She puts the UMP in PLUMP (#7)

At last! We've found a girl who truly deserves to be featured as the Plump Pinay of the week! :) I've been messaging a lot of girls the past weeks for the interview but most were too busy to reply, and one who did reply made me doubt her advocacy of our cause. After answering the questions that we sent with much "sincerity", we found out somewhere that she's desperate to lose weight (for her career as an actress). I don't have to get much into details, but bottom line is she wants to get rid of her chunk. I don't have anything against her because she does what she does for her passion, but I would rather feature in our blog someone who embodies strength, someone who truly accepts her body whatever size or shape it may be, and is willing to fight for body acceptance. :)

And I think fellow blogger Gazel of Bonjour Gazel epitomizes precisely what I've just said.

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Gazel is part Filipina, part Chinese descent who currently resides in Canada.

What is your size?

My size is US 18/20.

Who is your style icon?

I have no style icon. I derive my inspiration from fellow bloggers and people I see in everyday life. I guess I also look at magazines too for that but I have no specific person who I look up to for my style.

Favorite store? Asos Curve and Dorothy Perkins

Favorite pieces of clothing to wear?

I

love to wear dresses. You can wear them in the winter, summer, spring. I also love skirts. Basically things that aren't pants! I like to feel comfortable and liberated, plus it's easy to look chic and feminine with a skirt.

Where do you get your confidence from?

I don't have much confidence myself but I definitely get some from my fellow bloggers. I guess also growing up in Canada, you don't grow up with the stigma of "fat is bad" like in the Philippines.

How important are other people’s perception of you to you?

Not that important especially if it's strangers in my everyday life. If I'm at the mall or somewhere and people stare, I don't give two shits (pardon my language). They can stare all they want. However if it's family, it's kind of different though I've changed that and I just say, "Screw it, I'll wear what I want even if I get stares."

Message to other Plump Pinays: I find in our culture, fat is associated with such negativity and I know that people in the Philippines like to poke fun at fat people--and clothes shopping can be especially traumatizing because of all the small sizes. Despite all this, keep your head high. Make things work and ignore the rude comments. Be proud to be a Plump Pinay.

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Do check out her blog for fashion inspiration and tips! :) I personally love her outfits in the second and fourth photo. Gazel, you're a light and you definitely permeate through the people around you. Continue to shine and be strong! :)

Stacy