Year after year Torrid host their own model search, and this year is no exception. What’s interesting, and fun, about the Torrid model search, is the fact that you can have your say and contribute to the final decision.

So head on to Torrid today to check out the finalists and vote for your favorite Torrid Model Search finalist.

Earlier this month Ireland saw 27 beautiful and voluptuous ladies compete to become the next cover girl for SimplyBe, the online home shopping company for plus size women in the UK and Ireland.

These 27 gorgeous ladies ranged from size 14 to size 32 and Andrea Smith at the Independent.ie has a great roundup of the full event and much more. Check it out.

Designer of plus size clothing and lingerie Cherished-Woman.com is going the extra mile to support the curvy models featured within their online store and material, by sponsoring one of them in a model search.

Top plus size model Danielle Line is competing to be the next plus size cover girl in Shirley’s Sexy Model Search, being run by Shirley of Hollywood. Danielle is one of eight finalists in the plus size division and Cherished-Woman.com are sponsoring Danielle as she epitomizes sexiness and wholesomeness all in one.

I wish Danielle, as well as all the other contestants within the plus size category the best of luck within this contest. Furthermore I truly commend Cherished-Woman.com for supporting Danielle, and encourage all other designers and stores to support their models wherever possible.

Read more about the contest, and make sure to check out the other finalists and cast your vote. The winners will be announced live on 25th September, 2008 in the Bahamas.

One of my favorite plus size clothing labels, Missphit, has just launched the “Clothes Gone Wrong” plus size model contest.

This is a contest with a twist, because unlike practically all other model contests, you do not need to be a beauty queen to win! In fact this contest is seeking photo submissions of your worst fitting clothes, for a chance to win a wardrobe makeover and become a Missphit top model.

I think this is such a great idea from Missphit’s part, and I am sure the lucky winner will have an absolute blast with the makeover, and with the whole experience of becoming a Missphit top model! I’m very excited to see how this contest will progress over the coming weeks, and I am even more honored to be part of it by being one of the judges.

Here are the nitty gritty details from Missphit themselves on the contest, and what you need to do to get involved:

Style conscious plus-size women struggle constantly to find clothes that not only look great, but fit their body shapes in all the right places. According to a recent Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor™ survey, 21% of female respondents reported wearing a size 15 or greater yet 70% of these women stated they couldn’t find clothing they liked in their size. Known for their detail oriented focus on both fit and trendy styles, Missphit is acknowledging this frustration by offering a chance to replace tired duds with fresh new looks that flatter their fuller figures.

Starting this month and continuing bi-monthly for the rest of the year, Missphit will begin seeking photo submissions from frustrated fashionistas showing off their worst fitting outfit for a chance to win $200 worth of free Missphit clothing and an opportunity to bask in the spotlight. Winners of the bi-monthly contests will be awarded a mini wardrobe makeover and be featured on the Missphit Web site with “before” and “after” pictures to show their transformation.

In addition, contest winners will be entered for consideration to become the next Missphit Top Model. The grand finale winner will be flown to Los Angeles for a complete makeover and fashion shoot to be featured as Missphit’s new Top Model. For more information about the contest, please visit Missphit.com.

More About Missphit
Missphit is a Los Angeles based clothing line dedicated to bringing trendy and sophisticated styles to plus-sized women. The company, run by husband and wife team Christina and Yul Kwon, brings 20 years of design and manufacturing experience to the table. Christina studied fashion design at Esmod in Paris and has honed her trade with experience in top design houses such as Christian Dior and John Galliano among others. Missphit is sold nationwide in select stores and is available for purchase online at Missphit.com.

This weekend Torrid presents the 2008 Model Search Event. Now through Sunday 20th July stop by your local Torrid store and be the first to submit your 8×10 photo, network with other diva contestants, shop with VIP savings, plus free goodies are also in store for the first 100 shoppers!

All contestants must supply an 8×10 photo and completed entry form, which can be easily downloaded from the Torrid website.

Can’t make it to your local store? No problem! Simply download the entry form then mail it with your 8×10 photo to Torrid by July 31st, 2008. Entries submitted after this date will not be accepted.

Send entries to:
The Torrid 2008 Model Search Event
18305 E. San Jose Ave
City of Industry, CA 91748

Visit Torrid for more details. Good luck to all the entrants.

The original one day workshop for aspiring plus size models is heading to Baltimore, MD on Saturday June 21st, 2008. Here’s what you’ll learn from a group of industry experts attending the event:

Runway Bootcamp

• Poise, posture, stance, poses and turns
• Getting the money shot at the end of the runway
• Walking in groups and pairs
• Tips on industry standards vs. entertainment modeling
• Audition techniques

Fit and Foundation Clinic

• Undergarments 101 for the plus size diva
• Selecting the right foundation undergarment for your body type

Plus Modeling 101

• Learn about the industry from an insider
• What does it take to start a career in plus modeling?
• Where fo you start?

