After both the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, comes the Academy Awards- Kind of like the Super Bowl of the Award shows. This awards season we have two beautiful plus size women up for an Oscar! Both Octavia Spencer and Melissa McCarthy!

Now, the Academy Awards is where drama usually arrives on the red carpet and which some designers hold back for! Perfectly timed after most Fashion Weeks (Couture and NYFW), most dresses literally go from red carpet to the stylist/actress! However for the Curvy Fashionista, most of the curvier actresses have to pull from current collections or have something custom tailored for them- which is quite alright with me!

So I decided to round up a few dresses by the designers who have made custom gowns, cater to plus sizes, or in my perfect world- would cater to us, to bring you a few looks that I think would be perfect for the red carpet drama!

Style wise, we know this: They both like to cover their arms a bit and love to live in darker tones. I happily suggest to step outside of their box with these suggestions:

My Academy Award picks for the Curvy Fashionistas

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Marchesa Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Marchesa Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Marchesa Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Marchesa Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Carmen Marc Valvo Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Badgley Mischka Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Badgley Mischka Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

David Meister Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Tadashi Shoji Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Tadashi Shoji Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Tadashi Shoji Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Tadashi Shoji Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Tadashi Shoji Academy Awards picks for the Plus Size attendees

Q.Which look would you like to see on either Octavia or Melissa or any other plus size attendee?

I love a good awards season. Yes, I do. Last night was no exception! There were some amazing hits and some terrifying lows, but for the Curvy Fashionistas nominated, it was a mixed bag!

So what I have done is created a little poll under each look and I need for you to share with me if you loved it or hated it! Now the Oscars are when we expect the full drama with fashion, even Donna Karan sat out dressing the stars to wait for the Oscars AND with Haute Couture wrapping up its fashion week, you can be sure that we will see quite a few looks from the runway on the red carpet… but that is another post…

So here is what our three SAG Award Nominees rocked:

Amber Riley

Amber riley is one to take risks on the red carpet, and last night was no exception. Rather than going for a traditional gown, Ms. Amber Riley rocked out in a cocktail lace Badgley Mischka dress with her girls wrapped up in a bow. She paired her dress with shoes from JustFab.com! But I was a bit confused at the look… I wanted DRAMA from her- hopefully we can get it for the Oscars?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Melissa McCarthy

Hair down, loose waves, kicking make up, and a plunging neckline… While I love the dress on her and she got a little more glam, I really wanted a COLOR on her. Her Badgley Mischka Dress did give us more to look at! I must add… But she is almost there … almost!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Loves her some Tadashi Shoji and he loves the curvy girls! For Octavia, I really dug the look for her! This gray was definitely a different shade we have seen and I loved this for her! I can only imagine what she will be rocking for the Oscars! COLOR!!!!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

One thing is for sure, the ladies took risks, stepped up the glam factor, only to leave us wanting more and excitingly awaiting what they will fashion for the Oscars! I will have a post in a few days with my picks for them for the red carpet!

Place your Votes above and then tell me who, from these Curvy Fashionistas, was the best dressed?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Image Source

Keep it Curvy.Confident.Chic.

Last night, if you were watching, was a fun night to watch the Golden Globes! For the Curvy Fashionistas, we had not one or two, but four voluptuous women grace the red carpet and stage- serving us different levels of glamour! SERVING it, you hear me!?!

Queen Latifah, Amber Riley, Melissa McCarthy, and Octavia Spencer repped for the plus size woman on the red carpet and I was happy! Last night on the red carpet, there were quite a few trends that I noticed, interestingly some of which the women rocked, which allowed for them to stand out in all of their curvy glory!

Without running off at the mouth, here they are!

Queen Latifah

The Queen ALWAYS gives and serves up the glam factor and last night, in a custom Rani Zackhem Dress, Queen Latifah did NOT disappoint! She selected a one-shoulder mermaid evening gown in muted bronze and black silk brocade, embroidered with floating sequins and embellished with an encrusted black Swarovski crystal shoulder cap sleeve. WERQ!

Amber Riley

Amber Riley kept it Hollywood chic and ravished in this RED Badgley Mischka number. Now I do love this look for Amber, but I saw a dress last night on her co star that I think would have shut.the.awards.down.

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If Amber Riley rocked this dress that Lea Michelle wore? LAWD, FIYAH! But alas, she did not! But regardless, she looks fly! Get it Amber for keeping it Curvy!

Melissa McCarthy

*sigh* I really wanted to love her dress. It is nice and classic; however, I wanted to see more from her. I wanted to see her curves… some color, or maybe even more skin? I don’t know, her Badgley Mischka dress left me wanting more from her! I felt like it was a bit old maybe? I don’t know. However, we have the Oscars, so I am hoping for something fabulous here…

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“Golden Globe Winner” Octavia Spencer

The Help’s Octavia Spencer took home a Golden Globe last night in a pastel Tadashi Shoji number. She looked amazing! Not too much nor too little, Octavia showed off her curves last night and I loved it! For me, for her, it felt right. I would not have rocked the dress, but she looked AMAZING!

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Q. Did you like their looks last night? Who was your favorite?

Keep it Curvy.Confident.Chic.

