LargeInCharge.com:
What is your name?
Stephanie
Ripa AKA the PLUS SIZE BARBIE
LargeInCharge.com: Where are you from and what is your current
Location?
I am from
Vineland, NJ but currently reside in Mays Landing, NJ
LargeInCharge.com: Can you give us some information about
yourself (Age, Height, Size, Nationality, Marital Status,
Children, etc.)?
I am 23
years old, 5'6", Italian; I am a single mother of two beautiful
boys 6 months and 3 years old.
LargeInCharge.com: Were you a big child, or did you gain weight
later in life?
Later in
life, I was skinny as a child but as I grow up I started gaining
weight.
LargeInCharge.com: (If you gained weight later in life) what
caused you to gain weight and how did you feel about it?
I gained
weight during my 1st pregnancy. After I had my son I just didn't
lose the weight. I was really upset that I was no longer a size
7 and wanted so bad to look how I use too.
LargeInCharge.com: What made you decide to enter the
LargeInCharge model search?
I saw so
many beautiful people on largeincharge.com and thought one day
that will be me. So I submitted my pictures to you.
LargeInCharge.com: Did you find it a hard journey to be accepted
for your size?
It was
extremely hard to except my self; I thought I was so ugly. I
took a personal Journey to discover who I was on the inside and
then started to love what I saw on the outside. One day I woke
up feeling like a new woman and I said “how can anyone love me
if I don’t love myself” I embraced my new body and loved me for
me. It took a while to be confident and comfortable in my own
skin. Now I am not only confident but for the first time ever I
feel like I have control of my own life.
LargeInCharge.com: Do you find acceptance among your family and
friends?
Yes. My
family is amazing and they are so supportive of what I do. They
think of me as an advocate for plus size women and love that I
have enough courage to get my curvy self in front of a camera.
My friends are all skinny but they love me just the way I am,
they are also amazing women that give me so much strength to
pursue my dreams.
LargeInCharge.com: What would you say inspires you most in life?
My children
inspire me the most. There the reason why I put on the make up,
do my hair, and snap on the pictures.
LargeInCharge.com: What is your primary job?
I work 8-4
Monday thru Friday as a secretary in a general contractor’s
office. Then the rest of the time my job title is “MOMMY”.
LargeInCharge.com: How did you get into this line of work?
It’s a
family owned business. So when a position opened up my Aunt gave
me a call.
LargeInCharge.com: Do you find acceptance in the work force?
Well I work
for family so its pretty easy to be accepted by them.
LargeInCharge.com: What changes do you believe should take place
for Large People in the work force?
Larger
people are less likely to get hired, promoted, we get paid less,
and are the 1st ones out during layoffs. This HAS to change. Big
is beautiful and they perceive us as stupid, lazy, & unhealthy.
Women suffer the greatest unfairness in the work force; we don’t
have to weigh very much for employment discrimination to kick
in. We deserve the same treatment as everyone else.
LargeInCharge.com: What do you think about the fashion industry
for big sized clothing?
Right now it
is still a little weak but definitely improving. I’m so tired of
seeing curtains for dresses and blankets for shirts. Who
actually wears that stuff? Just because I am a size sixteen
doesn’t mean I can’t be fashionable. Gave me fashion!
LargeInCharge.com: What do you wish to see change with the
fashion industry?
I actually
see it changing before my eyes. Great things are happening for
plus size women. Gwen DeVoe is doing amazing things for plus
size women. I recently went to one of her open calls and there
were so many beautiful plus size women. Monif C. has such a
great clothing line out. Her convertible dresses fit so well and
are very fashionable. Torrid is one of my favorite stores to
shop, the store was built for me. I would like to see more of
this going on. We need more wide heels & dress shoes. I would
love to see more fashionable plus clothing lines and stores in
the next year. And one day I would love to have my own clothing
line.
LargeInCharge.com: What changes do you think will happen if plus
sized modeling for men and women were to expand?
I think a
lot more opportunities would open for plus size men and women.
It would show America that you don’t have to be size zero to be
beautiful and model.
LargeInCharge.com: Tell us some of the places you buy your
clothing from.
Torrid,
monif C, Macy’s are the main stores I shop at but I’ll shop any
where that I can find great clothes that fit.
LargeInCharge.com: Tell us one of your secret beauty tips.
Moisturize.
It’s so important to moisturize before applying makeup if you
have dry skin. If you don’t moisturize your face will look
flaking and cakey, that’s not a good look.
LargeInCharge.com: Give us some tips on how to have a successful
Photo shoot. What should models be prepared for?
As a plus
model it is so important to bring shape wear with because you
never know what outfit your going to wear. If your makeup and
hair are being done on set come with a clean face and hair. If
not, come already done up. And please practice your facial
expressions in the mirror.
LargeInCharge.com:
Look at Size acceptance five years ago... look at size
acceptance now. What changes do you see?
A lot has
changed but still not enough. The modeling industry has more
recognition for plus models. More agency represent plus size
models. A lot still has to be changed and accepted.
LargeInCharge.com: What changes do you think will happen five
years from now with size acceptance?
We will have
agency that only accept beautiful curvy women.
LargeInCharge.com: Tell us about your goals as far as modeling
and other interests.
I want to be
represented by a great agency, be in a national ad campaign, &
movies/shows. Eventually design and own a plus clothing line. I
have many more goals and hopefully will achieve most of them.
LargeInCharge.com: Can you tell us about an inspirational moment
in you life that made you feel good about your size.
I rarely
feel bad about my size. I know I am a curvy woman and confident
about it. But after my first photo shoot I was looking thru the
pictures with my 2 year old son. When he saw my pictures come up
he said “awww mommy you look so beautiful”. He made me cry.
LargeInCharge.com: Is there a person in your life that makes you
keep going?
Of course.
My two boys, every day I wake up they motivate me to better to
do more, get my name and face known. Yes there is a man in my
life (not a boyfriend or husband) that also encourages me to do
it bigger and better.
LargeInCharge.com: What advice would you give to other people of
size who want to model?
Go for it.
If you want to model then model, who is going to stop you?
People told me I was to fat to model and I am doing it. I’ve
heard harsh words from people but that didn’t stop me, it only
encouraged me to do more. Call me a cow… Thanks I am a C.O.W
confident, overweight women. Moo
LargeInCharge.com: What plus size figure do you admire?
Gwen DeVoe,
she is doing amazing things for plus size women. She gives plus
models so many opportunities to advance or start their career.
She inspires me not only as a plus size model but as a woman.
She is so FABOULOUS and hope one day I can work for her.
LargeInCharge.com:
Describe yourself with one word.
Phenomenal
