Showing posts with label Curves. Show all posts

Friday, 4 December 2015

Model hailed as plus-size world's Gigi Hadid says the fashion industry needs to change as she shares candid belfie

'I don't airbrush my stretch marks or back fat': Model hailed as plus-size world's Gigi Hadid says the fashion industry needs to change as she shares VERY candid belfie

Iskra Lawrence, 25, from Worcestershire taking plus-size world by storm
Model was scouted when she was 13 and has worked all over the globe
Iskra works closely with the National Eating Disorder Association

PUBLISHED: 13:04, 4 December 2015 | UPDATED: 19:43, 4 December 2015

With her enviable body and Gigi Hadid-esque looks, it's little surprise that Iskra Lawrence is taking the plus-size world by storm.

The 25-year-old, from Worcestershire, has been carving out a career as a successful model and body activist - and one look at her sultry portfolio snaps proves why she's in demand.

The model, who was scouted when she was 13 after entering an ELLE girl search, tells FEMAIL she wants to shake up the industry and educate women about positive body image.

Iskra Lawrence, 25, is being touted as the plus-size world's answer to Gigi Hadid and says instead of trying to change her body she's going to change the industry

The model, who was scouted when she was 13, has been quietly carving out a career as a successful model and body activist - and one look at her sultry portfolio snaps proves why she's in demand

She said: 'I realised at around 18 that instead of trying to change my body to fit into sample sizes I would try to change the industry.

'When I signed with my current agencies they helped me realise that I could be a successful model at my size. So I focused on becoming the best version of myself, work harder, research nutrition and work out to feel strong and healthy.'

The size 14 model admits she hasn't dieted for about six years and feels 'so happy' never counting calories but instead focusing on incorporating healthy choices into her routine.

'I love making a green juice every morning but also treating myself to pizza - it's about moderation,' she said.

One photo posted on her account shows Iskra posing in a small orange bikini - it's shot from behind, showing off her curves - and has the caption: 'I haven't airbrushed my tiger stripe stretch marks or my cellulite lightening bolts or my back fat - because this is my body'

Iskra has been working closely with the National Eating Disorder Association and is also going to become a facilitator for the Body Project so she can teach young women and men about eating disorder prevention and the relationship between the media and body image

Iskra regularly takes to social media to describe her body saying: 'It's real and I love posting pictures showing how confident I am because society has taught us we have "flaws" and I'm telling you who gives a...'

Iskra is popular on Instagram, with more than 379,000 followers, as she posts photos from glamorous fashion shoots as well as her every day life.

It's also an outlet for her to push her positive body image message. One photo posted on her account shows Iskra posing in a small orange bikini - it's shot from behind, showing off her curves.

She captioned it with: 'Oh hey there. Yes this is clearly a booty pic but do you see why?

'Because I haven't airbrushed my tiger stripe stretch marks or my cellulite lightening bolts or my back fat - because this is my body.

'I love it it's real and I love posting pictures showing how confident I am because society has taught us we have "flaws" and I'm telling you who gives a...

'Because you are more than your body and you get to decide what beauty is #everyBODYisbeautiful.'

The image has had more than 32,000 likes and generated nearly 3,000 comments, praising her figure

Iskra works out three or four times a week for up two to hours a session and shows off the results on her Instagram page

Iskra is popular on Instagram , with more than 379,000 followers, as she posts photos from glamorous fashion shoots as well as her every day life

Iskra works out three or four times a week for up two to hours a session. To warm up she does high intensity training like box jumps, burpees and skipping. Then she hits the weights and does squats, lunges and leg presses.

The passionate model also runs a website, RunwayRiot, alongside her modelling duties and wants it to be a fashion, style, and beauty portal for women of all sizes.

'I want to celebrate the underrepresented and often overlooked community of curvier women who deserve to have just as many stylish choices as everyone else,' she said.

Iskra maintains that every editorial fashion spread you see on RunwayRiot will be 100 per cent unretouched and she hopes to encourage women who may have before felt left out by the fashion industry to feel empowered and enjoy shopping and styling.

She added: 'I'm excited to show designers that they should start creating more sizes because these women feel beautiful and want to wear the same clothes and rock them no matter what size.'

She said: 'I realised at around 18 that instead of trying to change my body to fit into sample sizes I would try to change the industry'

Iskra maintains that every editorial fashion spread you see on RunwayRiot will be 100 per cent unretouched

The Gigi-alike, left, says she loves how Miss Hadid, right, speaks to her followers and is aware of the positive impact she can have by showing girls she loves and looks after her body

On top of that, Iskra has been working closely with the National Eating Disorder Association and is also going to become a facilitator for the Body Project so she can teach young women and men about eating disorder prevention and the relationship between the media and body image.

The Gigi-alike, who says she loves how Miss Hadid speaks to her followers and is aware of the positive impact she can have by showing girls she loves and looks after her body, says her ultimate goal is to get compulsory self-care, body image and nutrition classes into schools.

'With more education, we can save lives from both anorexia and obesity,' she maintains.

Sharing her advice for anyone starting out in the industry, Iskra added: 'Don't compare yourself to others, I didn't fit in and I thought there was something wrong with me but when you realise that is your beauty - your individuality.

'Use that power to make yourself irreplaceable.'

🌙iskra✨ (@iamiskra) • Instagram photos and videos

Thursday, 9 July 2015

Photographer raises more than $40,000 to fund book featuring stunning nude images of plus-size women which pays tribute to the beauty of natural curves

New Yorker Victoria Janashvili is publishing a new book, entitled Curves, which features a number of nude images of plus-size women
She raised $40,072 dollars in one month on Kickstarter for the publication of the book

By CHARLIE LANKSTON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and ERICA TEMPESTA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 20:38, 9 July 2015 | UPDATED: 20:51, 9 July 2015

A fashion photographer is hoping to change the way that society views curvaceous women after raising more than $40,000 in just one month to fund the publication of a book featuring a series of images which celebrate fuller-figured women.

