Emme

I first fell in love with Emme in the late 90s when I was reading what I consider to be the first plus size fashion magazine, Mode. As well as modelling she wrote an advice column called "Ask Emme".

Emme is a NYC native but was raised in Saudi Arabia from the age of eight. Like many plus size women, Emme has always had a love for activity, starting long before her early days as a professional rower at Syracuse University where she received a degree in Communications.

Emme was the first plus size model to garner a coveted position as a spokes model for Revlon early in her modelling career. It was long before she earned the title of Supermodel.

This short but sweet lens is dedicated to one of the first plus size models to make a world wide impression.

Emme appeared on Doctor Oz with Denise Bidot and Lizzie Miller. Here is some behind the scenes conversation about body image and health.

She Gets Better with Age

It use to be that a model's career was cut short by the onset of years but that just isn't the case these days. And Emme is a perfect case in point. How does she keep herself busy? Well like many creative types she has her hands in more than one basket.:

* Modelling

* Spokes person for body image issues

* Green blogger at iVillage

* Clothing designer

* Television personality

* Her own online community

In 1994, Emme was transformed into Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres' The Grand Odalisque (1814) for a photo shoot with Theo Westenberger to celebrate her inclusion in People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" celebrity listing. She made their list for a second time in 1999.

If you are looking for a more realistic representation of the female figure for your child's dolls (or you are just a doll collector) then please check out Tonner Doll Company; they designed the first plus size Emme doll.

Today there are at least four different versions ranging from business dress to formal. They are more expensive than your every day Barbie ($59.99) but are still reasonably affordable.

Get your own Emme doll.

Emme wrote this children's book exploring the physical and emotional aspects of hunger.

In 2007 Emme was diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymph nodes. If you are going to get a cancer this is probably one of the better ones to get as it has a high cure rate if caught early. Emme successfully completed her chemotherapy in the fall of 2008 and is more focused than ever on living a positive life. Doesn't she look amazing with short hair!

Emme is hosted the Fox reality show More to Love which aired Tuesday nights in the summer of 2009 on Fox. The premise of the show was to follow plus size men and women through the trials and tribulations of dating as they search for true love.

It was along the same lines as The Bachelor and The Bachelorette but better because it's curvy people. The first season had a big guy as the center of attention for twenty "confident and secure plus-size women".

I had no intention of watching this show because I'm not a Bachelor/Bachelorette fan but when I found out Emme was hosting I knew it will be a lot more interesting and planned to tune in. Emme is not new to television. In the past she hosted Fashion Emergency on Entertainment Television and often appears as a expert guest on news shows talking about health and fashion.

Unfortunately, this show did not use Emme's skills as a host to their full advantage and she was only seen making a few walk-in appearances and announcements. I think much to the detriment of the show.

My episode review of the show.

I've been a member of Emme's online community for some time. One of the best things about it is Emme - she posts on members blogs, posts her own blogs, and provides video updates on the events in life.

It is not uncommon for her to lend words of support, offer advice or just sincere kindness. If you are a woman (plus size or not) I highly recommend you join her community.

Visit EmmeNation to learn more about plus size supermodel Emme.

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