Brittnee Blair
Why you should know her: She was featured in Essence in "Curvy Model of the Month" in 2014 and has also appeared in campaigns for Macy's and Canadian clothing company Addition Elle.
How did you get your start as a model?
"I was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. When I was seven-years-old, I was out to lunch with my mom, and our server approached my mom and me, wondering if I'd be interested in modeling. He turned out to be a scout for a local modeling agency. My mom and I went into the agency later that day, and I had officially entered the modeling world. I'd done a few jobs around the city, but later on, at the age of 14, I decided that I didn't want to model. I was getting lumps and bumps, a.k.a. hips and breasts, and didn't look like other girls. When I was 19, I was helping my best friend get into photography and told her I would be her model for the day. I showed my mom a few of those pictures, and she sent them to my old agent. When I went in to meet with him, and he told me all about plus-size modeling and encouraged me to get back into that world. Later, I got the courage to submit my photos to the top-ten plus-size agencies in the world, and Ford Models Toronto signed me. I then went on to sign with Ford Models in New York and moved to New York City. I'm now modeling full time with JAG Models. It's been such an amazing experience."
What does beauty mean to you?
"Beauty is an air of confidence. It's the way a woman carries herself and takes pride in who she is, who she surrounds herself with, and the life she lives. Beauty is the courage to stand out and stand up for what you believe in, even if it doesn't suit the norm."
What do you think of the term "plus size"?
"I'm quite indifferent when it comes to the term. To me, plus size is simply a differentiation in a measurement. I receive comments like 'I can't believe you're considered plus size,' as though it's something I should be offended by. I take it upon myself to simply educate people that it's something I'm proud of, and really just a measurement. It's also a beautiful community that unfortunately has had a negative stigma. Fashion--especially plus-size fashion--has evolved so much, even in the past five years. Although it may take time to open people's eyes, I have faith that eventually we will get to a point where people won't even question it."
Did you have a certain "I made it" moment in your career?
"My biggest 'I made it' moment was when I saw my picture hanging in a store window for the first time. It was such a surreal feeling. I remember standing on that street in New York City, staring at this giant photo of myself in the store, and saying to myself, 'I made it, I'm doing this!'"
Who inspires you most?
"It's a toss-up between Beyoncé and Tyra Banks. They are both amazing, ambitious, successful women. They inspire me to break beauty standards, to go after what I want, and to try and make a mark in this world. Both their style and grace inspire me."
Any advice for women and girls who look up to you?
"I'm truly humbled and grateful to anyone who looks up to me. The best advice I hope to give is to always dream big, and after you dream big, do big things. There are so many times we tell ourselves no or talk ourselves down from going after our dreams or something we really want. But that's the last thing you should be doing. If you want something bad enough, fight for it, work toward it, and it will become a reality. The last piece of advice I can give is to love yourself wholly, truly, and unconditionally. We're not perfect, but as long as we're trying our best, that's what matters most. Once you love yourself, everything will fall into place."
What's up next for you?
"I'm focused on continuing to work toward making a bigger mark in the fashion industry. I hope to eventually break into the television world a bit more and to host a TV show."
