A Plus Dimension Fashion Highlight on Presence, Energy, and Goal
Monique Cartwright is strictly the type of plus length type this collection used to be created for and the easiest option to start it.
Ahead of we dive into her tale, right here’s why this highlight collection exists within the first position.
Why We Introduced the TCF Plus Dimension Fashion Highlight Sequence
At The Curvy Fashionista, we obtain a gentle circulation of emails and DMs asking the similar questions: How do I transform a plus length type? Are you hiring fashions? The place do I get started? Who will have to I be following?
And whilst we’ve spent years overlaying plus length style, tradition, and neighborhood, the truth is that this: modeling is its personal ecosystem. It’s formed by way of lived enjoy, professionalism, get right of entry to, barriers, self belief, and trade wisdom that is going some distance past what we will be able to responsibly resolution in one article or tick list.
So as a substitute of pretending to have the entire solutions, we made up our minds to do what we do highest: shine the sunshine.
The TCF Plus Dimension Fashion Highlight Sequence used to be created to characteristic plus length fashions like Monique Cartwright– fashions we all know, love, and deeply recognize. Those are people who have carved out their very own lanes, claimed visibility on their very own phrases, and are actively shaping what the way forward for style seems like. Some are agency-signed. Some are impartial. They all are ones to look at and ones you will have to know.
This collection isn’t about casting calls or a unmarried “proper” trail. It’s about illustration, transparency, and birthday party. It’s about studying at once from fashions doing the paintings and growing area for fuller, extra truthful conversations about what modeling truly seems like as of late.
Which brings us proper again to Monique.
To Kick Off the Sequence: Monique Cartwright
To open our Plus Dimension Fashion Highlight Sequence, we’re beginning with Monique Cartwright, an Atlanta-based plus length type whose paintings is rooted if truth be told, professionalism, and presence.
Monique doesn’t step in entrance of the digicam hoping to be selected. She displays up figuring out she belongs. Her way to modeling displays precisely what this collection is set: carving your personal lane, honoring your lived enjoy, and appearing up absolutely in an trade that hasn’t at all times made room.
And from the instant she starts telling her tale, it’s transparent…this isn’t about chasing visibility. It’s about claiming it.
Spotting Herself within the Lens
There are fashions who display as much as be observed after which there are fashions who display up figuring out they belong. Monique Cartwright strikes thru style with the latter power. Grounded, intentional, and unapologetic, the Atlanta-based plus length type doesn’t simply step in entrance of the digicam. She meets it.
For Monique, modeling used to be by no means about finding that the digicam liked her again. It used to be about spotting herself in it.
“My starting place tale isn’t about finding the digicam, it’s about spotting myself in it,” she shared. “The digicam responds to reality, and mine is rooted in lived enjoy.”
That lived enjoy is found in each and every symbol she creates. Her paintings displays resilience, presence, and function, formed by way of years of advocating for illustration, participating with creatives who see plus length good looks as robust, and mentoring others to step boldly into their very own visibility. Over the years, that power didn’t simply translate throughout the lens. It echoed again.
Primarily based in Atlanta, Georgia, Monique stands 5’7”, wears a length 18, and identifies as proudly plus. She isn’t recently firm represented, however her paintings speaks obviously for itself; rooted in professionalism, readability, and self belief that isn’t performative, however practiced.
Visibility With out Permission
When requested what recommendation she would give to her more youthful self stepping in entrance of the digicam for the primary time, Monique Cartwright didn’t hesitate. Her resolution used to be each a reminder and a directive.
“Don’t stay up for permission to take in area,” she mentioned. “You don’t want to shrink, pose smaller, or ask for forgiveness in your frame to be worthy of the lens.”
She is intentional about dismantling the concept plus length fashions will have to melt themselves to be approved. For Monique Cartwright, the digicam isn’t searching for perfection, it’s responding to presence.
“Consider that your self belief, your tale, and your lived enjoy are sufficient,” she defined. “Be told your angles, sure, however extra importantly, be told your energy.”
That energy, she believes, comes from honoring who you’re whilst appearing up ready, skilled, and open. However by no means at the price of self-erasure.
“By no means compromise who you’re to be ‘bookable.’ The best creatives will see you and the incorrect rooms aren’t intended to carry you anyway.”
For Monique, illustration doesn’t get started on set. It begins internally; with barriers, self worth, and the conclusion that visibility isn’t one thing to earn. It’s one thing to assert.
Studying the Language of the Digital camera
Monique credit a lot of her figuring out of presence and aim to her longtime style icon and type muse, Tyra Banks.
“Tyra didn’t simply type, she commanded the digicam,” Monique mentioned. “She taught a complete era that modeling is set presence, storytelling, and figuring out your energy in entrance of the lens.”
Observing Tyra wasn’t with regards to finding out poses. It used to be about studying that self belief is an energetic selection… one who shapes how the digicam responds.
