My hopes for PFW is that people see that. People notice that there IS fashion beyond a size 12, and you CAN be the sexiest girl in the room in a size 26!
What do you like about the Chicago Fashion Industry?
I love the Chicago industry! I'm born and raised here so it was really important for me to learn as much about fashion as I could, and I'm living in the perfect city for it! The problem is there's a lot of 'underground' fashion here, and they really need to bust everyone out of their shells! Chicago is the GREATEST city in the world, and people should know about it. I've met so many wonderful people in my plus fashion journey that have been so accepting, so wonderful. I hope that the city is more open to being the mecca, and maybe a little more open to the plus scene as well.
What are your thoughts on the many emerging plus size fashion designers and organizations that promote full-figured women? An example is the group Healthy is the new Skinny.
I think its wonderful! I think that they should have more plus size representation. A lot of people now are 'jumping on that plus bandwagon' and they say they promote plus size brands etc, but they only go to a size 16. Which is wonderful, but what about those of us that are larger than a 16 even? What about that girl that is a size 24 or 26 or 30/32? Where is her role model or representation... that's what we need. We need to see all sides to the plus world.
If you could...what would you change about the current fashion industry? Why?
I would make each magazine release photos in each of of their publications of UN-edited/UN-altered images. I think it would be healthier for the world to see what a model really looks like. I think its wonderful how we want to show our best face forward all the time, but sometimes is so UN-realistic that it is altering the minds of young children to start discriminating at a young age. I often times go to stores and hear little tiny children saying things to their parents that they shouldn't be saying. It's really sad and hurtful when the mind of a child is so off track. I think the fashion industry should start setting an example about the youth of America, and spreading love not fear. Love is what we are born with, and fear is what we learn over time. The world changes people... its sad, and someone has to do something about it to instill the hope back into generations to come. We should start with fashion!
What advice would you give to aspiring Public Relation managers (students)?
Oh wow! Well my first advice would be don't give up, take a few unpaid jobs and internships to learn about what working in the industry means and don't get upset about the small stuff. You are going to come across a lot of nay-say-ers along the way.. Just smile and nod and thank them for their input, but do not let them take away what you want. You can either speak with kindness and education or you can spit with negativity and gossip...ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS choose to speak with kindness. It helps you achieve your goals faster, it helps you keep the facts at hand, and it will help you not lose sight of what you got started for. When you start PR on a project make sure that its something that you love, and with people that you love because you are going to see them a lot! And if you are working and fighting for something that you believe it people notice, and they want on that boat too. They want to feel what you feel, they want to know what you know, they want to know why you love it so much. Share with them, share your light!
What advice would you give to younger females who are considered "plus"?
You girls are our future! START NOW! Start lighting those candles, and leading. Think of your future children who would you want them to look up to? What would you want your daughter to start wearing when she went to parties and high school? Think about what message you are sending when you do something, say something, or speak a certain way. You too have to set the bar high because being a plus girl in this barbie world is not easy, but you know you can do it! HAVE FAITH, not only in yourself, but in the world around you. And don't ever let anyone take what is rightfully yours away from you. YOU have to go get it... you have to go get that modeling job, you have to go pick out that dream, you have to go find the love of your life. Be happy with yourself and your life and if you are not accept what you cannot change, and change what you can. No more no less... Please don't obsess over things that you cannot change overnight because they will get you no where.... and you are going somewhere. PLEASE BELIEVE THAT!
Upcoming Plus Events here in our great city.....
THURSDAY July 5th lush and Ai lounge for plus is beautiful, THURSDAY July 19th LADIES NIGHT OUT with PFW at ENCORE Chicago. Hope to see you all there!!!! For more information click here.
Thank you Michelle for your inspiring words. Always believe in yourself and you can make a change.
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Filed under: Spotlight
Tags: Chicago Fashion Industry, Michelle Resendiz, Plus Fashion Week, Plus Size Fashion
Tags: Chicago Fashion Industry, Michelle Resendiz, Plus Fashion Week, Plus Size Fashion