New Yorker Victoria Janashvili, the woman behind coffee table book Curves, has had her work featured by the likes of GQ, Maxim, Esquire and Cosmopolitan, but insists that her 'personal projects' have always aimed to highlight the beauty of women with more normal bodies, rather than the slim models often pictured in the pages of magazines.

At the start of 2015, the photographer raised a total of $40,072 dollars on Kickstarter in order to fund the publication of the 140-page book, noting on her page that her 'personal projects have always been aimed to portray a healthy and more relatable model'.

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Fierce females: Fashion photographer Victoria Janashvili photographed 70 women of all sizes, including plus-size model Joby Bach (pictured), for her 140-page book Curves

Online campaign: The New Yorker $40,072 dollars on Kickstarter in January to fund the publication of the 140-page book

'When we reached our goal, I could not believe it. I had to triple-check,' Ms Janashvili told the New York Post.

Instead of enjoying a planned trip to Bali that January, the photographer canceled her vacation and began working on the project. She spent three months shooting 70 women, including her crew and herself.

Ms Janashvili told the outlet that she photographed herself last and wasn't sure if the pictured would be included in the book until the end.

What the people want: Ms Janashvili said she was shocked when she learned that she had reached her financial goal and could begin working on her project

Beautiful rose: Albino model Diandra Forrest (pictured) stripped down to nothing for her photoshoot with Ms Janashvili

'I don’t really like the image, but the whole point of the book is self-acceptance. That being said, I’m still working on myself, just like most women on their journey of self-love,' she explained.

Ms Janashvili enlisted the help of plus-size models Denise Bidot, who has featured in campaigns for Nordstrom, Levi's and Old Navy, and Marina Bulatkina, who recently modeled for discount fashion store Century 21, both of whom agreed to pose nude for the book.

Curves also features albino model Diandra Forrest, non-models, including Josette Ulibarri, a woman without any limbs, and slender lingerie model Donna Feldman.

Team effort: In addition to photos of models and non-models, the book also features pictures of Ms Janashvili and her crew

Professional poser: Ms Janashvili said she included this image of slim lingerie model Donna Feldnman in the book because 'everybody’s journey is so different'

'To me, it was as important to show "perfect" girls like this, as well as girls like Josette and Diandra, because everybody’s journey is so different,' she noted. 'What I’m trying to say is that they’re equally interesting - whether they’re big or small or [traditionally beautiful] or not.'

In general, Ms Janashvili said she chose women 'who've found peace with how they look and who they are'.

'I feel very happy that the fashion magazines and [the] media in general [have] started to embrace a healthier image of a "beautiful woman" and that is why I strongly believe that this art book can help make a change even more,' she explained on her Kickstarter page.

Risqué business: Plus-size models Denise Bidot and Marina Bulatkina both pose nude in the art photography book

Let's get real: Ms Janashvili hopes that Curves will encourage women to feel more confident about their own body image

Photographer's Kickstarter campaign celebrates body positivity

'Even though the average American woman is a size 14, our society continues to set stereotypes as standards when it relates to the real body image of women,' Ms Janashvili added.

'This is why I spent years of my time taking pictures of different types of models and took part [in] numerous body image awareness campaigns that went viral, and caused lots of discussions.

'Through my book, I would like to continue to spread the mission and break social stereotypes, so we can take a stand on women feeling confident within their own skin.'

'Your wife, your daughter, your girlfriend, you': The photographer hopes that her book will appeal to women - and men - of all ages and body types

Feel the love: Ms Janashvili insists that the 'future of healthy booties' depends on the publication of her book

'Your wife, your daughter, your girlfriend, your mother and most importantly YOU, will look at yourself differently, more [healthily], and more importantly, less; by expanding, and then reclaiming, the discussion about appearance, we can remove some of the focus from it in women’s lives, old and young,' she writes.

'We love your booty. Get it behind this book. The future of healthy booties, big and small, may depend on it.'

Ms Janashvili has been praised by women from around the world as a result of the book, with many hailing her as an 'inspiration' to people of all ages and body types.

'I feel better about my body now': The book has had support from women around the world, including a 62-year-old grandmother from Puerto Rico who praised Ms Janashvili the perfect role model

Breathtaking: Many people have commented how beautiful each of the images in the book are

'As someone who is considered plus size, your work is simply breathtaking,' one woman wrote.

'Seeing women feel as beautiful as they do in your photographs inspires me more than you could imagine.'

Another added: 'I am a 62-year-old grandmother, who lives in Puerto Rico.Today I was thinking I didn't want to die without having some sexy pictures taken.

'I never had the nerve to do it while I was young because I was always self conscious about my body, even when I was beautiful and skinny.

'But looking at your photographs and how gorgeous the models look I feel better about my body.'

KATCHING MY I

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Friday, 4 December 2015

Model hailed as plus-size world's Gigi Hadid says the fashion industry needs to change as she shares candid belfie

'I don't airbrush my stretch marks or back fat': Model hailed as plus-size world's Gigi Hadid says the fashion industry needs to change as she shares VERY candid belfie

Thursday, 9 July 2015

Photographer raises more than $40,000 to fund book featuring stunning nude images of plus-size women which pays tribute to the beauty of natural curves

Photographer raises more than $40,000 to fund book featuring stunning nude images of plus-size women which pays tribute to the beauty of natural curves

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