CURVY Premiere Issue

Read the publication

THE PREMIERE ISSUE MAGAZINE PREMIERE ISSUE www.curvymagazine.com 100+ PAGES OF Style 100+ PAGES OF Style BONUS! GET SWIM SEXY! PLEDGE #NOFOMO 5 THINGS YOUR FRIENDS ARE LYING TO YOU ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS 10 WAYS TO BE Sexy GET Spotlight STEALING Eyes FEATURED INTERVIEW LONI LOVE TALKS LOVE LIFE & CATS BEHIND THE SEAMS WITH ANNAFESTA!

NEW YORK CITY BOOK NOW: (866) 445-5434 CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 2

BOOK NOW: (877)-296-8002 WWW.AMADEUSWORLDWIDE.COM CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 3

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 4 PREMIERE SIZE SEXY “Fashion changes every season, but Style is timeless”. KeKe Simot, Editor Transition Style! P. 98 Mix bold prints of this seasons colors with your winter pieces. The current pantone color of the year 2017 is Greenery. 16 Get Spotlight Stealing Eyes 44 5 Things Your Friends are Lying to You About Relationships 68 Interview with Loni Love 88 Behind the Seams with Annafesta 172 #NOFOMO COVER STORIES

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 5 CONTENTS 100 Beauty Bag 101 110 New York Fashion Week 180 The Five New Red Lips to Love 200 Key Hair Tips to Lessen Your Bad Hair Days BEAUTY BIRDS AND THE BEES 390 Mommy Porn 420 How to be Multi-Orgasmic 460 Top 15 Reasons to by Single By Summer 480 It’s Just a Little Sex BODY LOVE 240 How to Love Your Body 290 Shave Calories without Losing the Food You Love 300 Feeling Sexy After a Baby 340 Celebrity Weight Loss 360 Fun Fitness Alternatives LIFE CLASS 520 Year Long Resolutions 540 Great Success Through Mindset 550 Be Authentically You 560 Falling in Love with Yourself THREE KEY HAIR TIPS FROM HAIR CARE SPECIALIST RIC BRENIN COVER: Cover Model: Cleo Fernandez in Wild and Sexy P. 66 PRIMARY COLORS MAKE A TRIUMPHANT COMEBACK 660 Wild & Sexy 800 Yin & Yang 980 Transition Style 104 Bold Moves 110 A Little Fancy, Huh? 118 Silvana Denker: The Triple Threat 120 The Girl Next Door 128 Ageless & Sexy 136 Ditch Body Shame & Be Body Proud with Ann Mahoney from The Walking Dead 138 Night Life 146 Sexy in the City 154 What’s Sexy Now… Chic for Cheap 156 Revamp Your Wardrobe on a Dime 158 Vintage Sexy 166 CURVY’s Sexy Secret 172 Shoe Sexy 184 Chic & Sexy 190 Gym Sexy FASHION & STYLE Editor’s Pick See what’s on our LOVE LIST ANN MAHONEY NIGHT LIFE

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 6 FROM THE EDITOR P erfection takes time. Especially when you are starting a Revolution. Welcome to the first full issue of CURVY Magazine. It has been six years in the making. I started CURVY as just a blog in late 2010. Just based on branding, alone, the website opened with a little over 10,000 followers. During the first year, I fell in love with the idea of launching CURVY as a full-fledged publication. The more I pushed forward, the more I saw how much a publication like CURVY was needed. It become more than just a place I could gush about plus size fashion. It became a rally cry from deep inside to promote body diversity. The response from our following regarding the word ‘‘CURVY’’ was overwhelming. It touched so many different women who were of different sizes, shapes, ethnicities, economic backgrounds, and countries. I was blown away, receiving emails from women who couldn’t of been more than a size 4 but had curves asking to model for the magazine. The next set of emails would be from women up to sizes 26. I realized, then, that CURVY had crossed over and had the ability to reach a maltitude of women. This wasn’t a potential plus size magazine anymore. Let’s be honest, the fact remains that there has not been a plus size magazine that lasted more than a few years in print. Why would I think I could be successful where so many had tried and failed? I had a ‘jinkies’ moment and thought, ‘‘What if I didn’t make a plus size magazine, but a CURVY magazine?!’’ I soon started changing the content and branding to reflect every size woman. Every woman has a curve. It is what connects us. So, I made a declaration of no more one size fits all content. Yes, over time we got the ‘‘she is not ‘plus size’ or ‘she is too big to be a model’’’ comments. But with consistancy, our following started to learn and accept that CURVY wasn’t plus sized, but for all sizes. By 2014, I finally started the real hunt to build an editorial team, investors, and publishing partners to create a realistic, mainstream, competing publication that empowers all women. It took many meetings, flights, countless hours of pitching, me moving my family across country, a lot of trials, tribulations, tears, and a bit of hair pulling and nail biting but we are HERE! Once again, welcome to CURVYMagazine, where you can see your favorite super model, yourself, your best friend, your sister, or even your mother grace our pages. Now, with over half a million followers, this premiere issue is the start of our monthly publication for the FIRST TIME EVER! Our editorials are shot, not only in the US, but in Brazil, Germany, Canada, UK, Italy, France, and Spain. I am very proud of the work our team is accomplishing around the world. It’s a REVOLUTION! I Iook forward to reading your feedback. And I hope our team and myself have done you proud. KeKe Simot, Editor in Chief KeKe Simot IT’S THE REVOLUTION BEHIND THE SEAMS WITH ANNA FESTA SEXY IN THE CITY ANN MAHONEY @kekesimot fb.com/kekesimot @kekesimot COVER GIRL WILD & SEXY GET SPOTLIGHT STEALING EYES

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 7 10 FOR THIS ISSUE Looking for new shoes? Check out P. 174 for some sexy shoe inspiration! Learn how to fall in love with yourself P. 56 Get a sneak peek at some of the most fascinating insights coming up in the pages ahead. THINGS I LOVE The five NEW, RED lips to love P. 18 Learn how to feel like your sexy self again after having a baby! P. 30 Transition styles from winter to spring P. 98 Orange undertones make this red lip intoxicatingly attractive. Society is changing gradually to embrace all sizes. P.136 Looking good and feeling confident is very important to me as I step into any meeting. P. 16

EDITOR IN CHIEF KeKe Simot EDITOR, Posthumously Jennifer Rocker PUBLISHER The CURVY Revolution ASSOICATE PUBLISHER Charles Pascalar PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR Michelle Mitchell LEGAL Mason Law, PLLC INTL. SALES DIRECTOR Srinivas Nunna MARKETING / PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR Micheal Belgrave US. SALES DIRECTOR Adam Simot PUBLISHING CONTRIBUTORS Danielle Marcus, Antonia Hall, Jazmine Diaz, Ric Brenin Raychel Harvey-Jones, Kristen Rocker Wiles, Brie Stoll PHOTOGRAPHERS: Adriana Libini, Brian Bailey, Lia B, Silvana Denker, Maya Sherwood, Brie Childers CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR Mariana Silva-Buck BEAUTY EDITOR Crystal Carmen LATIN AMERICA EDITOR Vanessa Solano ART DIRECTOR Nicole Dean FASHION DIRECTOR Shatonia Amee A&E EDITOR Jazzlyn Kirkland MANAGING EDITOR Kristina Williams-Lee CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Silvana Denker STYLE EDITOR Lizzie Miller TRAVEL EDITOR Rolise Rachel EDITOR AT-LARGE Lisa Robertson EDITORIAL CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 8

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 9 INSIDE BEAUTY Beauty Previous Cover Model: GiGi Marie

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 10 EYES TO KILL ARMANI BEAUTY: EYESHADOW QUAD The ‘‘Eyes to Kill’’ palette includes an extraordinary matte that easily blends with an exceptionally luminous satin veil for a crease-proof make-up that lasts for hours. A palette of 4 harmonious colors instinctively follows the natural approach to eye make-up, for long-lasting, intense matteness. BEAUTY BAG 101 BY TERRY HYALURONIC HYDRA POWDER A true cosmetic innovation: this colorless, micro-fine, Hyaluronic acid power is the new beauty step that can be used day and night, after foundation or skincare. SILK FOUNDATION ARMANI LUMINOUS LE VOLUME DE CHANEL MASCARA This high-precision mascara achieves instant volume and an intensely lush colour in a single stroke. Its innovative formula expands, plumping lashes to their fullest. The exclusive, new ‘Snowflakes’ brush combines long and short bristles to deliver an extreme, eye-opening effect. A smudge-free, waterproof pomade formula that performs as an all-in-one brow product. This creamy, multi- tasking product glides on skin and hair smoothly to create clean, defined brows. It is ideal for oily skin and in humid climates. BY SILVER REID S easons changing isn’t just about going through your closet and changing out your wardrobe. Your makeup can also use a switch up. Summer brings about lots of changing from golds and tans and beiges to warmer colors. As the season is quickly changing, so will the tones in your skin. Reaching into your makeup bag and throwing on some bronzer and mascara and ‘boom!’ you’re done, will not be the first option for fabulous beauty this season. Instead, you are going to want to define your look to go hand-in-hand with the fashion trends for this season. We are going to see a lot more conservative and elegant looks with a splash of wild. The beauty picks in this read will give you the key players to keep on your makeup team to have you looking like the superstar quarter back!

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 11

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 12

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 13

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 14

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 15 •

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 16 FROM CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE NEW! NEW! SPOTLIGHT STEALING BY KEKE SIMOT ADVERTISEMENT

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 17 W elcome my new found beauty friends, Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream and Eye Swirl. For a few weeks, I tried out these new products. Now, let me tell you how everything went! I like to review beauty products “in the field,” so I used Olay’s Eye Swirl before going to dinner with a new client. It was actually a great week to test out beauty products because I was hit with so many work deadlines all at once. This meant a slew of late nights and early mornings for me. Before dinner, I was actually really worried about looking tired and worn out. It’s in bad taste for a new client to see you appearing over-worked before you even start! I kept giving myself pep talks, encouraging myself not to reschedule my meeting. I honestly wanted to reschedule to sleep so I wouldn’t show up looking exhausted. I broke out my new bottle of Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Eye Swirl and gave it a try for the first time. I wasn’t expecting much, and in the back of my head I was still trying to talk myself out of rescheduling. But, when it was time to apply my makeup, I instantly noticed a difference. The skin under my eyes felt smoother, more hydrated, and my tired under eye circles were lighter! I applied a moisturizer to the rest of my face, but I didn’t need to do so under my eyes. I just applied my usual primer under my eyes. I was also very surprised that I did not need to apply cover up to my under eyes. The tired look to my eyes was gone and my under-eye circles were noticeably lightened. I was able to leave for dinner with very light, natural-looking makeup, feeling quite confident. Looking good and feeling confident is very important to me as I step into any meeting. After my crazy, long week, Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Eye Swirl did just that for me. I admire other professional women like Michelle Jubelirer (COO of Capitol Music) who makes it look effortless. For eyes that steal the spotlight, more and more women are counting on Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Eye Swirl Cream. Check out it for yourself to look and feel your best! ADVERTISEMENT

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 18 Love NEW RED LIPS THE FIVE BY BRENT TAALUR RAMSEY Bright and bold, the red lip is this season’s equivalent to a statement bag. Gloss it up for extra shine and dazzle – a great accessory to any sparkling smile. CURVY PICKS: Dior Rouge Dior in Trafalgar with Too Faced’s Lip Injection in Superzie GLOSSY RED Sure, glossy is great, but a matte look maintains the composure that says you’re equal parts Marilyn and Audrey. CURVY PICKS: MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo MATTE RED A rather flirty lip color, this season’s pink tones can go right for either date night or an evening soiree. CURVY PICKS: Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Tabloid Sculpting Lipstick PINK PASSION 2 Orange undertones make this red lip intoxicatingly attractive. CURVY PICKS: Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick. RED VENOM 4 1 3 The vamp look has been going strong for seasons now – and why shouldn’t it? It’s dark and mysterious, and it looks great with those who have an alabaster skin tone. CURVY PICKS: Bobbi Brown’s Black Velvet Collection Lip Color in Black Maple DARK SHADOWS 5 TO Try these out with DESIGNER’S “LIP STICK” ast year, they were plumped, stained and lined, but lips have never been bolder, more beautiful and more daring. Whether you follow Kylie Jenner’s every pucker or not, this year will be a time for stepping up the lip game and putting on your favorite matte, glossy or vamp lip looks.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 19 DARK SHADOWS RED VENOM 4 GLOSSY RED 1 PINK PASSION 2 MATTE RED 3 5

