BIG SISTER MAGAZINE

Big Sister Magazine joins Shades & Powder  L.T.D. Nigeria in a breast cancer workshop. The workshop which took place in Lagos on Friday October 28, 2011 with the theme; 'Eradicating the scourge & ensuring a better future for the African woman', witness a turn out of participants both male and female, celebrities, models and some cancer patients.
Among the guest speaker for the event was Elsie-Coco, founder and publisher of Big Sister Magazine as well as Dr. Salako, the C.E.O. of Sebbeckly cancer care 7 support center, Lagos, Nigeria, a non-governmental organization which Shade & Powder is an affiliate
The workshop was also a forum of unveiling the big event tagged; 'The Celebrity Designers Fashion Show, a nouvelle initiative of Shades & Powder designed to celebrate and showcase the designs of Nigerian/Ghanaian celebrity couturiers. The fashion show which is slated for December 4th 2011 in Lagos, is aimed at driving breast cancer awareness campaign and also raise funds to breast cancer patient through surgery.

 

A cross session of those on the high sit Elsie-Coco(far right)

 

Dr. Salako

 

Entertaining questions from the audience

Elsie-coco

 

Mary-Collete(Shades&Powder coordinator)

 

Shades&Powder team getting some Big Sister hugs

 

Funbi-a participant

 

A cross session of participants

 

Question session

 

Elsie-coco

THE PLUS INDUSTRY STANDS UP TO FIGHT FOR ONE OF THEIR OWN-ERICA WATSON

 Earlier in the month, the plus industry rallied round to support one of their own, plus size comedienne Erica Watson who happened to be latest victim of size-ism.                                                                         
It was brought to Erica's attention by fans through phone and mail that TV One's new show “Love That Girl” a network targeting the African-American community showed a clip of Actress Tatyana Ali's head on Erica's body in a "before & after" weight loss photo picture for a cheap laugh ' without even receiving permission from Erica Watson nor did they receive permission from Erica’s photographer, Charlie T. who shot the photo.

                Photo credit: Charlie T

Erica who is best known for her one-woman stand up comedy show, “Fat Bitch.” A show she uses comedy to tackle issues of stereotypical portrayals of black women in the media and this TV One mishap is just the type of situation she speaks about in her show reacted bitterly on her facebook, in her own words she said; 'I feel so hurt and disrespected. The TVOne shoe 'Love That Girl' starring Tatyana Ali used my picture from the neck down, WITHOUT MY PERMISSION to make a fat joke. .....What can i do about this? So ignorant and uncalled for. 
 
     The photo


Following up to this, the plus size community and woman everywhere rouse and rallied together to support Miss Watson condemning the act by TV show.After receiving mails, fb messages and tweets all not in support of the humiliating stunt, TV One released the following statement of apology:

'TV One was unaware that “Love That Girl’s” production company used a flier in Monday night’s episode that we now understand included an unauthorized image of Erica Watson. The producers of the comedy have taken the material out of the show, and we have taken it off of our website. We offer our sincere apologies to Erica Watson and are especially sorry that it has caused offense and resulted in hurt feelings when TV One has always worked to present a positive and inclusive portrayal of black Americans of all sizes and shapes, ages and cultural backgrounds'.


Erica however expresses her sincere appreciation to the everyone and the plus size community for their love and support. Among those who posted comments of support on her fb status was Elsie-Coco, the Founder/Publisher of BIG SISTER Magazine, in her words, she said; 'It was about time they apologized, ENOUGH of the disrespect. This is one of the typical reason that brought about the birth of Big Sister Magazine'.

PLUS SIZE CHARACTERS ARE CHANGING TV

CNN' Stephanie Goldberg, posted and interesting  article entitled;

                                        PLUS SIZE CHARACTERS ARE CHANGING TV.

When a 324-pound Chelsea Settles moved to Los Angeles, she brought a bikini-clad mannequin along to inspire her to lose weight.
Now, as the first season of "Chelsea Settles" unfolds on MTV, the mannequin in the 23-year-old reality star's bedroom is nothing more than a functional statement piece. Doubling as a coat rack and guitar stand -- "It's definitely not what it was when I first started," Settles says.
And Settles' reality show, originally marketed as a weight loss/transformation series, has progressed right along with her.
The pilot, which focused on Settles' measurements and eating habits, gave way to less weight-fixated second and third episodes about a college graduate trying to make it in a new city.
So why mention her weight at all?

Read the full article on edition.cnn.com/

Hair Salon Opens Exclusively For Plus-Size Women In England

 
For many overweight women, the idea of trip to a High Street hair salon is enough to have them running for the hills.
The average salon is a minefield for the big-boned. The gowns are too small, the mirrors are endless - and there's a very real danger of getting wedged in either chair or sink. That's not to mention the appraising stares from fellow customers - almost always thinner than you.

The list goes on and on - but now, for many women, that trauma can end as a hairdresser catering solely for fat people has opened its doors.


Trim Bashar Brown, 31, opened his business after learning overweight clients felt discriminated against in salons full of slim women.
Bashar, from Rainham, Kent, spent £5,000 making sure his salon is fat friendly - complete with an extra-large seat, roomier gowns, and even wide-neck basins for washing hair.
For now he is running the Hair By Bashar out of his home, but plans to expand as he already has more than 50 clients after just a few months in business. 
Bashar said: 'I've been a hairdresser for years. Increasingly, larger women were telling me how they hate going to the salon because they are filled with slim, glamorous women. 
'For them, it feels the same as walking into a gym full of ultra-fit people. They feel like everyone is staring at them. 

