Women love themselves, and their curves, through fashion
(Above: Photos by Rod Charles His Will Photography- Participants in the I Rock My Curves The Best! Fashion Show close out the show, held in December.)
The I Rock My Curves The Best! movement has taken over the Triad with women embracing their size and shunning the traditional modeling size.
The movement is one to designed to “empower, uplift, celebrate and embrace women with curves” and its mission is to “change the perception about curves promoting self-love and confidence,” according to the website.
“I Rock My Curves birthed from a fashion show that we did last September in Greensboro. I had wanted to do something to empower the plus size women in the area but I was dragging my feet because I wasn’t sure how people woud respond and I felt like I didn’t have the support I needed,” said Kenyatta Johnson, founder and executive director. “There are plus movements all over but it was needed here. I felt like in this area, in the Triad and North Carolina, there weren’t a lot of positive things centered around and for the curvy community.”
Eventually, though, she would pick up the phone and make some calls, surprising herself with the response and feedback.
“It was only supposed to be that one show. Instead, we had an extremely large casting, two actually, that I wasn’t prepared for,” she said.
The results … 40 plus-sized models from different backgrounds who had never modeled before but were ready to strut all of their curves on the runway. The runway also brought a sense of purpose and camaraderie to these women who need a lift in self-esteem and or a push to empower.
“From that developed these relationships and people bonding. The more we spent time with these women, the more that we heard that women needed this and didn’t know where to get it,” Ingram said. “It turned into a sisterhood and then a movement, because before I knew it the word was traveling faster than I could keep up with.”
Winston-Salem Resident Ollie Green said that she is proud of Johnson and thinks the movement is a great thing.
“This is an outlet for women to get together and focus on encouraging one another,” she said. “It’s very positive. Women like us have curves. Some people can take that as fat and some people can take that as overweight, but we love ourselves. No matter what we look like or what size we are, we love each other. This is important because it gives an outlet to other women who may not feel like they’re beautiful, important or sexy.”
Johnson said that from that, she began receiving emails and phone calls from outside of Greensboro.
“It became much bigger than I ever thought it would be,” she said.
The Fayetteville native wears many hats, including being a makeup artist, life coach and motivational speaker. She said that growing up she was picked on by children for her weight.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t know I was different until I went to school. You know how kids are overly mean. If something doesn’t look like you it looks different or it looks odd, people are afraid of it or they mock it,” she said. “I was very confident, even as a child, because I had great parents. My father was always telling me how beautiful I was, he was always reaffirming me and loving on me.”
She would go on to graduate from Livingstone College and Howard University, before realizing that she was born to help others. Which is exactly what she is doing by helping to allow women to rock their curves, just the way they are.
“The emails never stop, the inbox is never empty and I feel like I’m constantly counseling somebody. It never ends, and I love the work and the opportunity for ministry that has come from this,” she said. “This is not Kenyatta but a God thing. I just happen to be the vessel that he ministers in to do this work.”
Green said that she has enjoyed seeing the positive impact it has had on other women.
“I’m an encourager. I love to see people grow and see them happy. That’s my gratification. We have a large number of women from all around the Triad, all states and all ethnicities,” she said. “If you are confident, curvy, love yourself and others, and love fashion, I would recommend you join I Rock My Curves.”
Since its conception in September 2014, IRMC has been highlighted on TLC’s reality TV show “My Big Fat Fab Life”, IRMC has produced two fashion shows in N.C., mentors young girls, works with victims of domestic violence and supports homeless Veterans.
Right now, Johnson said that she is hoping to be a community-based organization that’s a nonprofit.
“Now it’s a matter of getting from where we are now to getting the funds so we can continue to go,” she said. “I would love to get grants and provide services to all women who may need help.”
For more information or to join, visit www.irockmycurvesthebest.com.
