She puts the UMP in PLUMP! (#15)

I am so excited to show you our feature plumpie of the week! :) She's my schoolmate Fran's (who has been featured here too--click here) older sister, and when I saw her photos on my news feed on Facebook, I just died. I love her style, I love her pretty face, and I love her confidence! SHE IS JUST UTTERLY SEXY AND GORGEOUS!!!

Meet Nicole!

What is your size?

I wear a size 18 for bottoms and a 16 for tops.

Who is your style icon?

I follow a fashion blog of this girl from Paris: Saks in the City. I’m guessing her name is Saks? Haha! Well, that’s what I call her.

My sister and I were browsing LOOKBOOK one time and Saks immediately stood out among the other girls’ posts, not just because she’s plump but because of the confidence she exudes through her photos. I’ve been an avid fan ever since. If you don’t already know about her, check out her blog: http://saksinthecity.blogspot.com/ [I love Sakina! I'm a fan too! :) Her page has long been bookmarked on my laptop!]

Favorite store?

Dorothy Perkins, Forever21, SM Department Store, and vintage thrift shops (yes, you can make UKAY-UKAY sound fashionable J).

Favorite pieces of clothing to wear? Off the top of my head: my denim jacket from Gap, black skinny jeans from Forever 21, floral tops from Dorothy Perkins, my sister’s black and white striped coat with a black bow from SM (which I force myself into--haha!), I can go on and on...

How do you want people to see your style? Stylish and classic.

Where do you get your confidence from?

From my family and friends. When I feel like random people stare at me, I start to think I may be inappropriately dressed. But then the people I’m with always reassure me that there’s nothing wrong with my clothes and they tell me that I “carry it well.” Thanks to them, I’ve always felt comfortable in my own skin.

And of course, I also get my confidence from the clooooothes, and the makeup, and the shoes, and the EVERYTHING. Haha! You know that feeling you get when you wear something new and you feel like the prettiest girl in the room? That’s a great ego boost don’t you think?

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

I’d be lying if I said that I didn't care what other people think of me. As I mentioned earlier, I get really uncomfortable when people stare at me while I’m wearing a short skirt or a sleeveless top. I try not to dwell on it too much though since it does more harm than good.

I try as much as possible to take in all the positive comments and discard all the negative ones. Besides, at the end of the day, what really matters is that you come to accept and love yourself for who you are. The rest will follow. J

"I think the quality of sexiness comes from within. It is something that is in you or it isn't and it really doesn't have much to do with breasts or thighs or the pout of your lips."--Sophia Loren

Message to other Plump Pinays:

Don’t let your size be a hindrance from what you want to do or what you want to be. If you wanna wear a bikini, DO IT! If you wanna dive into the pool, don’t be afraid of making an extra splash! Life is too short; enjoy every single moment of it.

As long as you feel good about yourself, it’ll show and other people will respect and admire you for that.

Get rid of that mentality where you think that certain clothes can only look good on skinny girls. Don’t let fashion magazines dictate which type of clothes will go with this body type or that body type. Yes, they may be right, but it doesn't mean you should limit yourself to one particular look. If you see a style you like, try it out for yourself and I guarantee you’ll look uh-ma-zing! J

May we all learn from Nicole--a certified Plump Pinay! She's definitely got style AND body-love wisdom. ;)

Plump love,
Stacy

She puts the UMP in PLUMP! (#14)

Maren, or Em-Em, epitomizes what a real Plump Pinay is. When God poured out blessings and talents, she laid out a banig--sinalo na niya lahat! She's a dancer, a writer, a photographer and a make-up artist (and I'm not quite sure if the list ends there!). Her sincerity and wisdom will leave you dumbfounded and captivated all at the same time. Before I digress and blab about how truly amazing this woman is, I'll just go straight to sharing this fantastic interview (honestly one of my personal favorites so far!) with her. NOW GO READ AND FIND YOURSELF ADMIRING A GENUINE PLUMP PINAY! :)

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What is your size?

Usually M-L in the Philippines. I’ve purchased some L size apparel from the kids’ section in the US. I don’t buy a lot of branded clothes so there are no hard fast rules on clothing size. If my wardrobe is any indication, I could be anywhere from S to L.

Who is your style icon?

I have two. And they’re non-mainstream.

First is my mom. She has a style all her own. I don’t know how many times I’ve said it but really, she’s more of a fashionista than I am. I still use some of the clothes she used to wear in the 80s and 90s.

And my aunt. Tita Odette has the classiest taste in clothes. She taught me the art of “frugal shopping.” In other words, know that there are gems to be found in thrift stores. And her hand-me-downs are amazing.

Favorite store?

My mom’s closet. Random thrift stores. Etsy.com provides quirky inspiration.

How do you want people to see your style?

