Full Figured Fashion Week 2016 is pleased to announce that we will be honoring the achievements of the following individuals/businesses for their contributions in beauty, fashion and entertainment.
Meaghan O'Connor
Stylist of the Year Award
Witty, creative and fashion-obsessed, Meaghan O'Connor lives in Long Island, New York and is working as a freelance wardrobe stylist and blogger.
Her past experiences has allowed her the opportunity to diversify her skills from leadership and management to merchandising, consulting and styling. Passionate about the fashion industry, Meaghan carved out her own space in her blog/styling website, Little Lime Dress where she continues to work towards her mission of providing women with access to fashion & style tips, tricks and advice from a reliable source while also providing the services of a personal stylist.
With in-store appearances and co-branded events among other collaborations, it's clear Meaghan's professional demeanor and keen sense of style have helped secure her position as a successful and reliable source in the fashion industry.
Meaghan continues to work as both an editorial and commercial stylist, while placing her main focus on celebrity styling. She prides herself on creating an experience for each of her clients, Marrying a high-touch, concierge level treatment with laser focus attention to detail, she has been able to not only land on notable looks for each of her clients, but also assist them in building their individual style personalities.
While her website is not deemed exclusively plus size, the style-obsessed founder remains steady in her mission to bring the straight and plus size world together in one space; providing high-fashion interpretations and making runway trends wearable for the everyday woman. Meaghan is a supporter of self acceptance, and her work to promote a positive body image is clear in her writing on Little Lime Dress as well as her other projects.
http://www.littlelimedress.com/
Egypt (Ify) Ufele
Junior Trailblazer of the Year
Egypt (Ify) Ufele, fashion designer and child prodigy changed the game when she overcame Bullying through creativity, intelligence and grace at the age of 10. Challenged by chronic illness that required steroids to save her life, Ify was Bullied for being chubby. While a lesser person would have caved, she used personality and imagination to design a line of clothing for kids who looked like her. She also established a non-profit called Bully Chasers. Ify is on a mission to send a life-line to other kids drowning in a sea of Bullies. Painful memories make her stand tall as she helps others to look and feel like a runway model. Her gentle demeanor belies her firm resolve as she crushes the fashion world with iconic fashion and sassy looks for children, plus-size women, men and boys. New York Fashion Week was ablaze with talk about America’s Child Prodigy for Anti-Bullying. Talk shows including ABC, NBC & CBS showcase her talent and her spirit, adding one more victory over The Bullies. People Magazine, Huffington Post, Chicago Times reported and Laila Ali named her one of the three most inspirational women. This little dynamo took back her dignity and fashioned a dynasty. Egypt (Ify) Ufele is the fashion mogul capturing the runway and the fashion industry.
Born on May 3, 2005, in Long Island, Egypt (Ify) Ufele is the daughter of Dr. Reba Perry and Emeka Ufele. Ify’s older sister is Sade Perry, a fashion designer, so there was always inspiration for this imaginative child. Diagnosed with a critical asthmatic health condition, she spent many hours in the hospital enduring steroid injections. The steroids caused her to gain weight, which lead to cruel Bullying. When they called her chubby, she made the word her tiara and wore it with pride. She designed clothes for Barbie dolls and sewed them by hand. Her challenge was that clothes for curvy kids looked boxy and unflattering. The sounds of the taunts in her ears, she began to design clothes for kids built like her. She wanted to make a difference, not just for herself, but for the others she saw flinch as the Bullies tried to beat them down with body-shaming. Weight for many children is not controllable for many reasons. The wise child was the first child designee to present an all-inclusive line, a line to enhance the beauty of people with curves. She founded a non-profit, an Anti- Bullying Campaign. She wanted to give the silent victims a voice and a look to overcome Bullies.