Oooh! It makes me sooo happy to share with you that the woman whose music rocks my soul is going to cover the October issue of Vogue in the UK!  Celebrating and profiling some of the UK’s most successful and inspirational women, Vogue UK places our Curvy Fashionista, Adele!

In her editor’s letter, Editor Alexandra Shulman shares:

“Our cover girl, Adele, has won over the world with her heartbreaking voice and her ability to seem as if she very much herself… One of the interesting facts of celebrity is that we, the admirers, usually find some particular aspect of our favorite stars to focus on and that generally become ‘the point of them’. We like them to be a certain way, and often take a long time to accept any change. So Adele’s very normality, her down-to-earth determination not to compromise herself, has become as much a part of her USP as, for example, Madonna’s constant, deliberate reinvention.”

Not only is ADELE on the cover, she is interviewed by Christa D’Souza and talks about her career, style and why, if she was the face of anything “it should be full-fat Coke!”.

Sweet!

On her style, Barbara Tfank, who designed her MTV VMA Dress, speaks to Vogue about her style and designing for her sharing:

“Adele is a lioness …She has poise, taste, humor and soul. Her astonishing talent never ceases to fill me with enthusiasm. I always take her lead and know I can trust her instincts – as Adele prefers black, I design for her as if she were staring in a black and white movie. Instead of color, I play with texture, trims, shape and illumination.”

The October issue of Vogue is available from Thursday September 8. And you can check out Adele’s Style File from Vogue here!

Q. Are you loving this as much as I am?

 [All images from Vogue UK]

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The sassy and sultry 23-year-old Adele was nominated for seven MTV Awards for Video of the Year, Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, Best Direction in a Video, Best Art Direction in a Video, Best Editing in a Video, and Best Cinematography in a Video.

And Guess what?

Adele took home 3 Moon Men! But her highlight was not the red carpet entrance but her AMAZING performance during the MTV awards… She seriously slayed and looked fabulous while doing it!

Singing “Someone Like You,” Adele wooed the crowd as she was accompanied by only a piano. Adele’s voice tugged at our soul (I was almost in tears- but maybe I feel her pain? I suppose that is another story) while her style played with our heartstrings!

Perfectly coifed in a side swept ponytail, Adele fashioned a retro look of the 50’s by Barbara Tfank. Adele kept her makeup clean with an exaggerated lash and NUDE nails! Can we say chic!

Here she is!

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Q. Are you a fan of her look?

Anyways, this had me thinking, especially after Boris Kojoe’s Twitter comments (bless his heart), about the plus sized celebrities who have embraced their curves, weight loss or not, have been open, positive, and confident in their curves- the Women who thumb their noses to Hollywood’s ideal and hold their head up high and EVEN capitalize on their curves AND still manage to live a full life (Go Figure!).

Those women whose moxie, sass, confidence, zaniness, and style have continually bucked the ideals and norms, who have lived life for THEM, who have celebrated the art and work they do and who are non apologetic about their curves, weight, or looks.

I want to interview them.

Being that Curvy.Confident.Chic. is the mission of this blog, I’d love to delve into the minds of these plus size women who stay on the red carpet, big screen, or in my Spotify playlist. SO without further ado. I share with you these 8 plus size celebrities whom I’d die for a chance to interview and get into of their minds:

1.       Adele

“I like having my hair and face done, but I’m not going to lose weight because someone tells me to. I make music to be a musician not to be on the cover of Playboy.”

Asides from the fact that her musicality stirs up something new in my soul, I love her confidence, sass, and shoot-from-the-hip honesty. Adele’s style is also something to note. I do not think I have EVER seen her NOT looking fashionable. On the covers of Rolling Stone, Out, Elle, Q, Glamour and Billboard- this sultry, sexy, sassy, and amazingly talented singer is one who I’d love to have a drink with and just chat about life and love with. Oh and fashion too.

 2.       Queen Latifah

I feel like I’ve set the example for loving your body no matter what size it is, but I also can set the example for being healthy as well.  I’m trying to just be an inspiration to people who just want to get healthy.  It’s not about losing 100 lbs., because that’s not who I want to be. But, it is about being really healthy.

(source)

All hail the Queen. This red carpet plus size rapper, singer, actress, now designer’s style is one definitely for the books!  While I’d love to play dress up in her closet (I am still dreaming about that white jumpsuit she wore) and I sooo miss the Curvation line (remember that?) I ‘d want to delve into her experiences in the media and the roles she has taken as an actress and how or if her weight played a role in it. Also, knowing she used to work with Susan Moses, I want to know has finding looks for her gotten easier or harder?

3.       Beth Ditto

“It’s kind of like a drug… it’s a performance. It’s funny how something so normal and mundane that you see every day – your body – can be controversial. The shock value is intense. It’s like carrying an art piece around with you all the time. […] It’s really about making an art piece out of what you’ve been handed..(BlackBook)

Breaking stereotypes, crushing stigmas, and challenging the status quo- this is the fierce and edgy Beth Ditto. I love her outspoken, in your face, cross the line, speak her mind, and have no shame having moxie that Beth Ditto has. I feel that after one conversation, we’d famously go shopping, and chat over drinks what her next collection would look like!