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 20 KEY HAIR TIPS TO LESSEN YOUR BAD HAIR DAYS BY RIC BRENIN Celebrity Stylist and Hair Care Specialist, Ric Brenin, gives us his top 3 hair care tips that he swears by. No matter what your hair type, the following simple do’s and don’ts will give you healthier and more manageable hair. Let us help you kiss those bad hair days goodbye! FOR MORE HAIR TIPS, FOLLOW RIC ON THE WEB. | INSTAGRAM: @RICBRENIN | GOOGLE: RIC BRENIN | #RICBRENIN 3. Lawn care is like hair care. If you want your blow dry to take forever and not hold a style – never get a trim. But, if you want lush, thick hair that can hold a curl for the gods – get a trim or a ‘‘dusting’’ every six to eight weeks. Hair is like gras. If you don’t trim, it will look like hay! 1. Brush it out! When you are on the phone gossiping and chit-chatting about your loser (or amazing) boyfriend, use that time to brush your hair. At least three times a week, brush your hair with a 100% boar bristle hair brush. It gives your hair a natural shine, it helps to retain moisture, and it helps your hair dry faster for those quickie, lunch hour blow outs. 2. Change up your ponytails! Excessive ponytail-ing can ruin your hair line and crown. If you need to wear ponytails often, change the direction of the ponytail so it is not always in the same place. Also, stay away from rubberbands. Make your ponytail with a protective band. The band should have some sorta soft material around it. CERAMIC BARREL BOAR BRISTLE MASON PEARSON HANDY BRUSH

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 21 a boutique stunner on sunset www.graftononsunset.com | facebook.com/graftononsunset 8462 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069 for reservations please call: (323) 654-4600 Curvy Magazine Ad.indd 1 3/14/2016 4:50:12 PM

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 22 INSIDE BODY LOVE BODY love!

Red Bra: Shock Absorber Clothing: H&M CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 23

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 24 HOW TO YOUR BODY love! BY ANTONIA HALL Goddesses come in every size Y ou only get one body in this lifetime, and making peace with your physical form is an integral part of your happiness. It’s the vessel that carries you through life, and it’s so important to love and appreciate all that it allows you to do. Unfortunately, mixed societal messages about physical ideals can make loving our bodies more challenging. It’s time to let go of stereotypes. The Western World is awakening to the realization that Goddesses come in all sizes. It’s our variations in sizes, shapes and colors that makes this world such a beautiful place. Fortunately, self assuredness and self-love can (and should) arise from within each and every one of us. Treating yourself with the compassionate loving care with which you deserve can shift any discouraging and sometimes hurtful messages we receive around ideas of beauty. Through daily rituals of self-care, you can connect with yourself at a deeper level, bringing about increased feelings of self-esteem and well-being. When we are in a new relationship, we go out of our way to make that person happy. I am suggesting that you begin a love affair with yourself in this same way. Start to add new self-care treatments to your day, bring awareness to the activities revolving around your body’s care, and express your own love to yourself. Mindful awareness in each moment can shift perceptions. We can oftentimes go into autopilot throughout the day. Instead of absent-mindedly showering off, become aware of the warm water as it gently caresses your body, feeling your muscles relax. Consciously touch yourself with loving care. Smooth a layer of delicious organic coconut oil all over your body, admiring your beautiful self. While it may feel strange at first, you can generate love for yourself by looking in the mirror and expressing love. Tell yourself how beautiful you are. Embrace your curves, and your unique shape and beauty. Say, “I love you” to the mirrored image of yourself, and compliment things you appreciate about your body. You deserve your love, don’t forget to gift it to yourself each and every day. Antonia Hall is an author, self-improvement expert, spiritual teacher, longtime blogger and author of the best selling book, The Ultimate Guide to a Multi- Orgasmic Life, available in bookstores and on Amazon. She has a B.A. in Psychology and received her M.A. at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. Learn more at antoniahall.com and follow her on Twitter at @EdenSol. Life is too short to go around carrying societal judgments around with us about our physical form. Ideally, the body reflects the loving care we have offered it, and if your body doesn’t feel and appear well-loved it may be good to ask yourself why.

Pink Bra: Shock Absorber Clothing: H&M CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 25

Lakers shirt: Adidas Clothing: H&M CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 26

Clothing: H&M CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 27

Lakers shirt: Adidas Clothing: H&M CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 28

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 29 SHAVE CALORIES WITHOUT LOSING THE FOOD YOU LOVE W hen it comes to healthy weight management, small steps add up. In fact, little changes in eating and activity level have a more positive impact on health than drastic ones. This is because you are more likely to stick with smaller changes over time. Extreme diets and intensive exercise regimens may work well at first, but they rarely last over the long-term. THE BALANCING ACT Healthy weight is all about balancing food intake with physical activity. Most of us could improve our energy balance by shaving just 100 calories a day off our usual intake. It’s not difficult: • Lighten up your favorite coffee drink with non-fat milk and sugar- free syrup. • Trim all fat from beef, pork and chicken. Remove the skin from poultry. • Dish up slow-churned, reduced- calorie ice cream in place of regular. • Enjoy raw vegetables with salsa or fat-free ranch dip instead of chips. SMALL CHANGES ADD UP Here are more great ideas that will cut calories from your daily intake, possibly without your even noticing: DOWNSIZE YOUR DISHES Use smaller plates and bowls to help you eat less. We tend to fill up the dish we’re using and then eat it all. Our brains also think we are getting more when the same amount of food is placed in a smaller dish. SAVOR YOUR MEALS Eating slowly helps you consume only what your body needs to feel satisfied. Eating too quickly, in less than 20 to 30 minutes, leads to overeating and feeling uncomfortably full afterwards. LEAVE SOME FOOD ON YOUR PLATE This is especially important if you grew up in the “clean plate club.” By leaving even a few bites, you can focus more on your internal signals of satisfaction and less on eating food just because it is there. DON’T EAT OUT OF A BAG OR BOX When you eat out of a package, you are likely to keep eating until it’s all gone – no matter how many servings the package actually contains. Pour one serving into a small bowl. CHOOSE YOUR GLASS WISELY Here’s another place where our eyes play tricks on us. When glasses are short and wide, we tend to fill them with more fluid and to drink more. Use a slender glass for any beverage except water. RETHINK YOUR DRINKS High-calorie beverages like soft drinks, juice drinks, energy drinks, specialty coffees and alcohol add calories just like solid foods. Whenever possible, replace these drinks with plenty of water. BROWN BAG YOUR LUNCH During the work week, commit to brown-bagging your lunch every day instead of ordering out. When you prepare meals at home, you’re in control not only of what you’re serving, but also of portion size. Save calories by using slimming ingredients like low-fat mayo and adding plenty of vegetables. BY LORI KAUFMAN Slim Down Your Coffee Order! Using skim milk and one sugar can cut calories in half.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 30 FEELINGSexy AFTER A BABY BY KRISTEN ROCKER WILES I t’s hard to get your sexy back after having a baby. Your life has changed dramatically. You are no longer spending your weekends drinking and making bad decisions. Instead, you are sitting at home looking at your stretch marks, loose skin, leaking breasts, and wishing you had time to sleep. My normal attire was sweatpants and I usually had spit-up on my shirt. Showers and clean clothes were luxuries. Like most new moms, I ran head first into an identity crisis. Trust me, I know it’s hard, but you need to remember to make time for yourself. Remember what sexy felt like. What made you feel beautiful? Was it doing your hair and makeup? Did dressing up, wearing heels, and shaving your legs make you feel feminine? Indulge yourself, even if it is only once a week. Don’t forget to exercise. Make exercise fun and try something new. Take a pole-dancing class, swim, or go for a walk. No time for a class? Just dance around your living room. Not only will it help to get rid of the baby belly, but the feel-good endorphins will start pumping and help to boost your mood. Put away the maternity clothes and buy a new outfit. It is hard to think about spending money on clothing that you hope will be too big in a few months; but it is important that you have something that fits you now, which will give you some confidence. Get a new hairdo, something different, but is easy to care for. Be adventuresome and change your color. Educate yourself by leaning on friends or relatives who have children. Support groups are good resources, also. Building assurance in your “mommy” skills will give you more confidence and help you feel more in control of your life. Have one baby outing per day to avoid feeling isolated. Running errands are always an option; but look for other choices, such as sitting on a blanket in the park or joining a mom and baby group. Try an in-home date night. After the baby goes to bed, order take-out or cook dinner with that special someone. Turn the television and cell phones off and don’t talk about baby. Do something that will re-light the spark inside of you. Use suggestive thinking. Read a steamy book or watch a hot movie. If you feel sexy, everyone else will think so also. Your body just did the most amazing thing possible and you should be proud of it. Find confidence in that and own it. Being sexy is based on how you feel about yourself. Own it, work it, and love it, because you are sexy. Remember what sexy felt like. What made you feel beautiful? Was it doing your hair and makeup? Did dressing up, wearing heels, and shaving your legs make you feel feminine? SEXY #1

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 31

BEINGSexy how you feel ABO OWN IT, WORK IT, AND LOVE CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 32

yIS BASED ON OUT YOURself. IT, BECAUSE YOU ARE SEXY. CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 33

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 34 CELEBRITY WEIGHT LOSS BY ANDREA AMADOR E very year in January, the networks are glutted with new commercials of celebrities endorsing weight loss programs and products. It’s been years since I have made the decision to stop using dieting and food deprivation to control my eating. For the most part, I have been able to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the majority of these ads, but somehow Jennifer Hudson’s Weight Watchers’® commercial slipped past my internal censors. BEFORE JENNIFER HUDSON VS. AFTER JENNIFER HUDSON I suspect it’s been re-edited since I first viewed it, (perhaps to be a bit less in-your-face offensive) but it still conveys the same point – Sad Before vs. Empowered After. When I first watched the ad, I immediately read Jennifer’s body language and saw how it spoke volumes of her discomfort with her body and her general state of uncertainty as she begins to sing the song, “I Believe In You and Me.” Then from behind her, the Jennifer today image takes the stage and gives her former heavier self a glimmer of a nasty look and goes on to steal the show, leaving the younger heavier Jennifer looking unpolished and a bit silly. It was that fleeting look of superiority that made me fume. Well, it was that and the other commercial she did for Weight Watchers®. Just imagine this – a commercial where Oscar winning actress/singer, Jennifer, basically discounts all of her accomplishments prior to Weight Watchers® as being nothing. Yes. Nothing. She said that before she lost weight she was living in a world of can’ts. Funny, it was my understanding that she was an amazingly accomplished woman who also happened to be working steadily on getting healthier and making great progress on her own for years before Weight Watchers® ever came into the picture offering her an endorsement deal. DIETS REINFORCE A NEGATIVE SELF-IMAGE It’s this blatant misrepresentation and exploitation of Ms. Hudson on Weight Watchers’® part that makes my blood boil. Believing that Weight Watchers® or any other diet program is the only way to get control of their eating, gain confidence and be proud of themselves is what keeps so many women going back to dieting time and time again, seeking validation from everyone else except themselves. “What’s wrong with this picture?” Where are our role models for self acceptance? Why aren’t these celebrities who are doing these endorsements all taking part in the Love Your Body Day campaign and helping our kids to believe in themselves? The point is, no matter what creative editing Weight Watchers® is or isn’t doing, our diet lovin’ society has brainwashed women and girls into thinking that we are nothing unless we have captured and maintained hold of the brass ring of thinness. HOW DO NEGATIVE MESSAGES AFFECT OUR KIDS? The numbers of young girls struggling with eating disorders and body image issues is staggering. Experts say that approximately 1 – 2 out of every 100 kids will develop an eating disorder. Several years ago, as a Brownie Girl Scout leader, I was shocked to overhear a group of 8 year old girls in my troop discussing the state of their bodies and relenting about eating too much. I soon found out that the source of their discontent came from their mothers. Today, in my continuing work with at-risk teen girls in the self esteem programs I provide in the local schools, I often hear girls’ tearful

