Featured Celebrity BBW (more big beautiful women being added soon!)
Alexandra Beller - dancer
Alexandra Beller made a place for queen-sized dancers on the concert stage. Her own work blends theater and movement with astute choices and intense performances. Beller is a powerful and voluptuous mover. When she dances, you're bowled over because, while her anatomy leads you to expect an earth goddess - weighty and rooted - she's quick, light, and buoyant, with a mercurial liquidity in her joints.
Aretha Franklin - singer
"The Queen of Soul", Aretha Franklin, is also renowned for her jazz, rock, blues, pop, R&B and gospel. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Franklin #1 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time. In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin has a total of 45 "Top 40" hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Aretha is also famous for her unique plus size fashions, in which she proudly displays her big beautiful womanly curves.
Barbara Brickner - plus size model
Barbara Brickner is a gorgeous, successful Size 14 plus size model with a determination to promote a healthful lifestyle and self-acceptance. With over 10 years in the modeling industry, she has worked with Macy's, Eddie Bauer, Lands End, Nordstrom and many more.
Basimah Dalal - plus size bellydancer
Basimah Dalal has been involved with Middle Eastern Dance since she was 17 years old. She was invited to join the Raqs el Sehr Shamal dance troupe in 2002, and dances solo at various venues. Currently, Basimah is offering beginning and intermediate classes via private or group lessons.
Camryn Manheim - actress
Camryn Manheim won an Emmy for her work on the tv show "The Practice" and exclaimed that "This is for all the fat girls!" She later wrote an autobiography titled "Wake Up, I'm Fat!". A one-woman show of the same name preceded the book. Manheim is an avid human rights activist with a focus on women's rights, fat acceptance, and gay rights. She has made contributions to a variety of charities, notably RAINN. Camryn is also involved with the charity Bet Tzedek Legal Services - The House of Justice, serving as a co-chair for their annual fundraiser, The Justice Ball. She has her own official website where she interacts with fans.
Cathryn Michael Murray - plus size model, actress
Cathryn Michael Murray is a well known model based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to modeling, Cathryn is studying Commercial Acting. She is also a singer, writer, motivational speaker, spokesm model, and promotional model. In 2008, she launched Sassy Sistah Magazine, an online webzine focusing on eliminating the labels placed on models in the industry.
Chassie Virginia Deitz - plus size model, actress
Chassie Virginia Deitz is a 2001 Graduate of Meredith College. Chassie is a Plus Size Model and National Beauty Queen. She holds a BA in Theatre and has been performing since age 3. She has been featured in numerous Pageant Publications and worked as a print and fashion model for several Plus Size Clothing companies, and in addition, has appeared in several commercials. Deitz is also a certified approved Miss America Pageant Judge. In 2008, Chassie was crowned National Miss Curves United States.
Chenese Lewis - plus size model and actress
Chenese Lewis was an actress on the first season of the BET series Hell Date and made history by being the first woman crowned Miss Plus America. In addition to being a model, she is a member of Hollywood NOW (National Organization for Women) and is the "Love Your Body" Committee Chairperson for the local chapter. Chenese is the host of "PLUS Model Radio", celebrating and inspiring the plus size fashion and plus size modeling industry.
Cheryl Haworth - Olympic weightlifter
Cheryl Haworth's accomplishments as an Olympic weightlifter for the United States include: Bronze Medalist in Olympic Games (2000), Olympic team member (2000, 2004, 2008), Junior World Champion (2001, 2002), Silver Medalist in Junior World Championships (1999), Pan Am Games Champion (1999), Goodwill Games Champion (2001), Bronze Medalist in World Weightlifting Championships (2005), and Senior National Champion (1998-2008).
Christina Schmidt - model and actress
Christina Schmidt became famous playing Terri MacGregor in "Degrassi: The Next Generation". She won the "Young Artist Award" for best supporting actress in 2005. As well as being a professional Actress, Schmidt is also a professional plus size model for Torrid plus size clothing store.
Crystal Aikin - singer
Crystal Aikin won on the first season of Sunday Best, BET's high-profile gospel American Idol-like competition show. Her prizes included a recording contract with Zomba Gospel, and Kirk Franklin producing her debut album. Since becoming a gospel singing sensation, Aikin has left her career as a registered nurse to pursue her music, although she misses patient care and sees it as a healing ministry that she'd like to return to someday. Crystal says she always knew she was going to do something for God, and followed her call to minister to the masses in song.
Crystal Renn - plus size model
Wearing a size 12, Crystal Renn enjoys a highly successful full-figure modeling career. In addition to being the only plus-size model to appear on a Harper's Bazaar cover, and appearing in four Vogue editions, Crystal also models for such plus-size clothing companies as Lane Bryant, Evans and Torrid. Crystal has also appeared on the runway for Vena Cava, Heatherette, and Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Dawn French - actress and comedian
Dawn French is considered one of funniest actors in British comedy. In a 2006 poll of 4,000 people, she was named as the most admired female celebrity amongst women in Britain. French has also won and been nominated for several notable awards, among them the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress and the BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Performance. Dawn is known for her plus size figure and for her efforts to promote the idea that "big" can be beautiful. She also has her own line of clothes, Sixteen47, taking its name from the fact that 47% of the British female population are at least a european size 16. Her mission is to produce plus size clothing that flatters full figured women.
Della Reese - actress, singer, plus-size clothing designer
Originally a gospel, then jazz singer, Della Reese is best-known as the actress who starred in the hit tv series Touched By An Angel. Reese is now an ordained minister and currently serves as the senior minister and founder of the Understanding Principles for Better Living Church. The ever-active Della is also a crusader against diabetes, and has her own plus size clothing line.
Elaine Miles - actress and dancer
Elaine Miles is a plus size actress best known for her role as Marilyn Whirlwind in the television series Northern Exposure. She gained respect in the Native American community because of it, and was named Native American Woman of the Year in 1993, and America's Celebrity Indian of the Year in 1995. Since Northern Exposure, Elaine has done tours with her dancing and was recently in the sci-fi movie Wyvernhad as Deputy Susie Barnes. She has also done an exercise video in response to the high diabetes rates among Native Americans.
Emme Aronson - model, writer, plus size clothing designer
Emme is a plus size model, and is largely recognized as a pioneering full-figure model. She was the first plus size model to reach supermodel status, and was twice named as one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People. Emme has a women's clothing line featuring sizes 2 thru 26. A 16-inch collectable plus size fashion doll, bearing Emme's name and likeness, represents a more realistic image of women as opposed to Barbie dolls. Sales of these Emme dolls generate funds to benefit body image and self esteem organizations.
Glamazons - plus size burlesque and cabaret dance group
Founded in 2001 by Meryl "Lady" Finger, the Glamazons include Candy Apple (Sandra May), Caramella (Laura Johnson), and Ginger Snap (Sarah Orr). The foursome clicked immediately and have an unbelievable dynamic, especially when it comes to tight harmonies and precision choreography. They have appeared at several famous nightclubs, including New York City's The Roxy, and on NBC's America's Got Talent. The Glamazons (Glamorous Amazons) are strong, sexy, plus size
Alexandra Beller - dancer