Unique. I’ve never been one to follow the trend. Yves Saint Laurent said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” So I work on the style, not the fashion. I work on what feels good and what helps express my mood for the day.

I always remember that each day is a chance to be something different, someone new. I am a complex individual with different facets and I love that clothes can express a part of my personality on any given day.

It took a few years to finally figure out what fits and what doesn’t, what’s understated sexy and what’s just plain trashy.

A good friend once described my style as classy bohemian. I love that.

Where do you get your confidence from?

God and family.

To be sure, there are times when my confidence dwindles to the negatives. It happens. Let it. It’s all part of the process. The most beautiful women in the world have those moments too.

My definition of confidence is simple: connection.

When you work on your connection with God, with family, with the people around you and the universe at large, you feel a surge of oneness that paves the way to inner confidence. And this is the kind of confidence that shines through every simple movement- from each smile that you offer to the constant twinkle in your eye.

Good people are attracted to honesty. Putting up a façade of confidence doesn’t work. It will be construed as arrogance. But if you are honestly connected, there is no need to pretend. Confidence will come as naturally as breathing.

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

It depends.

On one hand, it certainly doesn't matter to me whether they see me as fit or fat, whether they think I have good style or not. I am who I am and I believe what I believe because of the way God has made me – not because of what society tries to push down my throat.

One of the things I confirmed through observation is that it’s all a matter of societal constructs. I am often seen as being the “right weight” in the U.S., but pretty plump back home, just because the society and culture that surround me are significantly different. The point is, how you see yourself should not be based on how the society sees you.

On the other, what’s important to me is the perception of goodness. I’m a free spirit, to be sure, but I’m also spiritual. It is important to me to be seen as a person, regardless of gender, race and certainly regardless of the amount I have in the bank. I am a daughter of God and it’s important that I am, first and foremost, seen that way.

Message to other Plump Pinays:

Strive for love.

It is the basis of all things that go right in this world. It is the basis of happiness, contentment, confidence and peace.

Love yourself for who you are. Love the people around you for who they are. Love the mundane things in your life, from dressing yourself up to washing the dishes.

My own writing revolves around this central theme and this is why love:

When I talk of love within these hallowed halls, I speak not of the kind between a man and a woman, a boy and a girl, a lady and a gentleman.

I speak of love that knows no gender, race, color or achievement--the kind that knows no bounds, no continent, no culture, no distance.

It is the love that carries across with a simple smile, a nod of the head that says "I understand," or eye contact that lasts a second that means "I see you."

I search not for love between a man and a woman. My time for that has not come. Instead, I search for love in all other forms - in the laughter of a child, the smile of a babe, the toothless grin of the aged us, the shared laughter of a hilarious joke, the common remembrance that the enjoyment of life is living it as if we'll never wake up tomorrow.

That is my kind of love. And that is why I write about it.

Told you she'll leave you captivated. ;) *sigh*

Celebrate YOURSELF and YOUR BODY,
Stacy

She puts the UMP in PLUMP (#11)

AND NOW WE BRING YOU OUR FEATURED PLUMP PINAY OF THE WEEK! Sorry it's been so long. :|

Meet Tin Lucas, read her inspiring story and check out her style!

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What is your size?

Depends if US or UK. I range from 8-12.

You told me before in your comment on one of my posts that you used to have an eating disorder. What made you develop that sickness?

I used to be anorexic and then became bulimic afterwards. Mostly it was because of the magazines I read and the comments of friends; especially family members. I was round ever since I was a kid and I was exposed to dieting at a young age. I was in grade 4 when I developed ulcer. So when I was in HS, I wanted to be thin like those girls in billboards and magazines. I resorted to unhealthy ways. The last straw for my family was when I lost consciousness during one of the retreats I attended. I was 95 pounds back then. It's actually my 2nd life and I thank God for giving me this 2nd chance :)

How did you come to accept yourself?

I was counseled for a long time. It was a combination of psychological and spiritual approach. It took me until 3rd year of college to be fully free from anorexia. Even my family had to change the way they talk to me when it comes to weight, appearance, etc.

How do you see your body now?

I may not be like the thin girls I see, but I feel beautiful with whatever I have and however I look. Curves are beautiful. :)

Who is your style icon?

Drew Barrymore

Favorite store?
None in particular but I shop in The Ramp, F21, Cache Cache and SM dept store.

Favorite pieces of clothing to wear?

Shorts, jumpsuits, cropped tops, bathing suits :)

How do you want people to see your style?

I want them to see it as simple, laid back, and fun - basically, as ME! :)

Where do you get your confidence from?

Friends and family.

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

Let's put it this way - I will only take in the positive, and transform the negative into positive. I don't want to live according to how the world sees me. They can say what they want but I can choose how I respond to it.