Egypt (Ify) Ufele, assisted by her mother Dr. Reba Perry, her grandmother, Nellie Rembert and her, and publicist, Yvonne Forbes launched an all-inclusive clothing line at the Small Business Fashion Week in Feb 2016, and set the fashion industry on fire. Ify’s stylish pieces named ChubiiLine, won hearts and took the fashion world by storm. With a book and a manufacturing deal, Ify’s anti-bullying platform has become a game changer. The fashion line and the passion to overcome bullies grew into a dynasty. Style, panache and glittering lights has made the world take notice. The power of the message and the stunning pieces speak for her. One quiet voice has created a landslide of change. Egypt (Ify) Ufele with the joy of a child and the power of a warrior, dominates the fashion industry and has tamed those bullies. She is victorious over “The Haters” with the power of her beautiful mind and spirit.
Jennene Biggins
Entrepreneur the Year Award
A 20 year internet and social media marketing expert, Jennene Biggins teaches small business clients how to build a successful and profitable winning online presence for their products and services. Jennene is a respected leader in the effort to integrate the plus-size woman into “mainstream society” and has been an advocate for the plus-size community since creating her fashion marketing firm/community – The Voluptuous Woman Company® in 1997. In 2005, Jennene traveled with the Department of Commerce on their first Plus Size Industry Trade Mission to London and Germany and in the Fall of 2005, Jennene created the first Plus Size Bath Wrap (which has sold out and will relaunch Fall 2016). Some of her other projects include: a Plus Size Auction website, PlusSizeBiz.com-an online directory of size friendly businesses and services, and her most recent project that mobilized the standard model comp card - Mobile Comp Cards.com.
In the first quarter of 2016, Jennene merged her passion for the plus size industry with her digital expertise, launching The Plus Size Events App, the world’s first event and news based mobile application for the plus-size community. The Plus Size Events App connects curvy women internationally and creates an amazing supportive community to combat fat shaming and size discrimination. The Plus Size Events App also serves as a worldwide information source promoting national, regional and local size friendly events. As an added bonus, the Plus Size Events App also provides up-to-the minute news about the “curvy community”, plus highlights organizations, fitness professionals, stylists, and other businesses that provide services and products for the plus-size customer.
Jennene live by the motto “Size is Just a Number..Not a Limitation™ and currently lives in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area with her family. http://www.getabusinessmobileapp.com Text PLUSSIZEEVENTS to 40691 to download the Plus Size Events App
Tia Lyn
Designer of the Year
To know her is to love her, Tia’s laugh is contagious and her voice for the curvy movement is inspiring. Tia Lyn is the leading independent fashion designer in the lingerie market and a two-time winner of the International CILA Award for the “Best Plus Size Collection”. Returning for her third year in a row, Tia is excited to showcase her latest curvy lingerie on the FFFWeek Catwalk.
“Winning Designer of the Year for Full Figured Fashion Week 2016 is an amazing honor and such a thrill of a lifetime. It means the world to me to be recognized by Gwen DeVoe and the Plus Size Community”. – TIA LYN
At first glance, Tia Lyn’s lingerie is simply beautiful. Delicate laces paired with soft easy care knits and stretch satins perfectly crafted in vintage inspired silhouettes that make hearts swoon. The breath taking moment is when you realize that it is designed for you. The Tia Lyn collection reveals the underpinnings of the everyday woman. Where as you get closer to her inner layer, the layers become just as lovely as she is. Every woman deserves to have beautiful lingerie in her top drawer.
Lingerie loves curves. Embracing different body types, the real women that shop at Tia’s boutique, Contours Lingerie, inspire her. Listening to their desires, she incorporates figure-flattering solutions like built in bra-lets, generous A-line shapes, no line panties and many designs even camouflage back fat. It is Tia’s outward focus and ability to see the best in others that is the heart of her luxurious lifestyle brand. http://tialyn.com/
Nikki Gomez
Photographer of the Year
Nikki began her career in fashion in early 2004 as a plus size model. Nikki has modeled for clients such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Figure Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Latina Magazine, Plus Model Magazine, Coogi, Monif C. and more. Nikki found success as a print, runway, fit and commercial print model.
In 2006 Nikki was offered a position at Dulce as a wholesale representative for several of the top designers in contemporary plus size fashion. This position helped familiarize Nikki with the needs of boutiques, department stores, designers and models. Due to the lack of a marketing budget, Nikki found herself doing triple duty not only as a sales rep but also as a model and amateur photographer. This is when her passion for photography was born. Nikki was determined to nurture her talent as a photographer so she taught herself all of the technical aspects of photography including Photoshop, studio and natural lighting. Nikki G. Photography was established in 2007.