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 35 stories explaining the connection between their damaged self esteem and their fractured families. It’s their inability to deal with the stress in their lives and the peer pressure they face that pushes them to turn to drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, and cutting (deliberately self- harming themselves by cutting their arms and legs and any other easily covered area with razors, bobby pins, hair clips, the edge of makeup mirrors and any other object that can pierce their skin). Most young children just want to be just like their mom. So if mom has hang-ups about her body, struggles with feelings of entitlement around her sexuality, allows others to talk down to her and push her around, feels pressured to lose weight or change herself to please others, obsesses about what she eats and criticizes her body, and treats herself poorly then her child will soon learn to do the same. Having been on both sides of the mother-daughter coin, I know this to be true. At 10, I was pushed into dieting and becoming obsessed about my thighs by well- meaning, but ignorant adults. Then when I became a mom, in my diet-crazed mind, I failed to consider how my hypocritical role modeling and my own unhealthy relationship with food and my body was diminishing my son’s self-esteem, making him a very unhappy and unhealthy little boy. To this day it has caused a rift in our relationship and I curse the moment I ever began the cycle of weight obsession in our home. You may argue and think that because your child hasn’t had such painful experiences, they won’t fall between the cracks and lose their sense of self. But it happens. It starts with your child seeing you losing a piece of yourself, and struggling to become whole by changing who you are. That’s what dieting does. RESULTS NOT TYPICAL The sad truth is for anyone to claim that losing weight is easy, that would be a lie. That’s why weight loss organizations have come to rely on celebrity endorsements. They want you to feel inspired and motivated and constantly reminded that the lucky person you see in the ads getting thinner could be you. But celebrities are paid to always be in the public eye. Their livelihood rests on their ability to be media darlings and to maintain their attractive appearance. That’s their bread and butter. They have easy access to personal trainers, private chefs and an endless wardrobe of beautiful clothes and fabulous stylists that can keep them looking and feeling great all the time. There’s no comparison. They have to lose weight or risk facing public humiliation. But you don’t have to endure that and you shouldn’t put your kids through that kind of torture, either, because it will destroy their sense of self esteem and lead them to question their lovableness. Diets reinforce a negative self image and keep you focused on what you can’t have. Just like riding a bike with training wheels, diets keep you dependent upon their rules and never give you a chance to learn that you can trust yourself around food. So, please, I urge you not to fall into the trap of looking for that quick and easy fix to lose weight. It’s not as easy as the ads make it look. Diets have a 98% failure rate. This is why you will see the Results Not Typical disclaimer prominently displayed in these ads. Take my advice. If you and your family want to make changes, get thinner and become healthier, do so by being willing to take your time. Consult your doctor. Learn how to master your food by eating in accordance with your body’s hunger and stopping before you get too full. Eat real food. Don’t focus on eliminating foods from your diet. Think in terms of adding more nutrient-rich foods. And for goodness sake, stop filling up on those ridiculous celebrity endorsements because as they say, “Results Are Not Typical.”

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 36 FUN FITNESS ALTERNATIVES BY JAZZLYN KIRKLAND YOU WON’T EVEN FEEL LIKE YOU’RE WORKING OUT E veryone comes to a point in their fitness journey whether you’re on a mission to lose a large amount of weight or to keep your body toned for maintenance that the thought of stepping foot into a gym makes you nauseous. This can happen from time to time and for most people, when this plateau hits, it turns into a downward spiral of not working out at all. But don’t fret, my friends, I have been on a mission to add some spice into my workout routine and went in search of fun workouts that didn’t give me that “hamster on a wheel” feeling you get sometimes from doing the same routine at the gym. I have searched far and wide for you and here are the top fitness alternatives I came across to get your mind off those calories you’re burning while you are doing it. Most of these activities I personally took part in but for the sake of not embarrassing myself, I will let the professional photos speak on my behalf. HOT YOGA Hot Yoga, you ask?…No, this is not Yoga in your lingerie, or a class that only allows aesthetically “hot’’ patrons participateinthisclass.WhatHotYogaisdefinedasis,“Yoga exercises performed under hot and humid conditions”. So, what does that mean to you and I? This hot new option for an alternative workout is sweeping the nation by storm. The most common form of hot yoga is “Bikram Yoga”. This specific form of the class typically lasts about an hour and a half going through 26 postures in a room heated to 105 degrees. Hot yoga has also been named one of Hollywood’s biggest celebrity beauty secrets. Famous followers of this intense form of yoga include, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Ashton Kutcher and Madonna, just to name a few. So, the next time you want to burn some extra calories and get your stretch on, check out a hot yoga class near you. For more information on Hot Yoga – www.bikramyoga.com POLE FITNESS At first glance, pole dancing can seem like a very intimidating venture: walking into a room full of barley clothed, hard bodies that can climb the pole with what appears to be little to no effort at all. I am here to tell you that pole dancing is made for EVERYBODY, emphasis on the body. Fawnia Dietrich, owner of Pole Fitness studio in Las Vegas, welcomes everyone as they are into her studio next to the Palms Hotel and Casino. Having an extensive background as an athlete and fitness model, Fawnias’ approach is to teach proper technique and inspire others to take care of their bodies. Looking for a way to melt away the pounds, or even just to tone up what you already have going on? Pole fitness will help target all of those for you, burning 250 to 400 calories in one class – about the same as 1 hour on the treadmill. When doing pole workouts, you are also lifting your own weight which gives you a combination of weight training and strength training. I recently spoke

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 37 to Mone’t Ha-sidi a plus size pole dance instructor out of Sacramento, California about how she feels about ladies of size participating in pole fitness. She stated, “Pole fitness is great for confidence and getting in touch with your sensual side. It is an activity based on progression so you are always having fun and being motivated to learn new moves and techniques”. INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING Wanting to get rid of that under arm “jiggle” but tired of doing push-ups and lifting dumbbells? How about trim or tone up those thighs but those 30 day squat challenges usually don’t make it past the first week. This awesome increasingly popular alternative to outdoor rock climbing works out everything, even muscles you didn’t even know you had. Indoor rock climbing is possible because of an architectural design of artificial structures that are made to mimic or recreate the experience of outdoor rock climbing. Climbing is a whole-body activity that puts all of your muscles to the test but just as any workout there are certain parts of the body that are going to be worked out more than others. The latissimus dorsi muscle more commonly known as your “lats” are being worked out at all times as this is the muscle that is assisting you in pulling your arms up and down. You will also be using your quadriceps, forearms, upper arms and calf muscles to help guide you to the top of your destination. The typical amount of calories burned in 1 hour is a right around 600. So, instead of you dreading the elliptical trainer and sitting on those machines, get up and get to climbing. For more information of Indoor Rock Climbing – www.indoorclimbing.com LEX TWERKOUT Initially, when I hear the word “twerk”, my mind automatically drifts off to Miley Cyrus awkwardly grinding on an extra blurred lined Robin Thick or Nicki Minaj bringing new life into the phrase, ‘‘baby got back’’with her single ‘‘Anaconda”. But little did I know there is a whole different side to the word, a side that is more empowering to woman (and men) and encourages positivity and self- expression. It is not a secret for celebrities like Christina Milian, Keke Palmer, Karruche Tran and Tiny just to name a few, are all in the hottest new workout trend “Lex Twerkout” by Lexy Panterra. Lexy is all about having fun and making sure you have fun in the process. This dancer from Los Angeles, California has concocted the perfect formula for a fun alternative to your regular workout. Combining a mixture of hip-hop dance, traditional cardio and strength training, Lex Twerkout works double-duty on building the body you want, as well as an extra boost in self- confidence. I spoke with Lexy herself and wanted to know how she felt about all the various body types that attend her classes. “Lex Twerkout makes you come out of your shell a lot more than most classes because of the way the class feels, and it is a fun way to workout. When taking my class, you burn up to 700 calories in 1 hour. I encourage all body types to participate in my class. Typically, in fitness classes, heavier ladies have a harder time walking into the regular classes but in here, the tables turn around because twerking has always been known for ladies that have more meat on their bones (even though anyone can do it.) But I feel like in my class, the atmosphere is so fun all the ladies come to this class READY!” For more information on Lex Twerkout – www.lextwerkout.com. ROLLER DERBY This sport is not for the faint of heart. Are you the type of person that likes to work out to blow off some steam? Well, this is just the sport for you. Roller Derby is a full contact sport that is played by 2 teams. The members of both teams skateonatrackgoingintothesamedirection.Thebreakdown of the game comes in “jams.” During this part of the game play, there is a team member who is the “jammer”. The way the points are scored is, when the jammer skates off to make laps around the teams, the opposing team is trying to prevent this person from passing them, while simultaneously the “jammer’s” team is trying to protect them and assist in the number of times he/she successfully completes laps around the track. So, now that you have the 411 on how the game is played, here is a little information about why this would be a great workout. For starters, this is a great source of cardio, given the fact that you are skating and pretty much fighting on wheels. Your legs, thighs and booty get a great workout from supporting your body on the skates, as well as build your balance and hand/eye coordination skills. So if you are into dressing up and kicking butt while getting a great workout, I suggest you check out how to join your local roller derby league. For more information on Roller Derby – www.sincityrollergirls.com

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 38 INSIDE BIRDS AND THE BEES Birdsand the Bees

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 39 MOMMY PORN BY DANIELLE MARCUS 10 SIZZLING READS THAT WILL LEAVE YOU HOT, BOTHERED, AND CRAVING FOR MORE! I t’s always refreshing to be able to curl up with a glass of your favorite wine and your Kindle, along with a hot and steamy love story that will have your heart racing, kitty purring, and anxious for the next page. With these ten reads, you’re sure to be left wanting more… or a special visit from your significant other.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 40 LOVE DON’T FAIL ME NOW BY: DANIELLE MARCUS AND YO LONI Camille and Keonta Rivers are newlyweds with a seemingly perfect relationship. Camille’s career as one of DDP’s hottest vocal artists is flourishing, and Keonta is content with allowing his wife to fulfill her dreams in music. However, no relationship is perfect, so when skeletons from their past comes falling out of the closet, their love is put to the ultimate test. Garren and Diamond Smith has been through the worst, and because of their struggles, it made their relationship stronger. Garren’s career as the top record producer in Detroit has its ups and downs, especially with certain artists fighting for the top spot on the label. When outside forces decides that they no longer want to see the couple happily married, it will take something way stronger than love to keep them together. SCARED OF LOVING YOU BY: INDIA T. NORFLEET Bailey Johnson is in between men and only interested in casual flings whenever the urge hits- or when her vibrator doesn’t make her scream at just the right pitch. But when she ends up in a compromising position one special night with a friend that she was never in the least bit sexually attracted to, Bailey gets the surprise of her life and soon realizes that Marcus is the only man who could put out the smoldering fire between her thighs, the soft whispers of her heart, and ultimately show her that she doesn’t have to be scared of love, especially when its from the right man... CHAMPAGNE FOR THE PAIN BY: TONII Tara Carter has been through the worst in life, she’s mentally broken and misguided, which leads to her having low self esteem. Her insecurities play a major role in the poor decisions that she continuously makes. IT ONLY RAINS IN WINTER BY: YONA AND MYAH Nineteen year old Rain has been through hell and back, but that’s what makes her stronger. Her life finally seemed to be gettingontrackwiththeloveofherlife,Dashon.Hegivesher everything that her heart desires and more. Well, everything except getting out of the drug game. Unfortunately for Rain, her biggest fear comes to life when he is brutally murdered right before her eyes, leaving her to pick up the pieces and to carry on with a life growing inside of her. At her lowest point, Rain runs into DeSean. He quickly becomes her best friend, her protector, and the only male figure for her son. Through DeSean, Rain meets Jahsir, A.K.A Jah, He’s irresistibly sexy and everything that she wants in a man. They instantly fall for each other in what seems like the perfect love affair. INTRIGUED BY A BOSS BY: DANIELLE MARCUS Neicy is fed up with dating men that are heavy in the streets, so she has sworn them off for good. She’s tired of the lying, the cheating, and all of the other drama that comes along with being a hustler’s wifey. Keeping her word, she meets the handsome and hard working Tez. He owns his family’s construction business, and he treats her like a queen. But, when Boss barges into her life, her story quickly changes. He’s sexy in every sense of the word, and he has enough charm to have her like putty in the palms of his hands. Will she let go of the simple life with Tez and become a thug’s rider? Or will Boss’secrets send her running for the hills and back into the arms of Tez?

