Plus size models: Why we can now strut the runway with confidence

Have you ever been humiliated about your body size and struggled to make adjustments to cut weight? Have you lost confidence because you feel ashamed of your body size?

Well, relax, there is a movement of curvy girl’s confidently strutting their stuff and feeling great on the catwalk.

This is even as women of their age struggle to hit the gym and burn the extra calories to trim their figures.

But for this gorgeous women, the effort placed on being slender is not only exhausting but even dangerous.

They have in the past had very traumatic experiences about their body sizes and have vowed never to be brought down by what people think about them.

Lifestyle spoke to five brave plus-size models who have chosen to rise above their body sizes and why they decided to join Kisumu Plus-Size Fashion Affair.

Kisumu Plus-Size Fashion Affair was started to appreciate curvaceous women in the western part of Kenya.

Ms Winnie Wenger, the chief executive officer of the model agency, said that for a long time most people have been trying to resize women by bringing workout programmes yet there is no one to appreciate the plus-size. That forces women to frantically try everything that can make them lose weight.

“We want to impart the boldness of plus size international models like Ashley Grahams in our girls,” said Ms Wenger.

Cynthia Obada, 22 (size 16)

Procurement and logistics student

“I have learned to embrace my body and shape through my years. I love my curves and shape, but most of all, I love my big bust. I like the tone and shape of my thighs.

I am the last born in our family but when you see me with my other siblings you will think that I am the eldest.

Before accepting who I am, I would really be humiliated with what people said about me. One day, I was heading to school then a man who was inquiring about directions called me Madhe (Mother). I was so mad that I cried the whole day.

My life came to a standstill. I stayed indoors for three weeks without attending lessons. I also refused to eat. I thought it was because of food that I was growing fat. I drank all the concoctions just to remain thin but I was growing fat every day.

Finally, with the help of my parents and siblings, I pulled myself together and accepted my body size. I had to go through counselling because it really affected me.

Nowadays I am very proud of who I am. I counsel many girls who feel ashamed of their body sizes. The runway has given me the confidence.”

Mary Ogonyo, 22 (size 20)
ECD teacher

Mary is a plus-sized girl who is bullied and called names every day. She has two friends who are older than her but because they are smaller in size she looks the oldest.

“Everyone else despises me because of my body size. Does this make me not to be beautiful? No, I am just bigger but very beautiful.

I tried pills and going to the gym but I still found myself growing bigger. I love my body as it is. It is proportional.

One day, my father told me to cut weight because I would not get a husband because of my size. He said men would be scared as I was too big.

At some point, I was very determined to lose weight to get a husband but after several trials, I gave up.

I have lived to accept who I am and, by the way, most men appreciate women with “meat”.

With my determination, confidence and how I dress my body, more plus-size women have learned to appreciate their body sizes.

I will continue showing the meaty me on the runway to motivate others.”

Jagero Lydiah Avvanah, 26 (size 18)
Model

“Loving your body when you are in good shape is like loving your children only when they are well mannered. What happens when they misbehave? You abandon them? No. I am not planning to reject myself and remain in a woiyee situation.

Like every other person, we are all beautiful and what people need to know is that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, you just need to rock your confidence.

I must admit at some point that growing up I felt like I needed to tone down.

One day I met a friend who took me through all that I needed to do to lose weight. I did all that but, unfortunately, I could not lose weight. It is genetic. All my siblings are big. I took pills on a daily basis but it never worked.

I remember when Truecaller (a mobile application) came into existence, I called someone who didn’t have my number. She had saved me as “Ivannah Pum Pum” (fat person). This annoyed me so much that I went and told my father. With his motivation that I was born chubby, I embraced who I am.

Despite my size, in 2012 I was crowned Miss Culture, Siaya County. With my skills in modelling, I am willing to bring more pum pum ladies on board.”

Sheryl Stacy Adhiambo, 22 (size 12)
Student of international relations and diplomacy at Maseno University

Though she is size 12, she considers herself plus-size.

“My clothes fit me well and people really complement my looks and that gives me the confidence.

I have tried cutting down, I was size 16 and this really brought my confidence down. I have struggled. The pain is real but at least I managed to lose 4kgs.

When I was in high school, I did not have a boyfriend. I did not want to socialise with boys. The slender girls would get hooked up faster and boys would say that I was old. I never used to eat a lot but even after doing all these, men did not appreciate that I was beautiful.  Some called me madhe.

One day, I felt not-so-good about my size, I participated in Miss Tourism Siaya County. I did so well and emerged the best in talents but they could not crown me because my hips were wide.

I really got annoyed that because of my size I was denied what was rightfully mine. From then I started serious workout. I wanted to be size eight but got stuck at size 12.

Right now, I am just working out to trim my tummy and to remain fit and not cutting weight. I love my body and would not like anything that would interfere with it.

I am optimistic that more plus-size girls will come up and join the runway.”

Eunita Owino, 23 (size 18)
Actress

“My mother passed on when I was six years old. I went to stay with my aunt. She did not like my body size because all her children were thin. Whenever they had a family gathering, I would be locked in a room. My aunt would say I was shapeless.
My confidence started growing when I won a dancing competition and then I started associating with other people and visiting the gym.

I left my aunt’s house and from there, I accepted myself and met other plus-size models.

It is very unfortunate that I had to go through that because of size. I am going to advocate to ensure that plus-size girls do not go through what I went through. They are smart and beautiful regardless of their sizes.”

Bisky Akinyi Adipo, 23 (size 18)
Business in Economics student at Maseno University

“It took me time to accept who I am. I had to pass through my friend’s house every morning just to get her comment on my dressing. I used to wear bulky T-shirts and jeans because I was meaty and would not let people see my body. The dresses would show my big bust and tummy.

One day we were meant to go for a dinner and we were all to dress in official dresses. This is the first time I was putting on a dress. I went to look for one with my friends. On D-Day, everyone was moved with my new look and that’s how I started putting on dresses.

A lecturer one day dampened my spirits by making very nasty comments about my bust. He asked me whether I was breastfeeding or whether I had placed rags on my bust.

I felt so bad and even wanted to do a surgery to reduce the size of my breasts but I did not have the money. I was a very brilliant student and his comments really devastated me.

I joined a gym and requested for exercises that would reduce my breasts. Since I did not see anything happening, I left and accepted to be who I am. When I joined Kisumu Plus Size Affair, I was motivated seeing ladies who were much heavier and curvier than I was. With the confidence they had on the runway and how we would motivate each other, I got the courage and here I am.

I am not bothered by what people say about my bust or my tummy or my big thighs or my big behind. All I know is that I am very beautiful the way I am and no one can bring me down.

The day I accepted and made it to the runway is the day all my problems were solved. I can dress my body without any fear and hoping that I am a motivation to many who are locked in denial trying to figure out how to face the world with their size.”