Message to other Plump Pinays:

Life is too short to worry about which food will make you fat or which sweets you can only take in; life's too short to wallow in self pity and tell yourself that you're not beautiful. ENOUGH. Take it from me. What if God didn't give me a second chance in life? You don't have to go through my experience to understand how short life is. Learn to count your blessings everyday; trust me, you'll feel better about yourself. One more thing, learn to appreciate God's work by telling yourself that you're beautiful. :)

It has begun.

It's been a while since my last Outfit of the Day post, which actually sucks 'cos I've been dressing up really nicely lately. :(

Oh well, here are random photos of me, and I'll be sharing my new favorite items added to my wardrobe/accessories! :)

1. THE KAFTAN

Striped kaftan: random Hong Kong

Black tank top: Dorothy Perkins

Jeans: random, Greenhills

Sandals: Old Navy

Necklace: H&M

Earrings: Grandma's hand-me-down ♥

Purse: HDY

Knuckle ring/bangles: F21

Charm watch: Anne Klein

I know our photos are really amateur. We have yet to discover our camera's magical settings. :) I wore this to a friend's birthday party last night. :) It was so much fun!

2. THE SEXY GLASSES

I love, love, love this pair my mom bought in Hong Kong! She doesn't wear it so it's mine now. >:) It adds that extra classy vibe to whatever I'm wearing. It's definitely a keeper!

3. THE BOSTON SWEATER

This is actually another item I got from Stacy's closet! :) It's so casual and cool. You can dress it up or down, depending on your mood. It's from F21. This is a photo Stacy took in our room, right after I have changed into my house shorts. HAHA!

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There 'ya go! I am so excited for our plans to unravel for the next 3 weeks! Oh sembreak, we gonna slaughter you. Have a great vacation everybody! :)

BIG ♥

DANAH

She puts the UMP in PLUMP (#9)

My mom sent me a link weeks ago in Facebook about Moda Plus' plus size model search. Intrigued, I clicked on it and saw a lot of big, beautiful women, trying their luck to be the next brand ambassador. I chanced upon Ruiza, the second placer out of more than 80 women who joined, after garnerning over 1700 'likes'. Coincidentally, I was looking for the next girl to feature for 'She Puts the UMP in PLUMP'. I added and messaged her, scanned her photos, and found out that she is perfectly fitting to be our next plump feature. CHECK HER OUT!

What is your size? UK 14/42

Who is your style icon?

No one in particular. I enjoy reading magazines. I buy 1 or 2 every month and that is where the fashion inspiration comes from. I also observe Singapore’s street style and just say, “that looks great! I’ll try that look in the coming days too!” But if there’ll be a specific celebrity it would be Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach or Leighton Meester from Gossip Girl.

Favorite store/s?

New Look, Bysi, H&M, Cotton On, Mango, SM Department Stores

Favorite pieces of clothing to wear?

I am all about skirts and dresses, worn with comfy pair of open toes (heels or sandals) They make me feel all girly!

How do you want people to see your style?
I don’t follow a specific style. But if I would have to pick an adjective it would be “CHIC AND POLISHED.” I want to wear something that is appropriate enough to take from office to mall / bar gig / dinner with friends / night out. I adore clothes that come with layers or ruffles. I love accessorizing too because it dolls up any simple outfit. I love bangles, chunky belts or layered necklaces; they add extra oomph and color.

Where do you get your confidence from?

Everywhere! Generally I think it also comes from within, because I know for myself that I have other things to offer, I don’t dwell on the negatives and I keep improving and appreciating all the positives. I have a gratitude journal which I sometimes update and read often that reminds me of all the good things I have--blessings and talents. Thank you for this extra fat, it gave me more curves, bust and hips. I’m lucky enough as well to be around people (siblings and friends) who give compliments generously and constructive criticism.

It’s a huge help that I worked in Singapore too! I learned to express myself even more, because I can take the train, bus or commute without getting strange looks from people and often, there are strangers who sometimes come to tell me that I look great or they love a piece (shoes, earrings, skirt) that I’m wearing, then ask me where I bought them, so it makes me feel good that there are people who love my choices [of clothing]. I discovered blogs and joined communities for plus size women which not only sells clothes, but does group dancing classes, pageants, modeling and personality development. The goal basically is to inspire one another.

How important are other people’s perception of you to you?
I think, no matter what size we are, we have experienced and heard unpleasant things from other people. I am no exception to this, being plump since I was a kid and growing up, I used to get a lot of “Maganda ka, pero mas maganda kung papayat ka” comments but I was never the sensitive type of person. I just smile, maybe that’s my defense mechanism and I focus on the “Maganda ka” part. I am the love-me-or-hate-me-it-really-doesn't-bother-me kind of person. I’ve long accepted that you can’t please everyone. You just have to feel beautiful and smart, and when you feel so, other people will see you that way, too!