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 41 SECRETS BETWEEN HER THIGHS BY: IVY SYMONE Jaci Williams learned early on about using what you got to get what you want. For many years, all she ever thought she had was the power she possessed between her legs. Being an erotic dancer and providing ‘special services’ in the past afforded her a decent living, but it did nothing for her dignity. Seeking to find peace within self and to live a more gracious life, Jaci decided to take a jourtey down a different path. Things seemed to be looking up for Jaci after landing her first real job at a reputable doctor’s office, but her former boss Skyy propositioned her with a ‘special services’job she couldn’t turn down. LOVE IS BLIND BY: NICOLE JACKSON Necole is your typical pretty suburban girl. She has been sheltered her entire life and is bored with the normality of her world. She’s in her last year of high school and is college bound. Her biggest challenges in life are deciding if she wants to wear her Gucci or Prada sandals to school. She thinks she has a new love interest in Mark, the new guy in school, until she’s thrown a curve ball. The curve ball comes in the form of Carmelo, aka Black. Black is from the streets of Fifth Ward. He and Necole have little to nothing in common, but the two somehow find their way together. SOMETHING ABOUT MILAN BY: LONDON DIOR Milan Smith is in desperate need of a little spice in her life, and the cocky, yet undeniably sexy, Wise, just may be the remedy. Her longtime boyfriend, Jabari, just isn’t doing the trick any longer, and after years of his lying, cheating, and selfish ways, she is ready to throw in the towel and take a chance at real love. However, what happens if Jabari doesn’t want to let go? In this sizzling love story, there’s a web of lies, deceit, and hot love scenes that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions until the very last page. Brace yourself for the ride! A THUGS WIFE BY: SHAN Zaria, Yessenia, and Cherie are just your average around the way girls. They live normal lives just like everyone else. Zaria is ride or die for her husband Quasym. She believes in holding her man down to the fullest extent. But when Quasym becomes sick of his wife being the one to hold him down, he forces his way into the game bringing his best friend Devon along with him. Quasym is suddenly the King of the South and is seeing money that he had never expected. With his sudden change in status, he and his wife Zaria are hit with one thing after another. TORN BY: KEISHA ERVIN Her female intuition told her that he was a dog. However, she still lent him her soul, gave him her heart, and allowed herself to fall in love. Torn between infatuation, lust, and denial, the only thing Mo knows for sure is that she’s been through hell, survived nine years of lies, heartbreak, heated arguments and a few knock-down drag-out fights, only to realize that she is deeply in love and more confused than ever. Come join National Best Selling Author Keisha Ervin as she spins a classic tale about loving someone so much that you lose yourself, only to find in the end that what you thought was real love was just a game.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 42 A s the author of the best-selling book, The Ultimate Guide to a Multi-Orgasmic Life, I’m often asked what the main keys are to becoming multi- orgasmic. Our bodies are wired for pleasure and both men and women can be multi-orgasmic by using the right techniques. While I do offer many tools in my book, there are a few essentials that contribute to one’s multi-orgasmic potential. It is imperative that you know your body well to find deep pleasure and fulfillment. The more you know your body, the greater the possibility of consistently having multiple orgasms and full-body orgasms. Explore, play, and learn your arousal cycles. This all contributes a great deal to being multi-orgasmic. See yourself as the energetic being that you are. You are more than your physical form. Science has shown that all is energy and we are a part of that. This is the basis for thai chi, acupuncture and many Eastern wellness practices. It is also an important tool to becoming multi-orgasmic for both men and women. When you learn to move your sexual energy throughout your body, you can have huge mind- bending full-body orgasms. One of the greatest untapped tools is the breath. Many of us have become shallow breathers. We hunch over, compressing the lungs and restricting the amount of air that can get into our lungs. This means that our cells aren’t getting enough oxygen and the body isn’t releasing enough carbon dioxide. This can limit our energy levels and contribute to health issues. Using breathing techniques can not only energize us and bring needed clarity during lulls in the day, it can also be used to move energy throughout the body which leads to better orgasms and being multi-orgasmic. Most of us weren’t taught how to tap into the immense amount of pleasure our bodies are wired for. By tapping into your multi-orgasmic potential you’ll find that the pleasure ripples out into every area of your life. Sexual energy is a potent and powerful source. Begin exploring how this incredible tool empowers every area of your life. It’s not just multi-orgasmic, it’s transformative. Antonia Hall is an author, self-improvement expert, spiritual teacher, longtime blogger and author of the best-selling book, The Ultimate Guide to a Multi- Orgasmic Life, available in bookstores and on Amazon. She has a B.A. in Psychology and received her M.A. at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. Learn more at antoniahall.com. HOW TO BE MULTI-ORGASMIC BY ANTONIA HALL

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 43 How does Ashley Graham lift YOU up?

5 THINGS YOUR FRIENDS ARE LYING TO YOU ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS BY JASMINE DIAZ CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 44

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 45 E veryone has that one (or two) well-meaning friends who dish out advice as quickly as they can take it. But not all advice is good advice, and some advice can destroy a good relationship if you’re not careful. Weeding out the truths from the lies can be a tough task, but don’t fear! Here are five lies you can combat right now to save your love life. 1. IF YOU’RE UNHAPPY, THEN... There is an element to relationships that many singles are completely oblivious to. It’s this idea that if you are not happy, then you should end the relationship. That concept leads to a lot of unnecessary breakups! There will always be “moments” of unhappiness that will occur throughout the course of your relationship because life is not perfect. Your partner is not perfect. You are not perfect. Those “moments” may last as short as a few hours, or as long as a few years. What’s important is that you and your partner are working together to resolve those areas of unhappiness together. If you cannot handle the hiccups of dating, then you will never be ready for the challenges that occur in marriage, but if your “moments” of unhappiness become long periods of unhappiness, and your partner is not willing to work with you to overcome them, then you should break up. Life is too short to be with someone who does not value you enough to work towards improving your relationship. 2. THEY HAVE TO TREAT YOU LIKE A QUEEN. Your partner should always make an effort to show you how appreciated they are to have you, but don’t be so selfish as to think that you should be the only one who feels important. Reciprocating that value and importance to the person you’re with is vital. If you are unwilling to acknowledge their value, it is very likely that you will lose them. Take time to show your partner that you care about their thoughts, opinions and contributions to the relationship. It need not be extravagant, but a quick “I really appreciate you” can go a very long way. Don’t let selfish ideals or tendencies tank your love life. 3. HE SHOULD WANT TO BE WITH YOU ALL THE TIME. Asoptimisticasthiscommentmaybe,itissimplyunrealistic. Personal space and time for self is essential to the growth of your relationship. If you spend every waking moment with each other, you will never have time to do the personal work that is required to progress your relationship. It’s not about whether you like his friends or not, it’s about respect, love and trust. If your neither respect, love nor trust your partner enough to be away from them for a day (or even hours), then you have deeper issues. 4. SEX IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP. Sex is extremely important in every relationship, but it is not the most (and only) aspect of your relationship. Trust, respect, communication, thoughtfulness; these elements are equally important. You can have sex with your partner several times a day everyday, but if you treat them horribly or are disrespectful and uncaring, they can still cheat on you! It’s all about balance. If you’re giving more weight to one without the others, it is likely that your relationship will crack at the weak points. Remember, there will always be someone smarter, prettier and more appreciative. Someone who will make them feel more special; someone who will have more sex with them; or someone who will [fill in the blanks] more. What you bring to the table is what will set you apart from the rest. 5. LOOKS DON’T MATTER There is something that attracted you to your partner. That something may be as simple as their sense of humor or as extravagant as the loud blue and orange Mets jersey they wore when you met. Whatever the reason that caused you to pause, it’s important that you don’t lose it. As you grow as a couple, your attraction to your partner may change. That doesn’t make you an evil person, it makes you a real one! If you care about keeping your partner interested in you mentally, spiritually and emotionally, don’t discount the value of the physical. Take a few extra minutes in your day to give yourself a boost. Add a little eye liner to your typically makeup-free face, or purchase a cute top that accentuates your assets.And don’t forget, encourage your partner to do the same! A little extra TLC never hurt anyone. If he wants to spend a night out with his friends, that’s ok. It doesn’t mean that he is not interested in being with you, it means that he is an individual with other relationships that are also valuable. These other relationships and experiences grow you as a person.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 46 A s a newly single lady, i was quite surprised when i announced my break-up to friends and family. Expecting cheers of liberation and praise, i was instead given hugs, comforting words, and suggestions on where i could go to find a new man. Evidently society possesses the opinion that a single female in her late twenties should be jumping back on the LTR bandwagon quickly, lest she be doomed to a life of solitude. Even dating sites insist they have the right “formula” to meet the man of my dreams, and my own mother has not- so-subtly hinted at the benefits a match.com membership could bring me. While surprised at these reactions, they didn’t faze me. The relationship grass may have been greener, but rather than looking over the other side of the fence, I was going to water my own damn lawn! I began to jot down all the reasons why I was appreciative of being single, and what do you know – I came up with 101 of them! With summer just around the corner, I have a completely new list of reasons why it’s great to be single! Let us look through the top 15 Reasons Why it’s Great to Be Single This Summer: 1. YOU’LL LOOK BETTER We get into a relationship and we become complacent. Not to mention, you just do not seem to have as much time as when you are single. Being single means, you have more time to hit the gym, and gives you the incentive you need to do so – get that gym body! 2. MORE TRAVELING Summer is a fantastic time to get out and explore the open road. When you are in a relationship, you have to work out both of your schedules, choose a place that you both want to go to, and the list of mutually agreeable concessions goes on. When you are single, you have friends – and at least one of them will be available and willing to head off to your favorite destination. 3. DATING Summerdatingisfantastic–thereareaTONofsummertime activities that are a really good time, and usually FREE. You do not have to feel guilty about going on a couple dates each week because you aren’t blowing your wallet. 4. NO SHARING ICE CREAM It’s summer… it’s freakin’ hot out. So, you go to the store to grab a tub of your favorite quality cookie dough ice cream. When you are single, you do not have to share! That tub is simply too small for two spoons. BY KARLEEN DEE TOP 15 REASONS BY Single TO BE SUMMER

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 47 Karleen Dee is a freelance writer and the author of, 101 Reasons Why It’s Great to Be Single. It’s is currently available via all major online retailers. 5. FINDING YOUR STUFF You have a way of organizing your things that may not make sense to someone else. So, your boyfriend or girlfriend, trying to be helpful, cleans the house and puts your things somewhere – and now you can’t find them! When you are running out of the house to hit the beach, the last thing you want to do is rummage around looking for your bathing suit. 6. BONUS INVITES There are lots of events happening in the summer! If you are single and one of your friends of family members has an extra ticket to something, they are going to ask you: you are the token single person there to save the day. 7. GUILT-FREE ADVENTURES In the summer, you never know what shenanigans you’ll get up to. Boat rides with random hotties at the beach? Heck yes! 8. BELT IT OUT Summertime is the best time to roll down your windows and belt it out to your favorite tune. There’s an air of liberation that comes when you are alone in the car that just isn’t there when you are driving around with a SO. 9. LET IT HANG LOW This point goes for gals just as much as guys. You are single, you live alone, and it’s hot out. Why not be naked in your own home? When you live with someone, even someone you are comfortable with, you probably aren’t just wandering around the house naked. When you are single though – all bets are off (unless you do not have blinds…then perhaps be conscious of your neighbors as well). 10. A VISITOR IN YOUR OWN CITY The first date always carries pressure of doing something exciting. This helps you do things you wouldn’t normally do, and in the summer there are OH so many activities to try! After a few first dates, you’ll know your city better than before, and have lots more activities to do with your friends. 11. MIX UP YOUR MEALS When you are single you can eat whatever you want! Summer time means farmer’s markets, with TONS of fresh local veggies. No need to worry about whether your boyfriend or girlfriend will eat what you are cooking – it’s all up to you! 12. NO RANDOM MESS Whether it’s a dirty bathing suit in the bathtub, a used towel thrown on the floor from a day at the beach, or sandy flip flops in the hallway… when it’s someone else’s mess, it’s WAY more annoying than when it’s your own. 13. TREAT YOURSELF Feel like buying a whole new summer wardrobe? Go for it! (If you have the money, that is – I am not advocating debt for clothing.) In a relationship, your partner’s comments about your purchases and spending habits are inevitable.– When you are single, you can blow the bank without being made to feel guilty about it. 14. FINDING YOUR ZEN No matter how similar you are to someone, there will always be differences… and often, that means fighting. Summer isn’t a time for fighting, it’s a time for relaxing and having fun! No relationship means no squabbling. 15. SEXY MAGIC Newly single? You just got hotter. Once you own your singleness, you carry an air of independence about you that is envy inducing to those in relationships, and extremely attractive to those who aren’t! Strut down the beach feeling fine you saucy singleton! sexy magic Newly single? You just got hotter. Strut down the beach feeling fine you saucy singleton!

