Full Figured Fashion Week™ 2011
The Pulse of the Plus Size Community Panelists
Jill Hutchison
Jill Hutchison is the Publisher & General Manager for Sonsi.com, a
social commerce website developed by Charming Shoppes, the parent
company of Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherines Plus Sizes.
Jill previously held the title of Associate Publisher of Figure
Magazine, a plus-size fashion publication owned by Charming Shoppes,
where she was responsible for brand development, editorial and
publishing activity for the Figure franchise.
Prior to that, Jill managed the company's philanthropic efforts where
she spearheaded a variety of programs including the Round Up for Keeping
Kids Warm® campaign, a community effort that yielded more than $3.4
million in charitable contributions in three short months. Prior to
joining Charming Shoppes, Jill organized and executed events for ALSAC /
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Katheryn Finney
Kathryn Finney is the founder of TheBudgetFashionista.com and CEO of TBF Group, LLC, parent company of Simply Good Media, an information network with the sole mission to teach you how to live your best on less. Founded in 2003, the network’s flagship property is The Budget Fashionista, one of the most popular and influential fashion blogs, reaching a global audience of more than five million+ unique visitors a year. An honors graduate of Yale and Rutgers Universities, Kathryn has been featured in more than 600 media outlets, including TODAY show, Good Morning America, CNN, E!/Style, Fox News and has been profiled numerous times leading publications including the New York Times, USA TODAY, the Wall Street Journal, and InStyle.Kathryn is considered an expert in building branded, women-centered online properties and is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences such as Blogher Business, South by Southwest (SXSW), New York Women in Communications, Women’s Funding Network, and numerous colleges and universities. She is a founder and trustee of The Robert Finney Foundation and serves on the board of the Hudson Guild. A Minneapolis native, Kathryn lives in New York City with her husband and 35 shoes.
Madeline Figueroa-Jones
Editor Mrs. Figueroa-Jones is a NY native and former plus size model. After appearing
in several magazine's, working for numerous designers and participating in several
television segments including Aqui Y Ahora for Univision and Court TV's Star Jones'
Talk Show she began reaching out to the plus size community by serving as a moderator
for VenusDivas.com and Empowerment Editor for AmazeMag.com. Madeline has
experience on and off the runway and served as Casting Director for Hips, Heals and
Curves, a traveling fashion show featuring plus size clothing and designs. Always an
activist and looking to bring plus size women into a fashion forward mentality she
combined forces with friend and online magazine publisher, Valery Amador, to create
PLUS Model Magazine.
As Editor for PLUS Model Magazine, Madeline has been producing issues which
push the envelope with both exclusive interviews with some of today's top models,
and edgy fashion editorials aimed at featuring today's plus size modeling industry in
it's truest light. Expanding the PLUS empire, PLUS Model Radio was introduced in
March 2008 (www.blogtalkradio.com/plusmodelradio) with host Chenese Lewis which
is today's number one podcast for plus size women in the industry. In January 2010
she implemented 18PLUS, a new feature within PLUS which will push the plus size
modeling industry by featuring plus size women, models and entertainers who wear a size
18 and larger. Madeline was also on the production team of Full Figured Fashion week
(www.fffweek.com) in 2009 and started 2010 with a bang with write ups in The Daily
News and brought PLUS to the CNN audience with Creative Editor at Large, Mia Amber
Davis. As the plus size industry continues to change, Madeline's voice continues to stay
true to her original ideals for plus size women.
Madeline is also a mother to daughter Madison Eladia Jones and wife to photographer,
Luke Jones, who works primarily with plus size models via www.lucaspictures.net.
Jennene Biggins, Founder and CEO Voluptuous Woman Company
For the past twelve (12) years Jennene Biggins, a New Jersey native has served as an
advocate for the plus-size community. Although Jennene was not plus size all of her
life, as her size began to increase she became unsatisfied with the choices in fashion
that existed for women with curves and was disgusted by the attitudes society exhibits
towards plus-size women.
