Full Figured Fashion Week™ 2011

Young, Curvy & Empowered Panelists

Shanda Freeman (Panel Moderator)

Born and raised in Newburgh, NY Shanda Freeman was destined to do great things! Becoming a young mother at the tender age of 15 did not stop her from believing she would achieve all her dreams! Beginning her career in HIV/AIDS Services in 1996, Shanda worked as a Case Manager and Counselor for over 8 years. This rewarding and life changing career allowed her to overcome and leave an emotionally and physically abusive first marriage. In helping others she gained the strength to help herself! In 2002, Shanda met and fell in love with the "love of her life" and current husband, Fatman Scoop! In 2007, they created their advice podcast Man and Wife! With a combination of their wit, charm, and life experiences they are able to provide their 5 million plus audience with real and unabashed "love" advice! Man and Wife debut on MTV in 2008!

In branching out on her own, Shanda created Shanda Says! Shanda Says vlogs and advice column offers her audience a place of experience, compassion, enjoyment, and fashion! Shanda has contributed her advice articles to numerous media outlets such as; Essence.com, AOL BlackVoices, The New York Post, and Straight Stuntin Magazine to name a few. She tours the country delivering speaking engagements at different schools and colleges offering young people and women her life story of strength and overcoming obstacles. Her love of fashion will have her branching out and conquering her dream of being a Clothing Designer as well! She continues to be an "All or Nothing" woman! For Shanda, there are no limits, only opportunities!!

Nina Taylor

Nina Taylor is a native of Washington DC. Nina holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Human Resource Development. Full time, Nina has a career in medical education in the field of Oncology and Virology (Cancer, HIV & Hepatitis.) Nina is a successful beauty, editorial and book cover model, she is also the 2011 Face of Full Figured Fashion Week™ Nina has an interest in pageantry and represents the Miss Plus America organization as Miss District of Columbia Plus America 2011. Nina enjoys community service and takes special interest in today's youth.

Griselangel Paula

Griselangel Paula was born in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic, a humble town hours outside the city of Santo Domingo. Griselangel decided to become a plus size model after the encouragement of her friends, who always believed she was born to become a model. Standing at 5'11" and at a size 14 Griselangel skeptically ventured into the world of plus size modeling. She was greeted into the industry, booking a six page spread on Ebony Magazine just a few months into her career. Ever since then, Griselangel has modeled for numerous companies and designers such as Kmart, Plus Model Magazine, Rocawear, Baby Phat, Beyonce's House of Dereon, Biflex and Applebottoms amongst many others. Griselangel Paula is represented internationally throughout Africa, Europe and North America.

Rosie Mercado

Born in the heart of Southern California but cultured in Las Vegas, Rosie spent years overcoming weight struggles because before getting her big break in 2009 at The Miss Plus America Pageant, winning the runway competition and being crowned "Miss Nevada Plus America." Following her new-found passion, Rosie's modeling profile includes Miss Plus America Covergirl, Miss Plus America Runway Model, Miss Plus America Peoples Choice, and was the Face of Full Figure Fashion Week™ 2010. She has been featured in plus-size oriented magazines Plus Model Magazine, SKORCH, and Manik. Not one to settle for limitations, Rosie eschews any skepticism of her abilities as a model and beyond through her eclectic background.

Although Rosie is a well-seasoned artist, her real passion is to circumvent her career as a way to give back to her community by empowering plus-size women to love and accept themselves. Philanthropy work is at the helm of Rosie's endeavors, as she is a motivational speaker and has worked on campaigns for battered women as well as the Oscar Picazo Beauty Campaign. Rosie philosophizes in the idea that her career is not a job, but art combined with community advocacy that people will appreciate, and admire. In the midst of all her hard work, Rosie believes "success is earned not given".

Stephanie Penn-Danforth

Plus Community advocate, Youth activist and Editor, Stephanie Penn-Danforth wears many hats. She is the President and Co-Founder of The Pretty Girl Project, Editor of DailyVenusDiva.com and Co-Producer of The Fuller Woman Expo. Each project she aligns herself with seeks to inform, uplift and inspire women and girls to believe in and love themselves. As a child, Stephanie had an amazing support system while growing up in Detroit, Michigan and started volunteering her time while in grade school. During college, she vowed to return to her city and assist those in need. Her appreciation for life and her knowledge of issues that affect today's youth allows her to relate to young girls while encouraging them to reach new levels of excellence.

Mariana Sheppard

Mariana Sheppard is an Emmy Award winner of Teen Stories, a documentary she wrote about the national HIV/AIDS epidemic. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mariana has a strong passion for raising awareness for social issues through artistic expression. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Ms. Sheppard has been on the forefront working directly with community leaders and government officials in efforts to rebuild New Orleans. She has led several community service projects specific to the lower 9th ward, the area most affected by the hurricane. Ms. Sheppard has served as a photography instructor at various after school programs as well as a volunteer at Urban Word NYC, a literary arts and youth development organization founded on the principle that teenagers can and must speak for themselves. As a visual artist, Mariana's work has gained national and international attention of an array of media outlets.

Crystal Allen

Founder of Beauty Beyond Curves, an organization that conducts workshops focused on encouraging and empowering full figured women, especially teens, to love themselves for who they are and where they're at in life. Being full figured all her life, Crystal can relate to the pressures of "fitting in" whether in high school, college or the professional world. Having been in an abusive relationship at the age of 21, Crystal knows how to overcome and to fight to live a full and happy life. Crystal's personality draws people in. She upholds a positive spiritual outlook on life, a confident attitude and a fierce fashion sense. She has maintained a successful career in the fashion industry for over 12 years. Crystal's motto is "let's change the world's image of the perfect size one curve at a time."

Meilee

Meilee is a model/actress that has worked runways and posed for designers nationwide. Curvysta, Osun, Jibri, Apple Bottom, Ashley Stewart, Los Angeles Black Business Expo, Little in the Middle, Torrid, Curve Appeal, La Grande Dame, Fashion on the Square in San Francisco, Black Buttafli, Bonner Hair Trade Show, Universal Soul Circus, The Black Writer's Festival and WWD Magic just to name a few. She was profiled in The Industry Cosign, DV8 Magazine, T.O.M.I. Magazine, Plus Model Magazine, and Jolie Magazine. Cover model for Venus Diva Magazine (2009) and a center fold/featured for World of Curves magazine in 2007. In 2007,Meilee and Sommer Green teamed up and together they created "True Curves", a campaign that empowers women to embrace the strength and beauty found in their curves. Through beauty, fashion, and art, True Curves educates and supports all women with curves. There are no size limitations and health is key to these ladies.