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 48 IT’S JUST A LITTLE Sex BY T.N. JONES S ex is important because it allows us to bond with our significant other; not to mention it’s great for our body’s hormones, and it aids us in sleeping better. Also, it brings out the vivacious side that we rarely let people see. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of sex. Doing the same positions are boring and very predictable. Think outside of the box for once and enjoy yourself. Add handcuffs, sex games, a bright smile, and an open- mind to the table and everything will be great. Spice It Up Night will be something that you and your spouse will be looking forward to. Let the special occasion take place once or twice a week. Spice It Up is not a one person game, so sharing ideas, thoughts on a game/sexual position, and feelings are important for both of you. If your mate requests something that you are not comfortable with, inform them and try to come up with an alternative solution. On the contrary, the sole purpose of Spice It Up is to do things out of the norm. Try it and if you can’t get into the activity, then you are more than welcome to put it on the never to do list. Being open-minded allows you to travel down the path of ecstasy and orgasm; who doesn’t want to have those two things in the bedroom? With all the exciting things to do during intimacy time, one of the main reasons that people are bashful to talk about sex. There are individuals that believe sex is a private matter and shouldn’t be discussed outside of their bedroom. The talking of sex allows you to learn different things from other’s perspectives. It’s okay to be bashful, but not to the point where it stops you from learning more about how to spice up the love life. Let your hair down and enjoy the different scenarios that others have played out with their significant other. You will be surprised at how you feel when engaging in something different. Live, Love, and Spice It Up! Tired of the same old boring positions in the bedroom? Well, it’s time to spice it up. There isn’t anything wrong with bringing something different to the bed. So, let’s have a little fun with the second most important topic – SEX. ❦

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 49 INSIDE LIFE CLASS LifeClass

THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAU unapologetic THAT IS THE TRUE ES CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 50

UTIFUL THAN A WOMAN BEING cally herself. SSENCE OF BEAUTY. CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 51

YEAR LONG Resolutions BY BRIE STOLL CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 52

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 53 L osing weight is the top resolution for Americans combined with “exercise more” and “stay fit and healthy”. These are resolutions that over a third of the population wish to achieve. The reason may be for health or for beauty but either way at the beginning of the year we often look at changing this part of our lives. If you want to lose a few pounds or just get some healthier habits here are some tips that might help you actually stick with it. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS: This is the most often heard tip. Writing down your goals makes it more concrete and less like a wish. BE SPECIFIC WITH YOUR GOALS: Don’t just say, “ I want to lose weight”. Write down “I want to walk every day for 1 hour”. It is better for your goals that you have a measurable target. MAKE POSITIVE GOALS NOT NEGATIVE ONES: In other words, do not say “Stop eating sugar” but “Make positive snack choices.” or “ Eat more fruit”. DON’T WATCH THE SCALE: First of all your body does not always lose weight. So go- ing the whole day eating healthy food, working out, and then jumping on the scale to see you GAINED two pounds will discourage you. What your scale may not be telling you is that you are gaining muscle or that you have a hor- monal water weight gain due to your body going into de- tox. If you are making good choices, eventually your body size and shape will tell you what your scale never does. If you MUST consult the scale, do it once a week or better yet, once a month, on the first. MAKE A DECISION: You need to make a decision and let that be the final word. If you decided that you no longer eat Oreos, do not go down the cookie aisle, you are not an Oreo cookie eater, you do not need to go see what the new flavor is! REPLACE A BAD HABIT WITH A GOOD ONE: Our brains are very lazy. Not really but they do not like the extra power it takes to do new things. When we learn a new thing, no matter what it is, it takes our mind so much more power than when it becomes a habit. that is, in fact, the reason for the habit. So if you wake up and eat a bag of cookies and you think “I’m going to stop that”, every morning you will wake up and WANT to eat your bag of cookies. Eventually you will because that is the habit. If you replace that habit, not fight it but replace it, you will find it so much easier than to keep the cycle going. So maybe waking up and having a bowl of fruit instead will start a new habit. Eventually your new habit will have you rolling out of bed and craving pineapple. WATER: You know it is the best for your body. if you drink soda, even diet soda, replace half that you drink with water. There are many apps that help with the habit of water drinking. Hydocoach, drinking reminder, or Aqualert are ones that I personally use and can recommend. FIND AN ACTIVITY THAT YOU ENJOY: People often ask me if they should do Zumba, Pilates, or Yoga? My answer is always the same; Only if you enjoy it because if you HATE the activity you will not continue. DON’T BEAT UP ON YOURSELF: Do not say ugly things to yourself. Don’t compare your- self to anyone else, not even you when you were younger, thinner, or fitter. HAVE FUN! This is not about being a size and it IS about finding body positive changes to improve your quality of life. So it’s that time of year again. Every year, we start the year feeling like, ‘‘I want to fill in the blank with the thing (usually one that we have said before) that we want to change.’’ Most common, not surprising, is to lose weight.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 54 GREATER SUCCESS THROUGH MINDSET BY ANTONIA HALL W ant greater success in life? Examine who you are, what you believe, and why. Take time to admire the wonderful things about yourself, and also be honest about the impediments that may be getting in the way of living your fullest potential. Thoughts are a form of information-carrying energy, as modern science has proven. It is important to be mindful, rather than let old programming run unconsciously. Pay attention to see if you are letting old mental tapes run, as you could be using your energy in an unproductive way, which in turn could be leading to lowered self-esteem, cynicism, pessimism, and negativity. Don’t waste your energy getting caught up in the stories of how it was, or how you fear it will be. You are in control and it is time to take back your power! The inner creates the outer. How do you view the world around you? Physics says that the universe is comprised of a unifying substance. By seeing yourself as a co-creator in this larger whole, you can open to amazing potentials of conscious manifesting. Tapping into this moment by moment, allows you to stay in your greatest point of power. In addition to staying in the present moment it is important to approach life and all you do with a loving positive attitude. This requires a shift in consciousness, but the more you learn to trust the dance of life and the experiences that are brought forth -even when they may appear to be challenges- the happier and more successful you’ll be. Antonia Hall is an author, self-improvement expert, spiritual teacher, longtime blogger and author of the best selling book, The Ultimate Guide to a Multi- Orgasmic Life, available in bookstores and on Amazon. https://twitter.com/EdenSol.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 55 AUTHENTICALLY YOU BY ROBUN VIE-CARPENTER A uthenticity is one of the things that I admire the most about the women in my life. To be authentic, in my mind, means that you have let go of all of the illusions about yourself that you have created over the years. It means that you love and accept all of who you are. Authentic means that you have genuinely learned what makes you unique and are ready to celebrate that. It is that ability to shed those illusions and own the journey that allows a person to fully embrace exactly who they really are, without apology or judgment. I have girl friends who are fashion designers, models, actors, fashion editors, musicians, rocket scientists, comedians, real estate agents, And doctors - you nameeee it. Over the years, I have been witness to their triumphs and challenges; their journeys are as varied as they are inspiring. In each instance, this CURVY posse of mine remains totally and fully themselves. They remain authentic in their presentation of their mission. They dress with their own style. They do not pretend to be anything other than who they are. While they are always striving to be their best selves, they leave the negative self-talk at the door and glorify in the beauty that they each possess. In fact, it is the fantastic figures that each of my CURVY crew has that makes them stand out. They, like me, learned to love each part of themselves particularly the curves, really relishing in the very thing that others might hold against them. Case in point, the most recent furor over the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model, Ashley Graham, and the body shaming that Cheryl Tiegs engaged in. Like any other marginalized group willing to be visible, girls living their authentic lives, being their CURVY selves, living without apology for those curves upsets the status quo. You are supposed to be apologizing for your body and continually work hard to be “better” and become more like what others say is healthy and beautiful. Graham rose above and was quoted saying, “I was actually happy that somebody said something, because what is revealed…so many people still think like that…I think it started a great conversation…you should not tell someone that they are unhealthy. That is their personal journey.” When so much of the culture we live in focuses on what is wrong with us, the people that stand out to me are the ones celebrating all that is right with them. They know themselves well enough to know everything there is to know. They know that living in the powerful space of authenticity allows them to focus on the life they are manifesting, not the one they are allowed to lead. “There is nothingmore rare, nor more beautiful than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.” – Steve Marabol Living in your skin and embracing your authentic self allows your beauty, your power, to shine through in a way that cannot be diminished. So, I say cheers to you my authentic sisters! Stand tall in the knowledge that you are magnificent. You have no equal. You are smart and sexy as hell. Go out and be unapologetically yourself. Be comfortable in your perfection. Be authentically you! BE

FALLING INLove Yourself WITH TAKE SOME TIME TO REMIND YOURSELF THAT you are the best thing at being you. AS BEAUTIFUL AS ANY EXPERIENCE OF LOVE. BY KENYA RIVERS CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 56

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 57 I love myself. Do you? Loving yourself is so important. But to love yourself means to accept yourself as you are. You need to love yourself before you can love anyone else. I can think of many reasons why you should love yourself. But let me run down a few ways to love yourself. CHECK YOURSELF OUT Look in the mirror Do you see your reflection? Now, smile. You are beautiful, intelligent, and sexy. Always, remind yourself everyday of your worthiness. Be grateful, and confident. LOVING YOU Falling in love with yourself is to love “YOURSELF” and accept “YOU” as you are. No one can change that. Take some time to remind yourself that you are the best thing at being you. That is as beautiful as any experience of love. PAMPER YOURSELF Go out and get a massage, manicure, and pedicure. Get your hair done if you can. You will feel good about yourself. Just a little quality time to yourself makes a big difference. THINK POSITIVE You have strengths and weaknesses. Believe in yourself.Always focus on your positive qualities, strengths, and abilities. Every day is a new opportunity. Always remind yourself of your worthiness, take action. Start getting into the habit of acknowledging yourself. LOVE YOUR SKIN No matter what color you are. Love your skin. Touch it, caress it. Talk to it. Build a body that makes you feel confident. Remind yourself you are worth loving. DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Always forgive yourself. There is nothing you can do to fix some things that happened in the past. Let go of difficult situations and people who put you down or have made you doubt yourself. LET IT GO! DO THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD Do you like to work-out, sing, dance, or just sit and reading? Find a routine that feels good and stick to it. It will help out a lot. It’s very important to remind yourself that no one is perfect. Don’t compare yourself to others. Love yourself enough to believe in you. Stop being hard on yourself.And, do not give up on yourself. There’s no greater love than self-love.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 58 LONI LOVE ON LOVE, CHELSEA, & CATS F unny lady, Loni Love, is much more than just a comedian. This Detroit native is an actress, author, talk show host, and a degree carrying electrical engineer! Love got her start as a comedian on famed TV show, Star Search in 2003. She resigned her job at Xerox after eight years to pursue a comedy career full- time. Since then, Love acted in several plays, movies, and TV shows, including her first comedy special on Comedy Central in 2008. Love grabbed her author title with her comedic release “Love Him Or Leave Him, but Don’t Get Stuck With the Tab”, a book about relationships. She is currently one of the hosts of The Real talk show along with Jeannie Mai, Tamera Mowry, and Adrienne Bailon. Lucky for us she had time to give us the scoop on here life and book release. CURVY: WHAT WAS YOUR PURPOSE OF WRITING “LOVE HIM OR LEAVE HIM”? LONI: I just wanted to give my view on love and relationships in a hilarious way. I always get advice from my friends and family, as well as give advice to them, so I decided just to put it all in a book. My fans mean a lot to me and I wanted to give them something, a part of part of my advice and a part of me. That is why I decided to make this book about love and relationships instead of just doing stories. There are stories in the book but it is also some sound advice on every aspect of a relationship because I have been through it all. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CHAPTER TO WRITE AND WHY? L: Well, they all are kind of my favorite because there are certain stories that I shared that at some point. It is kind of like having children. I do not have a favorite. I like them all. At some point, for me, there was a happy time or a sad time, so it was nice to remember those times. DO YOU EVER GET TIRED OF GIVING ADVICE? L: No. People always need advice. I like to talk and I like to help people. I think that once people read the book, they will see that I like to make people laugh and I like to help them too. I do not think love should be a hard thing, Love is supposed to be about joy, having fun and having a good time. Sometimes love can be troubling, but I think you should get out of it when it gets that way. A lot of that is revealed in the book and the type of questions that come up. WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST ADVICE YOU THINK YOU’VE EVER GIVEN… AND THE WORST? L: The best advice I have even given someone, hmm…actually, the best advice I have ever given is in the title of this book. You either love him or you leave him. I do not care what you do; just do not get stuck with no bills! (laughs) That has to be the best advice I have ever given because you know people need to make up their own mind about their relationship. The only thing I can say