 'I just thought - 'this isn't right!' and decided to set up a salon where overweight people would feel comfortable.

Read up more at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2041935/First-hair-salon-dedicated-fat-women-opens-UK.html 

Our Plus Icons: Do They Deserve To Be?

THIS IS ONE INTERESTING PIECE THAT WE THOUGHT SHOULD SHARE HERE. IT'S A PIECE FROM CASSY JONE-MCBRYDE, A FEATURE EDITOR OF DAILY VENUS DIVA,AN ONLINE PLUS SIZE MAGAZINE.
ENJOY:

I have seen a growing trend lately.

Plus size women that we revere as advocates for the community beginning to lose weight and denounce their former curvy bodies. I wonder if they ever were our advocates?

I began writing this piece ready to quote chapter and verse the statements of some of these women to show how contradictory they have become. I was prepared to blast them for shunning us. As I began to write feverishly I started to question why I was so upset? When did I begin to hold them accountable for my voice in the community and when did they ask to be my voice for that matter?

Several celebrities as of late have become famous while curvaceous. On their road to stardom they exclaimed they were proud of who they were, never changing for anyone and proud to be curvy and talented. As they walked on stage to accept their Oscar, Grammys or Emmys or as they rose to the top of the best sellers list we yelled from our living rooms, tweeted their win and celebrated with them.

As their popularity rose, they slowly began to drop the weight. The latest weight loss machines came calling and offered to transform them from their former selves to a new slender, better version. Our curvy Icons began to no longer speak positively about who they were before but instead giggled in anticipation as to what they will eventually become when they are thinner.

We looked to them to be our voice because we FINALLY had the platform we felt we needed to speak about the issues that plague us. Through them we can demand change right?  As our proclaimed Icons popularity grew, we failed to hear our rally cry during their appearance on Jay Leno or Entertainment Tonight. It was replaced with  ”I am now happier than ever!” and “Now the world  has opened up for me!”. We looked at these statements as a slap in our face.

Really? Happier now? Weren’t you happy when you won your awards and was recognized by your peers?

Maybe they weren’t happy at all. I began to look at these former plus divas for what they truly are, women just like you and me. Women that may battle with the same frustrations as every curvy girl goes through. Perhaps when they look in the mirror they still see that curvy girl that has a hard time seeing the beauty everyone else sees. They began to believe the hype of those around them who promise them the world if only they lost weight. I can’t say that many of us would handle the scrutiny from the media any differently. We could easily fall prey to the same societal pressures or not.

But did these women ever reach out to us for support or did we assume the hand was already extended just because our curves connected us. They never looked to us for enlightened awareness of the plight of the community. We have to stop behaving like we are lovers scorned, upset that they didn’t call after we courted them for months. Just because they accepted our proverbial roses of praise with enthusiasm doesn’t mean we were ever dating.

It is now time for us to stop placing curvy women in the spotlight on pedestals unbeknownst to them. They never asked to be our role models. Now don’t get me wrong, I still celebrate when I see a curvy diva make it. A win for one is an advancement in the movement. We get so excited that we forget that we may not be witnessing the birth of an Icon or a revolutionary in the movement, although what they may have accomplished could spark a revolution. We should all celebrate them when it happens, keeping in mind what it is-one win, one step

 

Let’s start by becoming that Icon or revolutionary where we are.

Create your own platform for change. Don’t wait for the next big thing to happen. When we begin to do that we no longer need validation from anyone else. Listen to what curvy celebrities are really saying in interviews and statements to the media. You will find that sometimes it strikes similarities to the conversation we have with ourselves. We will then begin to understand why they did what they did, leaving us feeling less jilted.

Written by Cassandra Jones-Mcbryde

Cassandra Jones-McBryde serves as Features Editor for Daily Venus Diva. She is US Director of the Fuller Women Expo, responsible for bringing together a number of outstanding local and international speakers and celebrities, seminars and workshops that attract attendees, sponsors, vendors and exhibitors from throughout North America. She also the Founder of The Fuller Woman Network which is a network of women from across the world who share our mission of self-love. Cassandra is also the co-founder and C.E.O. Pretty Girl Project, a non profit organization that helps girls realize their inner and outer beauty during critical stages of development.

STYLE PAIR OF THE WEEK

We spotted two of our beautiful fuller sisters (not related) on similar outfits. We paired them and look at what we've got!!! Wow! Now, they do pass for blood sisters or what do you think?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR QUEEN-UWEM UBOM

Thinking of how unique you are
that bring so much pride to others, including us!
We celebrate your unconquerable spirit,
that lets you meet every challenge
with confidence, enthusiasm and persistence.
We admire your poise.
We treasure your uniqueness;
There can only be one you,
and we feel blessed to know
such an extraordinary person.
We appreciate and cherish you,
we love you.
Happy birthday our queen!
May each new birthday
be the best one ever for you;
You deserve it!

From staffs & management of Big Sister Magazine/Entertainment.

BIG SISTER'S INTERVIEW WITH UWEM ON OUR MAIDEN EDITION