“What impressed me maximum used to be how fearless she used to be in taking on area, growing alternatives, and redefining what it intended to be a type on her personal phrases,” Monique shared. “That power interprets at once into how I display up as of late; unapologetic, expressive, and entirely conscious that my frame, my stroll, and my tale belong in style areas.”
Modeling, in Monique’s international, isn’t about becoming into the trade. It’s about shaping it.
Rise up First, Illustration At all times
When requested what being a plus length type manner to her: rebel, illustration, or runway takeover… Monique Cartwright replied with out keeping apart the 3.
“Being a plus length type is all 3, however it begins with rebel,” she mentioned.
For Monique, rebel is the refusal to shrink, keep silent, or settle for old-fashioned narratives about good looks. Each time she steps in entrance of the digicam, she’s difficult the concept visibility is reserved for a slim usual.
“That rebel creates area for actual representation- no longer tokenism, however visibility rooted in self belief, taste, and presence.”
And as soon as illustration is established, one thing shifts.
“Then it turns into a takeover. A plus length runway takeover isn’t about requesting inclusion, it’s about possession. It’s about appearing up with authority, figuring out we belong right here and at all times have.”
Her paintings is set greater than style. It’s about motion, energy, and making sure the following era doesn’t must struggle as laborious to be observed.
Dream Walks and Manifested Moments
Monique’s imaginative and prescient board contains two manufacturers that constitute the entire spectrum of her modeling id: Christian Siriano and Eloquii.
For Siriano, she imagines prime drama and sculptural aim.
“I see myself in a robe with robust shoulders, a cinched waist, and fluid motion: one thing daring and unapologetic,” she mentioned. “A glance that celebrates curves as structure, no longer one thing to be hidden.”
For Eloquii, the imaginative and prescient shifts towards energy that’s wearable.
“I envision one thing adapted, horny, and fashionable… a pointy swimsuit or a remark get dressed that displays plus-size style will also be trend-setting, increased, and out there.”
Strolling for each, she says, wouldn’t simply be a occupation milestone; it might be a remark. Person who proves plus length style isn’t a distinct segment. It’s a power.
Daring, Intentional, Unapologetic, In Taste and in Lifestyles
When requested to explain her non-public taste in 3 phrases, Monique didn’t hesitate: daring, intentional, unapologetic.
That philosophy extends to the boldest factor she’s ever worn, her first bikini.
“For a very long time, I didn’t consider a bikini used to be ‘for’ anyone who seemed like me,” she admitted. “Dressed in it felt like crossing an invisible line I have been taught to not step over.”
Status absolutely observed, with not anything to cover at the back of, used to be each inclined and liberating.
“What shocked me maximum used to be how assured I felt. Now not performative self belief… actual, grounded self belief. I wasn’t dressed in it to turn out the rest. I wore it as a result of I sought after to.”
That second shifted her courting along with her frame and carried ahead into each and every shoot and runway since.
“Boldness isn’t at all times loud,” she mirrored. “Infrequently it’s merely permitting your self to be observed and loving the way it feels.”
What the Business Nonetheless Must Get Proper
For Monique, one factor stays pressing: frame range.
“Plus length isn’t one frame kind,” she mentioned evidently. “It’s giant bellies and small bellies, giant boobs and small boobs, other heights, shapes, and proportions.”
Too incessantly, illustration nonetheless facilities one “applicable” model of plus length, leaving too many of us unseen.
“Getting it proper manner designing, casting, and styling for actual our bodies; no longer simply scaling up straight-size patterns. When folks see the entire spectrum of plus-size our bodies, they don’t simply see garments. They see themselves.”
And that, she believes, is when style turns into transformative.
Why Plus Dimension Fashion Spotlights Topic
Greater than 67% of ladies within the U.S. put on a length 14 or above, but plus length our bodies stay underrepresented throughout style media. That hole shapes self belief, buying conduct, and cultural belief; particularly for more youthful generations nonetheless forming their sense of self.
Monique understands why visibility issues… no longer as a vogue, however as a correction.
“Illustration isn’t about requesting inclusion,” she shared previous. “It’s about possession.”
That trust is why spotlights like this exist at The Curvy Fashionista, along our Curvy CEO Spotlights, plus length influencer and writer options, and plus length guide creator spotlights. Taste, management, creativity, and storytelling display up in lots of bureaucracy, and they all deserve the sunshine.
Observe Monique. Proportion Her Paintings. Give a boost to the Imaginative and prescient.
Illustration prospers when visibility is shared.
Observe Monique Cartwright. Interact along with her paintings. Have a good time her presence.
Need to Be Featured Subsequent?
Are you a plus length type able to assert visibility and proportion your tale?
Observe to be featured in our Plus Dimension Fashion Highlight
As a result of the way forward for plus length style isn’t ready to be invited.
As Monique so completely put it:
“The way forward for plus length style is constructed by way of us, for us.”