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 59 is, do not get caught with no bills, do not get caught with no diseases, do not get caught with something you do not want…whatever that is, just do not get caught with that. I think the worst advice I have ever given someone is not telling them something. You know, when I was younger, I did not want to get into people’s business and I was afraid to give my advice or my opinion. I think that was the worst I have ever given…not giving advice. Soo… that is why I give it now. YOU COVERED SO MANY TOPICS IN THIS BOOK, I WAS SURE WITH THE INCREASED POPULARITY OF MEN ON THE “DOWN-LOW” THAT YOU WERE GOING TO TOUCH ON THIS SUBJECT. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? L: Well, there are engaging questions in there. There is a question about the guy who used to be a man and now he is a woman. YES, THAT WAS A GOOD ONE. L: Thank you. You know, the thing about the “down low” situation and why I didn’t bring it up is because I feel like a lot of people touch on that already. And that, in itself, is a really touchy subject. I wanted to focus the type of questions around what we’re dealing with right now in relationships. YES, THAT WAS A GOOD ONE. L: Thank you. You know the thing about the “down low” situation and why I didn’t bring it up is because I feel like a lot of people touch on that already. And that in itself is a really touchy subject. I wanted to focus the type of questions around what were dealing with right now in relationships. SO, WHAT MAKES YOUR ADVICE BOOK DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ADVICE BOOKS, APART FROM IT HAVING A COMEDY ASPECT? L: Actually, that is what really makes this book different. I am not taking everything so seriously. I am not a guru. I am not saying that I am an expert. I put a lot of jokes in the book to help woman and men stop being so serious about relationships. I mean, if you are dating, or even if you are married, you are supposed to have fun! So I wanted a book that was fun and also gave some advice. That is what this book does. This book gives you some really funny things to make you look at love differently. Even going back to the question about your dude being on the “down-low”…come one, you know when your dude is on the down-low. Girl, we can sit here and lie and try to act like we don’t. You don’t need no damn signs. When you know, you know. It’s just the fact that you want to be with that man. If you want to be with that man, fine. That’s why I say love ‘em… or leave ‘em. Just do not let him wear your lipstick. (laughs) WHO WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BIGGEST ROLE MODEL, AND WHY? L: YMy biggest role model would be my mom because I get a lot of advice from her. She was a single mother and raised me, and she did it the best way that she could. We were raised in a poor environment but I came out okay. I constantly admire her because they always want to say “a black woman is stronnnng” but we have no choice but to be strong. So, I really admire her because she showed me a lot of what you can do, even with little money. Whether you have money or not, we were okay. She would be my biggest role model. I just wanted to give my view on love and relationships in a hilarious way.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 60 COOL, MAMA LOVE. I LOVE HER ADVICE IN THE BOOK, AS WELL. MAMA LOVE REMINDS ME OF MY AUNTIE. LET’S GET INTO WORKING WITH CHELSEA HANDLER. HOW WAS THAT? L: I can’t even take her seriously. (laughs) I met Chelsea in 2010. When I say Chelsea was crazy…oh my god. It would be hard just to be around her all day without just crying of laughter. Chelsea is one of the most giving and craziest women. I always say that I like to hang out with Chelsea because she likes to drink and she can loan me money. She’s like the person that if you need something, you can go to her because, as we all know, she ain’t hurting. Chelsea is great to work with and it is really fun to be on her show. You know, she gets the joke. A lot of people, when they see us, they do not understand our relationship. Chelsea is my friend and will always be my friend. It is way worst off camera. What you see on camera is just a snippet. We have such a good time and we do not take stuff seriously. I think a lot of people take things too seriously or are in competition. I am not in competition with Chelsea. She was the person that encouraged me to do a book because of her own success with books. She constantly encourages me on anything… especially with the drinking. SHE ENCOURAGES ME! She is just a good, overall talented girl. I am just so happy for her success and I am proud to be a part of that. We have so much fun. It shows you what could happen when you surround yourself with a bunch of crazy people. You could be so successful and have fun while doing it. That is what she is doing. WHAT MADE YOU GIVE UP ENGINEERING TO BECOME A COMEDIAN? L: It was boring! I was always falling asleep, sleeping in my car, or I just wasn’t interested. I guess it could be worse, but when you are not interested in something, it becomes really boring. I wanted a different type of lifestyle. I started to do comedy in college and I decided to get back into it once I started working, which took on a life of its own. We had a layoff one day at my job and I went to my boss and told him to please save someone’s job that really needed it and lay me off. He thought I was crazy and said, “Well, if you ever need to come back.” I told him, “I am not coming back.” That is another thing I put in the book. If there’s something you want to do, you just need to go ahead and do it and not be afraid. I didn’t know what was going to happen but, you know, it’s working out. I am very fortunate. If you are bored with something, get out of it. If it is a relationship, especially, get out of it! GOING BACK TO MEN AND RELATIONSHIPS, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR OBSESSION WITH DR. DREW? L: Ooooh…that silver fox! That sexiness, that smartness. Everyone has what I call their “turn ons” and each person has their things that when they meet or see someone, it turns them on. What I like about Dr. Drew is that I am attracted to smart men. I am attracted to a man that can teach me something. First of all, he is so nice. What you see on TV, the caring, the concern, that is him…plus he got

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 61 money. (laughs) But, he is also smart. I do explain in the book why I have this obsession with Dr. Drew. The main thing that I say to everyone is, “What are your turn ons?”. It isn’t so much about his looks; it is about the time I have spent with him while working together, I am constantly amazed. Plus, I get a free meal and free drinks. P.S. Dr. Drew does not drink, but he allows me to drink. Just to clarify that. YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FROM STAND UP TO MOVIES TO TV. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ONE TO DO? L: What I really like to do, and I learned this from being on the different type of panel TV shows like Chelsea and I was on gossip queen and I have a weekend radio show in Café Mocha with MC Lyte, I like being in discussions. I like discussing things, I have a podcast and I put it on with multiple people. I like discussion type shows so it’s more like television. I am getting back into movies. I just did a movie with Danny Glover, so I am getting back into movies, but I really do like the talking aspect of it because you can mix comedy with topical things. That is what my stand-up is about. I will always love doing Stand Up and the live performances, but with television, you can hit so many people in a short amount of time that it really does help you with your exposure. I just really enjoy being able to talk about topics and make jokes about them and, you know, I think it helps America because people like to hear other people’s opinions and stuff. I really like that type of format; the talk panel format. BEING A CURVY COMEDIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SOME PROS AND CONS TO THAT? L: A lot of pros include that you can make fun of yourself. When you are able to make fun of yourself, people are more accepting knowing that you are like a normal American. I feel like a lot of people on TV are not “normal-looking Americans”. Being CURVY, you are a normal looking person, so people will relate to you a lot more because you are going through the same things they are going through. Ok, I bought this dress and now I have to get a different size, or I have to take it in here or there. Another pro is that a lot of people do look at how you dress and do look at how you handle situations. When you are exposed more, they want to be represented too. I think that is a big pro. Now, a big con in being a CURVY woman in this industry is that you are not considered a “sample size”. You really have to educate the wardrobe people on how to do it. I am very comfortable, now, but when I first started…I was never uncomfortable, but I would worry about, “oh, they are going to think I am too big or they are going to have to take my measurements…all that kind of stuff.” Now, I am like, “Raise these hands up, take these measurements…take this 40, 40 and 50…You ain’t looking at no 20 over here, sweetie.” You learn to be more comfortable with yourself and learn to joke about that. That is what makes it comical. I think a con, of course, is when people you do not know try to talk about you, or the first thing they come at you with is, “You a fat ass and you a this, you a that.” That’s a con because that is the first thing people hit you with. Another pro is that you learn how to “hit” people. Everyone has issues, so you can just see mine. You can see that I am a big girl. You might think it is a problem…I do not. (laughs) People think that by them calling me a “fat ass”, You are not going to make me think that I don’t matter or that my opinion doesn’t matter because I am fat.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 62 that it is going to shut me down. It’s not going to shut me down. That is quite evident when you look at the Chelsea Lately Show. You are not going to shut me up or shut me down because you called me a fat ass. You are not going to make me think that I do not matter or that my opinion doesn’t matter because I am fat. No. That is not going to happen. Now that person has to find something else, and they usually can’t find anything else soo…by that time, I have found a whole bunch of problems with them, whether they have a drinking problem, or they’re ugly, or whatever it is. That is what you do as a comic when people are trying to come at you. Everybody has problems. Everyone has some type of vice or an issue, and it usually comes out or you can just make one up about them, it does not matter. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE JOKES YOU LIKE TO TELL? L: I like to tell jokes about people in the entertainment industry, like Kim Kardashian. I like to say Kim K has hired more brothers than the federal government. But I like her. I like her because she employing brothers. I think I like to make jokes about people who deserve to be made fun of. I do not really like making jokes about people who are nice are trying to do their own thing. I try to mostly joke about certain situations, like Morgan Freeman falling asleep in the middle of an interview. See, stuff like that isn’t surprising. We just need to get him some energy drinks or something. There are certain things that are just okay to joke about. Some people say, “All you do on Chelsea’s show is talk about people.” I talk about people that need to be talked about. Amanda Bynes is full of jokes right now. It’s like, you would not even be a real comedian if you didn’t talk about that girl. And, “Mariah Carey popping out of her dress on Good Morning America…who wouldn’t laugh at that? You a CURVY girl now, Mariah! You have had 2 kids, so come on over to Lane Bryant with the rest of us. Stop trying to fit into those tiny dresses. Embrace your thickness, Mariah!” So, it is stuff like that that I personally like to joke about because I think it is funny. I joke about relationships. I joke about myself. When you are on television, they mostly want you to talk about what is happening, so I have learned to do that. WITH YOU BEING SO WELL ESTABLISHED IN HOLLYWOOD NOW, DO YOU STILL GET STAR- STRUCK? L: Oh, I’m constantly star-struck. I meet people all the time. When I met Usher, I was star struck. I pushed him into the bathroom and tried to have a conversation with him! If you go back in the archives and look up the very first interview Usher did on the Chelsea Lately Show, he talks about how he just met me and I pushed him in the bathroom. (laughs) So, yes, that did really happen. Or, like when I met George Clooney, I screamed “I LOVE YOU, GEORGE!” So, he said I love you back. I am more of a fan. I am not one of these people that are like, “Oh, yes, I have arrived.” I am happy to work with and meet these people. It is a privilege to work with them or share the stage or open for them or whatever it is. I get star-struck. DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH? L: Hmmm…Who would I like to work with? As far as like movies, I would like to work with Melissa McCarthy. I think she is hilarious. I like that she uses her physique as a CURVY girl to show that it doesn’t matter about size and that you can still be funny. It is not her size that makes her funny, it’s just Melissa. Right now, I am excited to be working with the girls on the talk show, The Real. I am excited to be working with them because it is a panel-type show again, which is what I like, and I think all five of us are very different. I can tell you right now, I think that America needs to see this because we are all ethnic, or urban, and we show that we are not all the same, that we do not all act the same, or think the same. I am excited to be working with them for this project. YOU MENTION BREAK UPS A LOT IN THE BOOK SO WE ARE CURIOUS, ARE YOU CURRENTLY SINGLE L: Yes, I am single with no cats!!!