Strike A Pose

• Everything you always wanted to ask a fashion photographer/stylist

The likes of Sharon Quinn, Gwen DeVoe, Madeline Figueroa-Jones, Jennene Biggins and Alva Page will be attending this event, making it one not to miss by all aspiring plus size models.

For further details on location, as well as registration, visit http://www.projectcurves.com and http://www.projectcurvesbaltimore.eventbrite.com.

This year’s winner of America’s Next Top Model is ‘plus size’ contender Whitney Thompson. Whitney is curvy, and she is definitely not apologizing for it.

At size 10, Whitney is not the convential girl you would call ‘plus size’, but in the modeling industry she is what is considered plus size. So although by my standards Whitney is slim, I am still glad that she won the contest, another step ahead in the fashion industry perhaps?

Let’s hope we see even more curves on the catwalks and covers of magazines in the future.

Diana Mathias, writer at The Epoch Times, carried a very interesting article last week, which introduces us to Chanel Clark and the Miss NYC Plus organization. The organization was created based on the need to have an avenue where to showcase plus size fashion and models in NYC, something which had so far been extremely difficult to do.

Founded by Chanel Clark, Miss NYC Plus produced its first pageant in March of this year. During this event, women wearing size 12 to 26 where given the chance to gather at an event focused exclusively on plus size fashion and celebrating curves. The pageant proved to be very successful, receiving an overwhelming amount of response. During this event, one particular model was named winner of the 2008 Miss NYC Plus Pageant. The winner for 2008 was Nic Moore.

The next event the organization has planned is a march down Fashion Avenue during New York Fashion Week in September as “a peaceful rally so that people can see how beautiful these ladies [size 12 and larger] are,” Clark said. “We really want to make a statement.”

Definitely watch out for more updates from Miss NYC Plus over here at the scoop. In the meantime if you would like further details, do visit them at MissNYCPlus.com.

SizeAppeal.com has just announced that plus size actress and model Chenese Lewis will serve as the new face of the company. In the future she will therefore be making personal appearances and hosting special events. A new print advertising campaign further depicts this new direction and features Chenese in various SizeAppeal looks.

Chenese is a celebrity whose mission is to empower women to embrace their curves, which aligns well with the SizeAppeal vision. This partnership kicks off this month with a promotion of the 2008 Flawless Calendar, the first of its kind showcasing plus size models of different ethnicities, shapes and sizes with high fashion editorial images. Chenese not only modeled in the calendar but executive produced it as well.

“I am extremely excited to work with SizeAppeal to help women understand that a curvy size 22 can be as sexy as a size 2, especially when a woman feels great about how she looks,” says Chenese.

“We want to help inspire plus-size women to embrace their curves and feel confident in their skin,” says Lauren Ricks, Marketing Manager of Sizeappeal. “Chenese is more than a plus size model, she carries a positive message and is an inspiration to many women. Our partnership with Miss Lewis and our collection that incorporates an elevated sense of style, all benefits the plus-size consumer, which has traditionally been underserved.”

OK I admit, I am probably the last one in the plus size blogging industry to report on Chloe Marshall, but ah things have been super duper hectic lately. I am only now getting back into regular postings and regular email checks. So although this news it rather late, I thought it was too important not to mention on the scoop simply because it’s not hot off the press. So apologies in advance if you’ve read up on this before.

Chloe Marshall is a young lady from Englad who is breaking boundaries, challenging stereotypes, and a person who have a very bright future ahead.

A 17 year old from Gulford, UK, Chloe has become the first ever size 16 (that’s size 14 US) model to be selected a finalist for the Miss England competition. Chloe, who is a beauty therapist student, beat seven other slimmer girls to the title of Miss Surrey and will therefore now run in the national finals.

Although plus size ladies, and all real women, are super ecstatic about this breakthrough, and genuinely happy for Chloe’s success, there are some others who think Chloe does not really deserve to hold her title.

One opinion in particular which made most noise, and caused a lot of discussion (and with reason!), was published on the Daily Mail by Monica Grenfell. You guys seriously have to read the article to believe the kind of things this ‘dietician’ claimed. It is absolutely appalling, and she should completely be ashamed to call herself a real woman. After reading this make sure you head on to Kate Harding’s awesome respone. Kate you rock!

So as you might imagine, I think Chloe should be very proud of her achievement and I wish her the best of luck for the finals. I am sure she has a very bright future ahead.