Awesome answers. I think I'll start writing a gratitude journal too. It's a brilliant instant pick-me upper. Thanks, Ruiza. :)

Plump ♥,

Danah

She puts the UMP in PLUMP (#8)

When I checked our email account for this blog, I was actually surprised to see a message that wasn't junk mail. It was a REAL EMAIL from a REAL HUMAN BEING! Usually we don't get emails from our readers (though we'd really be MEGA HAPPY if you'd send us emails regarding ANYTHING you want to say), so this was a first and it made me excited to read it. :D

Here's the email which was sent almost a week ago:

Yesterday was my first time to come across your blog. I super love it! I especially love the part of your blog where you show fashionable plumps from all over the world. =) It's very inspiring. Oh! How rude am I that I forgot to introduce myself. Tsk! My name is Jojobabe Mae Rudillas, I am 22 years old, a registered nurse. I am from Cebu but I am currently working here in Shanghai. As far as I could remember, I was skinny for the first 5 years of my life (only). Basically, I was fat my whole life! I must admit that I hated myself for being fat. I used to be really insecure because when I was young, I couldn't join in the dance club of our school. During school presentations, I would not be picked every time I would audition because I was fat and (according to the judges) I would not look good on cute little skirts and sleeveless tops. Being an emotional eater, I would eat to comfort myself, thus the very rapid weight gain.

Fortunately, my family was very supportive of me. They know how I love to dance so they sent me to dance schools and any other art school there is. Finally, years of attending confidence-building seminars paid off. I was able to truly embrace being fat. I was very confident of my body that no matter what my friends would say, I would not be turned down by their BABOY-ish comments about me. It was during that period of my life that I can say I bloomed and people started noticing what I could do instead of what I can't because I'm fat. I even became the president of our high school dance club! AND I was part of almost every presentation in our school--may it be singing, dancing, essay writing and acting activities.

That continued until college. Sometimes, I still feel insecure especially when I see my pretty, skinny, and taken friends. Sometimes, I feel like the reason why I am still single is because of my body. But what the hell? Why would I want to be with a man who's not willing to accept how huggable and shapely my body is?

Thanks for taking time to read this you two. =) I love your style by the way. I hope I could be featured as your Plump Pinay of the week.

First of all, I cannot help but feel connected to Jojobabe's story. I remember how I would be turned down whenever I auditioned to be in the cheer leading competition because I was "fat", way back in high school. To make me feel better, they'd put me in the PEP squad. It made me feel like my body was a burden, a hindrance to my passion. Thank God I instantly came to senses, realizing that we should not let ourselves be put in a box by someone else, just because we don't fit the mold they dictate. WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS, BE WHOEVER WE WANT TO BE, EXCEL AND SHINE, NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL WE ARE. We all have the right to be excellent and marvelous. PERIOD. I'm so glad to know that someone out there is not letting her body stop her from being awesome. If only more women today knew how to work with their bodies, the world would be full of confident, secure, and bright ladies.

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What is your size? US size 14-16

Who is your style icon?

My style icon is Victoria Beckham because she is classy. I also look up to Katy Perry because of her vintage look and because she doesn't care about what other people think of her outfit. Locally, I like Ann Curtis because her style is playful and chic.

Favorite Store? I love Zara and H&M because they have my size! I am also a huge fan of ukay-ukay (thrift shops)! They have everything--grandma tops, cadet cardigans and vintage items.

Favorite outfit to wear? I am a fan of colorful dresses. It brightens up everything. I also love anything vintage -- big buttons, puffy sleeves and all. I love pretty cardigans and lacy tops.

How do you want people to see your style?

I want people to see my style as something very flattering and not too daring. I want them to see it as something they can take inspiration from.

Where do you get your confidence from?

I get mine from confidence-boosting blogs like this one. Sometimes, when I'm a little low [on confidence], I just look at the pages of my scrapbooks and reminisce about all the things I have

achieved in life and all the people I have made happy.

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

Before, it mattered a whole lot to me. It would make or break my day. I would be very emotional if I hear some side comments about how fat I am. However, I can honestly say that right now, I can easily shrug it off and let it pass. Though sometimes, I still can't help but get affected by some negative comments. After all, I am still a work in progress. As with the positive perceptions, I remember it by heart.

Message to other Plump Pinays:

Stay beautiful and sexy! Surround yourself with people who love you and accept you for who you are. They will help a lot in building your confidence. Embrace your body and acknowledge your beauty, but don't rush on achieving self-acceptance. It takes years and years of work. Don't be too hard on yourself. Never say never to anything that's labeled "FOR SKINNY GIRLS ONLY!" Long live the pretty, hot, and thick babes! =)

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Amazingly said! :) We are so happy to be a part in boosting your confidence, Jojobabe! Continue contradicting what the society dictates a dancer must look like! SHAKE THAT FINE BOOTY, GIRL!

Plump love,

Danah