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 63 MODAMIX #LookGoodFeelGood

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 64 D. Aiken & Associates Worldwide hosts its first annual LeadHERship Conference which boasts of internationally and nationally recognized professional women.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 65 INSIDE FASHION & STYLE & Fashion Style

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 66 SEXY wild It’s easy to say that the trend of animal prints is still fashionable and has never left. Just take a look at magazines, Fashion Week, or on trend sites. PHOTOGRAPHER: ADRIANA LIBINI MUAH: TATI SOUZA SEXY #2

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 67

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 68

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 69

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 70

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 71

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 72

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 73

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 74

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 75

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 76

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 77

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 78

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 79

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 80

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 81 PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVANA DENKER DESINGER: CARMAKOMA MUAH: IIKA MÜLLER YIN& YANG

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 82

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 83

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 84

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 85

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 86

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 87

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 88 BEHIND THE SEAMS: ANNAFESTA BY ROLISE RACHEL B orn and raised in Denver, CO, Anne Fanganello, of AnnaFesta is a breast cancer survivor and a CURVY crusader. Fanganello, who spent much of her early career in Italy and Switzerland, spent 18 years in New York City perfecting her trade, working with Nanette Lepore, Zac Posen (COO) and Cynthia Steffe amongst others. The AnnaFesta line developed from the study of the female body and it’s beautiful curves. She now employs people within the up and coming fashion industry in Denver, CO, where she is able to keep production and quality up to her standards. “Anna is a twist on my name and in Italian ‘‘festa’’ means party. When I turned 40 and was finally free from cancer, I was ready to party. So, Anne’s Party or AnnaFesta was born”. Fanganello created a media campaign called #GirlOnTheMove, which emphasizes movement and the definition of curves. Fanganello, wanted to create a beautifully fitting brand and pays a high amount of attention to where the seams fall. She believes that all women should love themselves, and especially their curves. She is an advocate of defining curves and feels like a woman’s curves empower her. It could all be said well with one word: #Curvitude! Anne’s journey has been difficult. She is a breast cancer survivor and a part time caretaker for a Down’s Syndrome individual. She has a fierce stance where nothing will stop her once she sets her mind to something. She puts demands on herself that others would not be able to endure. After being exhausted and unhappy in New York City, she returned to her hometown of Denver and worked in the events planning industry. One of her clients was a CURVY clothing shop. “The owner of the store made a comment that she wished she could find skirts in larger sizes, and without thinking, I said, I can make them! I sew! And like that, I was in full production mode. I sourced the fabric, created a pattern, and found a local manufacturer. My passion was re-awakened. Within a few weeks, I delivered the skirts and few weeks after that, they sold out!” She follows her ambition with determination, curvitude and a smile. There is no, “I can’t do this”. It’s more like, “How are we going to make this work?” (This is the girl that created stretch leather!) This attitude has created a situation where she has conquered breast cancer, left a CURVY Crusader for Curvitude and a girl on the move! When I turned 40 and was finally free from cancer, I was ready to party!

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 89

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 90 perfectly good career and recreated it in a true-to-life form. She helps women love their curves and exude confidence, while wearing ready-to-wear items that are comfortable. “My cancer treatments gave me my then size 22 body. Coming from the fashion industry and then trying to find something comparable, or at least something I liked in my size, was a challenge. As a CURVY woman, myself, I try everything on that I create. If I look in the mirror and don’t feel beautiful in it, it won’t get produced. I want the women who wear my designs to feel beautiful and know that the piece will last.” Confidence is the gateway to success. AnnaFesta is a game-changing design company with a woman behind it who understands her brand and her customers. What is Anne working on now? “We have been working on an active-wear line, which I’m really excited about, because I believe that whatever size you are, you should be able to dress for the activity. I hate the idea of having to wear frumpy t-shirts and ill-fitting sweatpants to play sports or workout because active wear is not available in our sizes. The first pieces we designed focus on skirts that have shorts underneath, which is great for cycling or tennis.” I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of AnnaFesta in the near future. Let’s think about color and vibrance for 2017! As a curvy woman, I try on everything I create. If I look in the mirror and don’t feel beautiful, it won’t get produced.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 91

ANNAFESTA CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 92

ANNAFESTA CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 93

ANNAFESTA CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 94

ANNAFESTA CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 95

ANNAFESTA CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 96

ANNAFESTA CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 97

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 98 TRANSITIONAL style Learn how to effortlessly and beautifully transition from Winter to Spring with these beautiful looks. BY KEKE SIMOT PHOTOGRAPHER: MAYA SHERWOOD MUAH: BREATHE FIRE CREATIVES S easons may change, but true style never does. It may seem a bit overwhelming going from Winter to Spring, but nowadays, with the current winter weather, it’s become a bit easier. Unfortunately, the only good thing to came from Global Warming is that transitioning fashionably is that much easier. By February, stores are starting to bring out their bright and sunny Spring designs while the most of us are still treading through the snow. It is hard not to feel the urge to purchase new clothing that we know will not be practical, but are oh, so cute! The key is to mix your current winter wardrobe with those cute Spring pieces you saw in the store. I have a few tips that can save you money and time this transition season! 1. Brighten up your dark Winter colors with light or bight-colored Spring staple pieces. For example, pair a brown jacket, cardigan or pants with shades of yellow, orange, cream, or light blues. 2. Mix bold prints of this season’s colors with your Winter pieces. The current pantone color of the year 2017 is Greenery. 3. Layer up or color block! The easiest way to mix Winter and Spring is to simply color coordinate your layers with Spring colors, or try color blocking. I love wearing bright, colored crop tops on top of my darker sweaters. 4. Accessorize your Winter wardrobe with Spring colors. Try adding lighter complimentry colored purses, heels, belts, boots, gloves, jewelry, scarfs, and etc. to your look.

Top: Forever 21 Dress: Personal Collection Boots: Zara Coat: UTEX CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 99 | PREMIERE ISSUE 99

Dress: Rebdolls Jacket : Karl Lagerfeld Paris Bow Gloves: Torrid Necklace: Inspire Collections CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 100

Dress: Rebdolls Coat: VAIN Boots: Aldo CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 101

Top: Rebdolls Dress: Your Big Sister’s Closet Boots: Aldo CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 102

Top: H&M Pants: Ann Taylor Boots : Zara Scarf: Le Chateau Fur: Ali Express CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 103

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 104 PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVANA DENKER DESIGNER: DEA LONDON MUAH: FANIA MILLION / CHRISTIANE THEESS BOLD MOVES

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 105

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 106

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 107

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 108

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 109

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 110

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 111 PHOTOGRAPHED BY SILVANA DENKER DESIGNER: CURVEZZ MUAH: FANIA MILLION / CHRISTIANE THEESS A LITTLE fancy,HUH?

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 112

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 113

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 114

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 115

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 116

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 117

MEET THE GERMAN SENSATION WHO IS REIMAGING THE CURVY WOMAN'S WORLD. This trailblazer is an agency signed professional model, amazing PHOTOGRAPHER, brand ambassador, and executive director of CURVY Euro. Silvana's modeling features has been VIEWED over a MILLION times making her the most downloaded CURVY girl in Germany. SILVANA DENKER THE TRIPLE THREAT BY KEKE SIMOT CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 118

WHEN DID YOU START MODELING? S: I started my professional model career in 2010 but I had done several photoshoots before as a hobby since I was 18 then being four sizes smaller. WHAT BRANDS YOU HAVE MODELED FOR? S: I worked for Carmakoma (DK), Sheego, Ulla Popken, Doris Megger, Amiiee (Catwalk), OnOz (Catwalk), several European magazines as well for example HOW DID YOU GET START IN PHOTOGRAPHY? S: As I said before I had done photoshoots in front of the camera since I was 18 but I always had my own ideas and pictures in mind photographers couldn´t visualize the way I wanted. So I bought my own camera in 2006 and develop my talent. In 2007 I started studying photo design. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU PERSONALLY TO SHOOT WITH PLUS SIZE WOMEN? S: I want to show healthy women who love their body, women who look like women, feminine and happy with their curves. I met so many awesome plus size models that impressed me incredibly with their charisma. And I want to show the world the beauty of diversity. WHAT’S YOUR INSPIRATION FOR YOUR SHOOTS? S: Very often ideas come to my mind when I see faces. I look at people even when I´m out shopping. The same happens when I see a beautiful location or just a cool looking wall. And of course I read fashion magazines, collect photography books and sometimes it´s just spontaneous during the shoot. I also draw inspiration by my boyfriend. He´s a professional musician in a medieval folk band. I see so many interesting people, outfits, make ups, instruments and so much more. WHO ARE YOU FAVORITE DESIGNERS? S: My favorite plus size designers/ labels are Carmakoma, Anna Scholz, and Doris Megger. A very famous designer from Germany is Guido Maria Kretschmer. He is known for his non plus size designs but also created one plus size collection for a big German brand. I really like his style. WHAT DOES BEING APART OF CURVY MAGAZINE’S TEAM MEAN TO YOU? S: For me it´s a great honour to work for one of my favorite magazines. It gives me the chance to show that it´s possible to create editorials with plus size models that look like editorials with straight size models, that plus size modeling, photography and fashion is as professional as it is in smaller sizes. Thank you very much for the opportunity to present my work to a big audience. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BRING TO CURVY MAGAZINE? S: I think I have a different view than many other photographers because I´m a woman and work as a plus size model, too. I want to show something different than the always shown commercial pictures–show that plus size is also cool, sexy, edgy. And this is what I hope to bring to CURVY Magazine. You can learn more about Silvana by visiting her official website: www.silvana-denker.com VIEWED OVER 1 MILLION TIMES DORIS MEGGER BRAND AMBASSADOR PROFESSIONAL AGENCY MODEL INTERVIEWED BY ALMOST EVERY GERMAN MEDIA CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 119

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 120 PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVANA DENKER MUAH: KATRIN KOHLSTEDT DESIGNER: SUGAR SHAPE & ULLA POPKEN

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 121

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 122

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 123

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 124 CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 124

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 125

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 126

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 127

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 128

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 129 Ageless & sexy PHOTOGRAPHER: MELANIE HELMS MUAH: ALY KATZ CLOTHING & ACCESORIES: FOREVER 21 SEXY #3

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 130

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 131

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 132

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 133

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 134

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 135

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 136 DITCH BODY SHAME & BE BODY PROUD SAYS ANN MAHONEY FROM THE WALKING DEAD. BY RAYCHEL HARVEY-JONES “ “ “ L ove yourself no matter what size or shape you are.” — That’s the message from ‘Walking Dead’ actress Ann Mahoney. “The pressure of social media and photo-shopped images of what is perceived to be the ‘perfect body’ is just that, a perception,” says Mahoney. Ann Mahoney is an American actress who portrayed Olivia in AMC’s The Walking Dead. Now the ‘Bad Moms’ actress is joining forces with Gwynnie Bee to show women how you can look chic, stylish and fashionable whatever size you are. “The majority of women are size 14+, and they are historically under-served. We saw an opportunity to improve these women’s experience with shopping and finding clothing,” says Christine Hunsicker, Founder & CEO of Gwynnie Bee. Gwynnie Bee is an online women’s clothing subscription service for sizes 10-32 where you can rent your wardrobe with free shipping and unlimited exchanges. “I battled for years with my weight, especially growing up in the world of ballet and dance. Being cast as Olivia in the “Walking Dead” made me realize that if I had looked any other way, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the role”, says Mahoney. According to the American Psychological Association, the obsession with being super thin is on the decline. More and more people, especially young women are focusing on healthy lifestyles and less stress. “I want young girls to look at me and see a successful actress, wife, and mother and not the size label on my dress. Shopping for clothes can be depressing, sizes seem to be different in each store. I always think that one size fits all means-- it doesn’t fit anyone.”

