The air crackles with change. Plus-size fashion isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement, raw and unapologetic. Gone are the days of shapeless muumuus, of curves hidden like secrets. Today, we dress our bodies like canvases, bold and free. But this freedom? It was fought for. Carved out by visionaries who stared down a world that said no and built a new one. These six pioneers—models, mavens, dreamers—rewrote the rules, their footsteps echoing on runways and in editorials. They’re the reason we wear what we love, not what we’re told. Let’s walk through their stories, feel the fabric of their fight, and honor the curves they championed.
Runway lights hum, a crowd holds its breath. The scent of fresh silk and ambition lingers. Plus-size fashion didn’t bloom overnight—it was planted, tended, forced through concrete. These pioneers? They’re the gardeners, the rebels, the ones who said enough. They turned adversity into art, stereotypes into statements. As a Vogue editor, I’ve seen trends flicker and fade, but their work? It’s foundational, a cultural shift that reshaped how we see beauty. Let’s meet them, piece by piece, story by story.
A gown flows like liquid gold, curves commanding the stage. This is Eyani Couture at FFFWeek 2015, a moment where plus-size fashion screamed we’re here. It’s not just a dress—it’s defiance, a middle finger to decades of exclusion.
Emme — The Supermodel Who Redefined Beauty
The ’90s, all sharp cheekbones and waifish frames. Then came Emme, a supernova in a world of straight sizes. Her curves graced Revlon campaigns, a first for plus-size models. The scent of her confidence—clean, like fresh cotton—shifted the air. People called her one of the “50 Most Beautiful,” Glamour crowned her “Woman of the Year.”
Emme’s mission? To awaken your inner fire. She’s a lecturer, author, designer, her voice a clarion call for self-love. To me, she’s proof that beauty isn’t a size—it’s a presence. She walked so today’s models could run.
Catherine Schuller — The Maven Who Reshaped Style
A studio smells of coffee and creativity. Catherine Schuller moves through it, a former Ford model turned industry titan. Her resume? A tapestry—editor of Mode, image consultant, founder of Curvestyle. She’s quoted in The New York Times, a fixture on morning shows, her voice sharp as a tailor’s shears.
In 2002, when Mode shuttered, Schuller didn’t pause. She launched Curvestyle: Reshaping Fashion, a platform for plus-size promotion. She advises Divabetic, styling women with diabetes, proving fashion heals. To me, she’s a strategist, turning stones into runways.
Chenese Lewis — The Mogul of Curves
The mic hums, a crowd leans in. Chenese Lewis—model, advocate, host—commands the room. Her scent? Bold, like amber and spice. A Miss Plus America 2003, she’s a keynote speaker, actress, creator of Hollywood NOW’s Love Your Body Day. Her Flawless Calendar? High-fashion editorials that scream we’re enough.
PLUS Model Magazine calls her a “leader in the curvy revolution.” Her radio show, PLUS Model Radio, is a beacon for the plus-size lifestyle. Chenese’s power lies in her refusal to conform—she’s a reminder that confidence is couture.
Gayla Bentley — The Designer of Timeless Chic
A sketchpad rustles, pencils scratch. Gayla Bentley has been dreaming plus-size style for thirty years. Her scent is classic—leather and lavender. At Saks Fifth Avenue, she honed her craft, then launched Cou-Tours, whisking clients to Paris for bespoke shopping.
Her Gayla Bentley Fashion Design Group, born in 2001, delivers clean lines, timeless pieces. No seasonal fads here—her clothes are multi-season, multi-wear, a rebuke to fast fashion. To me, Bentley’s work is architecture: structured, elegant, eternal.
Gwen DeVoe — The Event Maestro
A cruise deck sways, white dresses glow under moonlight. Gwen DeVoe—former model, now visionary—orchestrates FFFWeek’s White Party. Her events—The Plus Academy, Full Figured and Fabulous—are cultural touchstones, smelling of sea air and celebration.
Through DeVoe Signature Events, she’s built stages for plus-size voices. A motivational speaker, she champions body image and runway diversity. To me, DeVoe is a conductor, her events symphonies of inclusion.
Sharon Quinn — The Runway Diva
Heels click, a runway pulses. Sharon Quinn, six feet of Amazonian grace, owns the catwalk. Her scent? Electric, like ozone before a storm. In the ’80s, she shattered plus-size stereotypes, later mentoring models on MoNique’s F.A.T. Chance.
Her column, The Runway Diva Says, guides aspiring models. Her book, The Runway Diva’s Guide, is forthcoming, a blueprint for confidence. Quinn, to me, is a mentor whose strut still echoes in every plus-size show.
These pioneers aren’t just names—they’re the pulse of a revolution. Their work smells of sweat, dreams, and defiance. As Vogue’s lens sharpens on inclusivity, I see their influence in every curve on our pages. They’re why we wear boldness, not shame.
Who’s your plus-size icon? Share their story below—let’s keep the fire burning.