Nikki's knowledge of the industry proved valuable as she was contracted to scout and develop models for several NYC based agencies over the years. In the summer of 2013 Nikki was hired as the head booker of Bicoastal Management. As head booker she was able to scout, develop, and manage approximately 400 models from all divisions of the agency. She developed professional relationships with high profile clients such as Victoria's Secret, Ashley Stewart, Zac Posen, Macy's, Gap Inc., Tahari, David's Bridal, Talbots, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Diane Von Furstenburg and more!
Nikki's diverse background in the plus size industry inspired her to create Bicoastal's plus size print division and help launch the careers of several top earning plus size models today. In Early 2015, Nikki made her return to her passion of photography and has continued to expand her portfolio and grow her photography business. Several of Nikki's photography clients include; Wilhelmina NY, MSA, IPM Models, Dorothy Combs Models, Click Models, Bicoastal Models, SVOBODA Jeans, Nikki London Boutique, Abby Z, Plus Model Magazine, Volup 2 Magazine, SK Wilbur, Coogi, Hey Gorgeous, 360 Stretch, Elite Model Management, True Model Management Daily Venus Diva and more!
Christina Mendez
Plus Model of the Year
Best known for her vibrant personality, signature dimpled smile and awesome curves, Christina Mendez has become a driving force in the modeling industry working with many well-respected clients such as: Ashley Stewart, Sofia Vergara, Cyberswim, PLY Apparel, Qristyl Frazier, Always for Me, BET’s Rip the Runway, Full Figured Fashion Week and many others.
With over 12 years in the industry this “powerhouse phenom” is still one of the most in-demand models to grace the pages and sites of leading fashion and entertainment media forums from Plus Model Magazine, Latina, Essence, Cosmo, Sheen Magazine to being seen nationwide on Telemundo, The Rachael Ray Show, Project Runway, The Today Show, Good Morning America and countless others. Continuing to be a force to be reckoned with in the industry, Christina is one of the few plus-size models to historically walk in New York Fashion Week (2016, 2014, and 2013), integrated with straight-sized models, proving to critics that the beauty of fashion is for everyone and should be celebrated through body positivity.
With the public finally shining a positive spotlight this curvaceous beauty has been fortunate to be added to countless “curvy beauty” lists: The London Post (One of 16 Plus-Size Models Victoria Secrets Should Hire), Latina.com (10 Sexiest Plus-Size Models), SheKnows.com (10 Models Changing how We View Women’s Bodies), Cosmo (6 Latina Models Who Are Changing The Way The World Sees Beauty) and the list goes on.
If walking the catwalk and modeling for major brands weren't enough, Christina lends her support and time to Autism Speaks -- a charity close to her heart. As a mother of an autistic son, Christina helps raise awareness as well as provide the most up-to-date information on breakthroughs and treatment for Autism.
Whether it’s being a mother, modeling for popular fashion brands, raising awareness for charity, or dazzling on the red carpet, Christina reminds every woman to “embrace the beauty within you” and “never give up on your dreams”.
Farrah Estrella
(Estrella Fashion Report) - Blogger of the Year
Farrah Estrella is a Plus Size, Latina, Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger based out of Tampa, Florida. She is the Editor of the "Estrella Fashion Report", a fashion news and lifestyle blog that she created in 2012. A native of the Dominican Republic, Farrah started modeling when she was only 9 years old and has loved fashion ever since she was a little girl. She attributes her love of fashion to her mother who was and still is, her biggest inspiration. Her blog, the Estrella Fashion Report, is a high fashion, inspirational blog where she shares with her followers the latest fashion news from around the world. She also covers all fashion weeks, as well as fashion events. She has collaborated with some of the top brands in fashion including: Lane Bryant, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Christopher & Banks, Avenue and Catherine's just to name a few. Farrah was the official Blogger of FFFWeek in 2015 and she was also presented with the "Blogger of the Year" award in 2015 at the "Blogger's Ball" in Tampa. www.estrellafashionreport.com