Who is the Chief of Style?

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou

I first started blogging in 2009 to create a portfolio of written work to get into graduate school. I had worked in entertainment for a few years after graduating from college and I had been doing some plus size modeling for fun. Unfortunately, in ’09/’10 there wasn’t much interest in hiring and using plus size models because being curvy wasn’t trendy or cute. (I also struggled to embrace my curvier, fuller frame.) So, I gave up.*  And while I enjoyed working for some of the biggest studios in Hollywood, something was missing. I knew I wanted to change the world, but I also knew I wanted to do so in an entertaining way…I just wasn’t sure how.

After doing some soul searching and taking a news writing course at a nearby university, I decided to pursue journalism professionally. To do that, I needed more experience. But, to get experience, it seemed like I needed to have experience. (A ‘catch-22’ millennials, in particular, know a lot about.) After applying to countless journalism jobs, it became clear that graduate school could be the best next move. (For more on what happened then, visit my About page.)

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I created this blog in part because I believe seeing a queer, plus size, femme of color expressing self-love is a radical act. And, because I have always had a seriously intense passion for fashion. I also have a unique take on trends and enjoy styling photo shoots (my own and others’). And, after earning almost a quarter of a million followers on Poshmark, where I sell new, pre-loved, and vintage items, I felt it was about time I started sharing my passion(s) with the world.

As a queer, mixed race (Native American/Black/French Canadian/Scotch-Irish), bilingual (English/Spanish) fashionista who has lived and traveled abroad, I pull a lot of my fashion sensibility from the many cultures and communities I represent and come into contact with. I love supporting Indigenous fashion designers from around the world as well as brands that care about curvy women. So, you’ll see quite a bit of both here.

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My first blog did help me get into graduate school, and in 2011 I earned a Master of Arts degree in Journalism from the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. Now, armed with experience, education, and much more self-confidence, I’m ready to get back to this fashion and entertainment thing. I hope you enjoy following me as I share what being the Chief of Style means to me.

 

*Thankfully, we’ve come a long way. Since then, a lot has changed in mainstream media, the modeling industry, and in fashion for curvy women. Models and bloggers alike have changed the game for women of size and have inspired self-acceptance in hundreds of thousands of women worldwide. Now, the term “body-positivity” is on everyone’s lips.