In November 1997, Jennene founded the Voluptuous Woman Company (VWC) based
out of Silver Spring, Maryland. The Voluptuous Woman Company’s motto is “Size is
Just a Number..Not a Limitation.® The company serves as a positive voice for the plus-
size woman and offers informative, spiritual and empowering events such as networking
receptions, conferences and other special events specifically designed to encourage plus-
size women to live life to the fullest
In October 2000, The Voluptuous Woman Company hosted over one hundred women
for a weekend of empowerment workshops, a fashion show and luncheon. Some of
Ms. Biggins’ accomplishments include, publishing the Full Figured Woman’s Resource
Guide in 1999, conducting a workshop geared towards the plus-size women at two
African American Women on Tour Conferences, and working as a freelance writer
for Belle Magazine. Ms. Biggins has also been featured in a full page article in the
Washington Times Newspaper and the Washington City Paper. 2003 marked the
beginning of a new phase of the Voluptuous Woman Company. The company began
carrying unique clothing and accessories for plus-size women via their online boutique.
In 2005, Ms. Biggins and the Voluptuous Woman Company were chosen as one of eight
companies to accompany the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Textiles and
Apparel on a Plus-Size Apparel and Accessory Trade Mission to London, England and
Dusseldorf, Germany.
In July 2005, the Voluptuous Woman Company launched their premier apparel product –
Voluptuous Bath Wraps (www.plussizebathwraps.com). The Voluptuous Bath Wrap was
designed specifically for the plus-size woman who has experienced the “shortcomings”
of the average bath towel. The spa/bath wrap is made of 100% luxurious terry cotton
velour and fits curvy women size 14-30. The bath wraps are carried by day spas,
boutiques and hotels throughout the United States and Internationally.
Ms. Biggins recently launched the Plus Size Clothing Auction (http://
www.plussizeclothingauction.com) - a self-service auction site with features similar
to EBay offering general and Dutch auctions, fixed priced listings, classified listings
and individual store front for the plus size consumer. And has joined forces with Tonye
Fubara of Melons and Peaches to create the Plus Size Marketing Group, a full service
consulting company for the plus size industry.
Glen Johnson - Full Figure Plus
Glen L Johnson is the voice behind Full Figure Plus. At 44 years old living in Little
Rock, Arkansas Glen is a full time blogger making a living from a medium he did not
know existed before October of 2004. Glens' goal is to provide a male perspective to the
world of plus size fashion.
Named one of The 40 Best Plus Size Fashion Blogs Full Figure Plus has allowed Glen
the opportunity to be a part of historic events like the JMS Style Symposium, Full
Figured Fashion Week™ in New York, and Full Figured Fashion Week(end)™ in Los Angeles.
Additionally, Glen graduated with honors from Ashford University in 2009 with a
Bachelors Degree in Organizational Management. In 2011 he earned an MBA with an
entrepreneurship specialization. Academic honors include the dean's list, a member of
Alpha Sigma Lambda, and the Golden Key International Honor Society.
The success of Full Figure Plus lead to the official launching of Full Figure Network, Inc.
a parent company with several projects in the works to further promote activities within
the plus community. With thousands of monthly visitors from 158 countries viewing
millions of pages Glen works hard to not only show the best in plus fashion but keep
readers up to date on the most relevant issues affecting the plus size community.
Leslie Medlik
Leslie Medlik began her professional career in Finance but then transitioned to plus size fashion in order to better serve her community. Leslie previously worked with plus size designer, Abby Z. She is now working at Re/Dress (http://www.redressnyc.com) where she spends her day not only styling plus size women but also addressing the harsh but real topics of being a plus size woman in today's society. Leslie is also a personal shopper and wardrobe consultant. She is currently working on a size positive TV project.
Leslie helps other women feel confident and positive about their bodies when she assists them in selecting the best clothing for their bodies. Leslie always tell people that fashion rules are meant to be broken and you should always dress your personality. Dress the outside to match the person on the inside.