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 137 Societyischanginggradually to embrace all sizes. Magazines and fashion houses are moving away from when only super-thin models wore bikinis. Many magazines have also stopped using Photoshop to create the perfect woman.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 138 PHOTOGRAPHER: CAT TETREAULT MUAH: STELA LICINA / BIANCA BOMBSHELL night life

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 139

COAT: Windsmoore DRESS: secretsinlace.com CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 140

DRESS: Cherry Velvet Plus CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 141

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 142

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 143

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 144

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 145

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 146

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 147 PHOTOGRAPHER: DARREN WEATHERLY TRENTACOSTA SEXY CITY in the SEXY #4

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 148

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 149

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 150

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 151

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 152

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 153

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 154 WHAT’S SEXY NOW... CHIC FOR CHEAP BY BRIE STOLL The economy is not what it used to be. There was a time for some of us those one hundred dollars and up was an acceptable price for jeans. For others of us the idea of spending a great deal on clothes is either outrageous or out of reach entirely. THE THRIFT STORE IS YOUR FRIEND. Plus sized women often shun the thrift store saying they never find anything that looks good on them there. that everything is for smaller women and what is for full figured women starts at a size 24 which is not exactly the average size for most women ( Average woman being size 16). The truth is that because the average woman is not a size 2 you are not going to find only size twos in the stores. But you do have to pick your area and your stores wisely. The better the area the better the thrift store goods. If you see a lot of high-end plus shops in the area you can bet you will find the same brands in the thrift stores in said area. What I always tell my thrift store virgins and thrift store knockers alike is make it a game. Have in mind several things you want and make sure you are in a hunting mood. Jeans are very good thrift store finds, they are often new or nearly new. If you give yourself a good amount of time to find a few new pieces you can truly clean up in the saving s. I have a 180.00 pair of Armani Exchange Jeans that I got at our local thrift for fifty cents. True Story. KNOW YOUR SIZE. You cannot save money buying 14 pairs of jeans looking for your size. Avoid buying clothes that don’t fit, even if you are losing weight. Limit your “ next size down” buying to one piece a month, for motivation only. GET TO KNOW BRANDS THAT FIT YOUR BODY. If you have booty like Nicky Manaji, avoid Gloria Vanderbilt ! If you are rocking a pancake flat rear, you may find that brands like Roca Wear and Deleon leave your backside looking flatter due to their extra roominess. If you know what brands fit your body you will have a better thrift shopping experience. Find out what brands run small, and which run big. FIND EXCHANGES AND FORUMS ONLINE THAT HAVE TRADING AND SWAPPING FOR CLOTHES, SHOES AND MAKE UP. There are an amazing amount of websites that have make up exchanges (Make up Alley is my favorite) where you can get rid of your new or slightly used make up. There is often also a rating system so that you know who is new, who trust worthy is, and who to avoid. There are a lot of clothing swaps online and in person where you can get rid of, swap or just get some new clothes and shoes. This is a green option as well, since you keep the clothes out of landfills. LEARN TO DUPE. There are several low end cosmetic that have very good pigmentation and have colors that match the high- end cosmetic, allowing for you to use your high-end acquisitions last longer. Revlon, ELF, and Rimmel are examples of drug store brands that have great color dupes for MAC, Stila, MUFE and NARS. there are also beauty supply store brands like NYX and Nicka K that also have many great duping possibilities. There are several blogs and Vlogs dedicated to the art of color duping. E.L.F., MS. Makeup, NYX, and several EBay Sellers have really great make up brush sets for less than the cost of one MAC, Sephora or other high-end brand. Good old SEXY #5

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 155 fashioned artist paint brushes are often excellent choices for makeup brushes, if you choose similar shapes and brush quality, you can still save half or more. DRESSING ROOMS AND RETURN POLICIES ARE YOUR FRIEND. Remember as the consumer you have a RIGHT to try on anything you are buying retail. Do not be ashamed to take an hour in the dressing room finding the best bang for your buck. Anything you do not like, return. Ask return policies as you are shopping. Many people do not know that Sephora, MAC and other high-end make up counters do accept returns of Makeup even if it is used. UTILIZE THE INTERNET TO LEARN SOME DIY. There are all sorts of videos and tutorials on how to do everything from making wigs to applying make up to making easy beginner clothing on YouTube and other sites. Learning how to alter clothes is also a great way to extend the life of some of your much loved clothes that may not look as good anymore due to weight loss, weight gain or just being out of season. Not only does that save on you spending money but can also give you a hobby that could turn into a vocation. There is simply no reason not to be fabulous in these trying times. Remember the main thing that we will wear that will define if people think about you is your personal style and your swagger. How much you pay for your clothes makes no difference if you always have the confidence of a queen.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 156 REVAMP YOUR WARDROBE ON A DIME BY JOY JALAPIT Here are some ways to update your wardrobe without having to spend more than $20. WARNING: You may have to channel your inner Martha Stewart for some of these! Y ou may or may not like these ideas, but always know that there are inexpensive ways to update your closet. Don’t hesitate to try new things and be hands-on once in a while. It will give you more appreciation for your clothes, plus, you’ll be saving money that could go towards something much more worthwhile. A fabulous trip, maybe? And hey, in the sense of taste, I may not prefer Budweiser, but I’ll settle for the Andre’s any day! 1. THROW A BARTER PARTY. That’s right, ladies. Sip on some cocktails and nibble on some hors d’oeurves while you exchange trinkets and clothes. Now, this may take some work but if you can manage to get a handful of your favorite fashionistas together, this party can definitely be a success. Now, don’t be weary over trading old things. You may be surprised. One woman’s junk is another woman’s jewel, right? 2. START HACKING AWAY! And I mean this in the nicest sense. Take that old denim jacket and cut off the sleeves for a hip, yet grungy new vest. Glue or sew on some well-placed metal studs or folded zippers (shown in photo) for a punk rock yet stylish take. 3. CHECK OUT GRANDMAS CLOSET. This sounds silly, but your grandma or aunt or mom usually has the best costume jewelry. At least my mother does.And most of it she does not use and is willing to give me. If your grandma or mom isn’t the jewelry hoarder type like mine, you can also stop by your local vintage or thrift store and peruse through their glass kiosks for some hip costume jewelry. 4. “TELL ME ABOUT IT, STUD!” Here’s one of my faves. Take an old pair of pumps or flats (or buy an inexpensive pair – I’d try Forever 21, Ross, or Target) and glue studs or jewels to the heel or toe (or on any part of the shoe for that matter). You can find studs at any craft store or order them online. A hot glue gun would probably work best, but make sure to quickly remove the thin sticky string residue that guns usually leave behind. Also, do a trial run and stick the studs on with putty first to find the right aesthetic before permanently gluing. If you are weary about studs being last season, try using different fabrics or even paints or even different shaped studs like these heart ones. 5. CHECK OUT GRANDMAS CLOSET. This sounds silly, but your grandma or aunt or mom usually has the best costume jewelry. At least my mother does.And most of it she does not use and is willing to give me. If your grandma or mom isn’t the jewelry hoarder type like mine, you can also stop by your local vintage or thrift store and peruse through their glass kiosks for some hip costume jewelry.

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 157

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 158 PHOTOGRAPHER: BRIE CHILDERS MUAH: MANDY PEREZ / SARA TINTARI Vintage Sexy SEXY #6

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 159

Dress: Shock & Awww CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 160

Necklace: Natasha Morse Designs CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 161

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 162 CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 162

Kimono: H&M Bracelet: Natasha Morse Designs Stockings: Victoria’s Secret Shoes: Christian Louboutin CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 163 CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 163

Lingerie: City Chic Shoes: Stuart Weitzman CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 164

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 165

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 166

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 167 PHOTOGRAPHER: MAT GUERIN MUAH: JULIE MAGNAN / JEAN SCARABIN CURVY’S Sexy Secret � SEXY #7

Necklace: Aldo Lingerie: La Vie En Rose CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 168

Lace Headpiece: Ophélie Hats Blazer: Calvin Klein Lingerie: La Vie En Rose CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 169

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 170

Necklace: Purple Aldo Lingerie: La Vie En Rose CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 171

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 172 #NOFOMO BY KAI HAYES ADVERTISEMENT A love and hate relationship can be an emotionally straining experience. Especially if it’s with your own body! For years I have had this inner fight with my body. One summer day I woke up excited about hitting the pool. I even looked into the mirror after putting on my swim suit and thought “My thighs don’t look THAT big”. This false sense of confidence would last me up until I had to remove my cover up. No one snickered at me, no one stared, and I don’t even remember any un- approving gazes. But somehow I had programmed myself to feel a sense of horror once the cover-up came off. Yes, my own self sabotage because while I felt like a whale my family and friends were having a good time swimming. As summers pasts and my thighs kept growing I continued to came up with the cleverest reasons for not going swimming. Have you just stop doing something you love because you weren’t happy with your body? The emerges of more retailers catering to plus size really started to chip away at my insecurities. I was so delighted when Target, one of my favorite stores, came with their own plus size campaign. The campaign included a new plus size line modeled by some familiar bloggers. I browsed their new collection in awe. And the bonus was Target has free shipping + free returns so you can try out as much clothing as you want and return what doesn’t work. Finally, I could feel a little bit more confident about ordering online. Seeing women that looked like me in the Target campaign gave me enough confidence to order swimsuits for this upcoming seasons. No more fear of missing out (#NOFOMO) of the fun this summer with my family in friends. My chunky thighs and all will be hitting the pool! And YES the cover up will stay off! I’m pledging #NOFOMO! I even included no photo- shopped photo in this article just as reminder to myself I will no longer continue this love and hate relationship with my body this summer. I’m hitting the beach and not looking back! I know it’s easy to say that but it starts by finding a swimsuit you love. Here are a few quick tips for you to find your perfect swimsuit for your #NOFOMO Summer: 1. Make sure the suit flatters your body type. 2. Make sure the suit plays up your good body traits and plays down the bad ones. 3. Choose the one that makes you instantly feel sexy! Now that I found some Target swimsuits I love, I take the pledge to have #NOFOMO this summer. I’m looking forward to going to swim week down and Miami with friends, take some much needed R&R with my husband on the beaches of Cancun, and I plan on who hosting at least one pool party with my CURVY girls! I encourage you to make your own #NOFOMOpledgethisupcomingsummer by ending the love and hate relationship with your body! You can find your style @targetstyle. UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED // UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED // UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED // UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED // UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED // UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED // UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED UNFILTERED / UN-PHOTOSHOPED

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 173

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 174 PHOTOGRAPHER: PRISCILLA FRANCE MAUH: JACK COUTO SHOE DESIGNER: LA OPERA shoe sexy SEXY #8

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 175

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 176

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 177

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 178

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 179

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 180

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 181 CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 181

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 182

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 183

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 184

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 185 PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVANA DENKER MUAH: IIKA MÜLLER & CHIC Sexy SEXY #9

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 186

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 187

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 188

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 189

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 190 PHOTOGRAPHER: IULIA DAVID MUAH: NATALIE WOOD GYM SEXY SEXY #10

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 191

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 192

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 193

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 194

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 195

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 196 PAGE 16 MUAH: LAURA KOSKI PAGES 22-28 PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVANA DENKER MUAH: IIKA MÜLLER PAGE 38 PHOTOGRAPHER: ASHLEY HOLLOWAY MUAH: SHERRY RESTIFO PAGE 46 DESIGNER: ALLI STYLE PAGES 49-54 PHOTOGRAPHER: KARYNE BOND MUAH: CORALY MOURALIAN / KIM CUTANEC STYLED BY: SONIA LESVESQUE PAGE 56-57 PHOTOGRAPHER: WALTER FANTAUZZI PAGES 65-79 STYLED BY: CAROL SANTOS PAGES 80-87 PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVANA DENKER DESINGER: CARMAKOMA PAGES 89-91 PHOTOGRAPHER: HARDY KLAHOLD PAGES 92-97 PHOTOGRAPHER: ROLISE RACHEL MUAH: LILY SKUTHAN PAGES 158-165 STYLED BY: NIKI SCHWAN ART DIRECTED: BRIE CHILDERS / NIKI SCHWAN PAGES 166-171 STYLED BY: DANIEL-BRUNO FERREIRA PAGES 172-173 PHOTOGRAPHER: BJ BAILEY STYLED BY: KEKE SIMOT PAGES 174-183 STYLED BY: ANDRÉ ALCÂNTARA. ACCESSORIES: ALLENZA GLASSES: ANDRÉ GONÇALVES PAGE 196 PHOTOGRAPHER: SILVANA DENKER MUAH: FANIA MILLION / CHRISTIANE THEESS IT TAKES A VILLAGE CURVY CREDITS CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 196

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 197

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 198 SOCIAL SUBSCRIBE MONTHLY curvyrevolution.com/subscribe fb.com/CurvyMagazine // @curvy // @curvymagazine // pinterest.com/CurvyMagazine // youtube.com/CURVYmag AVAILABLE ON:

CURVY | PREMIERE ISSUE 199