 4.       Mo’Nique

“Let’s be healthy big people.” (Jet Magazine)

Miss Mo’Nique is a comedienne-turned-actress-now-tv-show-host who has always intrigued me. Following her through her career makes me feel as if I know her, yet I have always wanted to know more. Media and its spotlight can do weird things to you- yet she has been one not to conform- even if it cost her.  I would sip some wine with Mo’Nique, talk about the challenges, struggles, and the no-holds-barred reality of being plus size in Hollywood.

5.       Amber Riley

“I love my breasts, my face, my butt,” but most importantly, “I love myself.”(People)

First- I love her. Her style, playfulness (although I wish she replied to a tweet), Miss Amber Riley has been slaying it on the red carpets! I would love to know her thoughts about media and her reception, and if her weight for her, has ever been an issue. I love her confidence in bold colors; darling hemlines- she makes me smile! I’d dig into her mind about fashion and her love for it (from what I’ve deduced) and then, yes… we’d go shopping!

6.       Roseanne

“It’s okay to be fat. So you’re fat. Just be fat and shut up about it.” (Source)

I think growing up watching Roseanne saved my life at times. This woman at the time was crazy, happy, playful, and had a husband and family and was living the life! She made life work for her and with her newest show out right now- I could only begin to imagine the hilarity that Roseanne and I could have and chat about. I MEAN THE STORIES and knowledge she could kick down? Yeah… this would be a colorful ride!

7.       Jill Scott

I love food.  I’m not afraid of it.  I can’t imagine starving myself and being happy; I’m too visceral.  Life is to enjoy, and there’s nothing like having dessert after a good meal.  I eat what I want to, but I have to make sure that I run, that I walk, that I take Tae Bo, that I’m physically active, or it doesn’t work.”(source)

SO there you have it! Seven plus size celebrities that I would love to chat with about the media, Hollywood, self confidence, and their own battles and/but ultimately go shopping with! The question is, who has connects? Hehe while this is a wish list, I am on a mission! J

Q. Which plus size celebrity would you want to interview or learn more from and why?

On if the industry discriminates against plus-sized women:
‘No, because I was doing OK before,’ Jennifer says. ‘But the truth is, so many more opportunities open up when you’re on the other side, as I am now. I’d no idea what I was missing out on. It’s like a whole other world. Suddenly every designer wants to dress you. It’s like, “You look amazing! Please, choose a dress. Have a bag. And what about shoes?”

(sidebar: Perhaps the question asked by the reporter should have been “do you see a difference” because clearly she does. I only partly agree with the discrimination factor. Rarely do you see a woman of size on a the cover of Vogue, Glamour, or Elle. And even if they’re featured in the UK version of the publication they are photographed in mainly head shots. One of the biggest challenges in the curvy community is the lack of plus size designers in mainstream fashion. So droppin 80lb+ might be an advantage for any celebrity. I could quote Tom Ford and say ‘Amercians are too fat’ anyways, right. But can fat be healthy? – I feel a blog post coming on!)

On being successful:
‘To be able to sing at this level is a blessing in itself, and I got publicity for what I was doing before I dieted. But never to this extent. Now, whenever I open a magazine, I seem to see myself there. And I get to dress up every day and have someone take photos of it all. For someone who loves fashion, it’s like living the dream. Of course there are those mornings when I think, “Please don’t look at me right now!” But you just have to pull yourself together, get out there and do your job. I mean, how lucky am I to be in this position?’

On being a mommy:
‘When it’s mommy time at home, the supermodel me – black Barbie, as I call her – is definitely not in the house. I don’t want to be all glammed-up in big hair and full make-up. I need to relax, to breathe and to concentrate on my son.’

On the tragic shooting death of her mother, brother and nephew:
‘You have no choice but to keep going,’ she says quietly. ‘What else are you going to do? It’s called life and you’ve got to be prepared to deal with whatever it brings your way.’

On disappointments:
‘“Don’t block your blessings. Don’t let doubt stop you from getting where you want to be.” Those were the lessons that I took from American Idol,’ says Jennifer. ‘OK, from now on I refuse to let anyone interrupt the vision I have for myself.” Sometimes I think we hurt ourselves by being too aware of the challenges. It can be better not to know. With Dreamgirls, I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for until I was out there on the set.’

 On her son:
‘He’s very much his own person, a little performer who loves to sing and dance,’ she says. ‘He’s so charming, too. Yes, I’m biased, but I’ve never seen a child with such presence. He says “hi” or “bye bye” to everyone when he comes in or out of a room, and goes round blowing kisses to everyone. My phone is completely backed up from videoing everything he does, because he surprises me constantly. ‘When I found out I was pregnant and went for the scan, he was so very little. To have that memory fresh in my mind and yet to now have this boy with me, dancing and laughing…’

Check out the pics:

Fat or thin JHud looks amaze-in (despite that her head sometimes appears a little too large for her neck). I am glad to see any woman making strides in the industry.

Q: Do you think plus size celebrities are discrimnated against? I didn’t see JHud on a covers before her 80lb+ shed. Chime in below.