The Chenese Lewis Show

Trailblazing Latina singer-songwriter Elle Baez is taking over with her innovative pop-soul music and message. Real, authentic, and relatable, Elle is representation for womxn that have been craving to see themselves in the spotlight. She empowers and inspires others through her captivating hooks, body positive music videos, versatile writing style, and motto of self-love. Elle just recently dropped her new hit single Fuego which was featured in Rolling Stone and was named Entertainer of The Year at the Full Figured Industry Awards! As a songwriter, Elle has been featured by the Grammy’s. She has opened for charting artists Bea Miller and Leah Kate , been featured in Pop Sugar Magazine, and went on a VS Pink Sponsored Tour. Her ethos is simple: be you, be sexy, and above all, be confident.

Tawana Blassingame is the Founder and Executive Producer of The Full Figured Industry Awards and the CEO and Founder of Queen Size Magazine. In 2011, Tawana started Queen Size Magazine: an award winning monthly national full-figured fashion and lifestyle publication for both men and women. Under her parent company Cohesive Minds Inc, Queen Size Magazine has enjoyed over a decade of continued success. While diligently handling her career in healthcare and simultaneously operating her very own magazine company, Tawana embarked on a new journey in 2019. She produced her very first award ceremony called the Full-Figured Industry Awards (also known as the FFIAs). The FFIAs is a prestigious ceremony of awards and of distinguished recognition honoring the craftsmanship and commitment to excellence across various platforms spanning the full-figured industry. From models, makeup artists and designers, to bloggers, photographers, entertainers, influencers, and productions; Tawana and the FFIAs team continues to work relentlessly to ensure that the industry is celebrated for their work and dedication to the full-figured fashion industry. The Full Figured Industry Awards happening Nov. 4th at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center!

Zach Miko grew up wary of heading to the beach or pool for fear of being judged for his body. Now a body-confident, plus-size IMG model and influencer advocating for fellow “big boys” living their most joyful life, Zach found himself fed up with the lack of fashionable big and tall swimwear options and decided to meet this need himself with the launch of the first collection from Meekos, his very own big and tall lifestyle brand. The swim line ranges from L – 8XL in size and features more modern styles of big and tall swim trunks than those typically on the market, along with a tank top, hoodie and additional shirts. In addition to founding Meekos, Zach is furthering his advocacy for plus-size people in the corporate realm through his partnership with Big Fig, the first and only mattress brand to exclusively cater to plus-size sleepers. Zach is nominated for the 2023 Outstanding Big and Tall Model at the Full Figured Industry Awards!

Tigress Osborn (she/her) is a fat rights advocate and the Executive Director of NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. In 2023, Tigress co-launched the Campaign for Size Freedom alongside colleagues at NAAFA and the Fat Legal Rights Advocacy and Education Project (FLARE) with support from Dove. She is also the founder of Full Figure Entertainment and co-founder of PHX Fat Force. She is an intersectional feminist teacher and writer whose professional background as a youth empowerment leader and DEI educator has informed her fat liberation activism since 2008. She has been featured in USA Today and Newsweek, and heard on BBC AntiSocial and ABC News, and seen on Everyday Feminism and NewsNation network. Tigress will be honored with the People's Choice Community Service Award at the 2023 Full Figured Industry Awards!

Mallory B. Richardson is a Native American influencer and a member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe. She is the CEO of The Platform Experience, a North Carolina based fashion house that provides multiple services including wardrobe styling and model coaching. She is also the Founder of Beaucoup, Raleigh’s premiere plus size nonprofit support network for career development, wellness, and service. Mallory is the creator and producer of North Carolina’s first plus size fashion week entitled Crusade of Curves. Launched in 2017, Crusade of Curves is celebrating its 7th year anniversary with a three-city tour stopping in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Raleigh, NC.

Molly Hopkins is the owner of LiviRae Lingerie, a business that was started in 2006. LiviRae Lingerie is a boutique that specializes in bra fit, bust health, and custom intimates. In 2013, LiviRae Lingerie found its way into the homes of millions as Molly became the stars of Lifetime’s reality show, The Double Divas. This is when Molly’s star status became more apparent, thanks to her wit, southern drawl and over the top personality. In 2018, Molly found her way back into the homes and hearts of people around the world while looking for love on 90 Day Fiance. Although she was unlucky with love while on TLC’s hit show, Molly did sprinkle her southern charm everywhere. Since then, she has become an invaluable asset to the 90 Day Fiance franchise and has been taped to host recaps and other 90 Day shows. She has also had appearances on Jimmy Kimmel and the Today show. Whether it is on television or in LiviRae Lingerie, Molly’s passion for empowering women is undeniable. She is a woman of many talents and gifts of which no gift Is greater than her southern charm and willingness to be a catalyst for change. Her latest show, 90 Day: The Last Resort, where five 90 Day Fiance couples attempt to salvage their relationships at a couples retreat, airs Mondays at 9PM ET/PT on TLC.

Kimberly Williams has a long history of making waves in the fashion industry. She became a well known stylist specializing in curating closets for women of all shapes and sizes after getting her start in 2013. After making a name for herself as a stylist she became a writer for Fashion Bomb Daily, designer and boutique owner, and even managed plus size models. This work inspired Kimberly to become a fierce advocate for curvy women. That advocacy led to the birth of CURVchella, the premier shopping expo dedicated to curves. She truly believes in collaboration and partnerships and seeks to support other brand owners as they grow. Kimberly looks forward to uplifting, empowering, and inspiring others as she continues to expand her platform and influence

Clarkisha Kent is a Nigerian American writer, culture critic, former columnist, and author of Fat Off, Fat On: A Big Bitch Manifesto. Committed to telling inclusive stories via unique viewpoints from nigh-infancy, she is fascinated with using storytelling and cultural criticism not as a way to “overcome” or “transcend” her unique identities (as a FAT, bisexual, and disabled Black African woman), but as a way to explore them, celebrate them, affirm them, and most importantly, normalize them and make the world safe enough for people who share them to exist. As a University of Chicago graduate with a B.A. in Cinema and Media Studies and English, she brings with her over eight years of pop culture analysis, four years of film theory training, and a healthy appetite for change. Her writing has been featured in outlets like Entertainment Weekly, Essence, gal-dem, PAPER, BET, HuffPost, MTV News, The Root, and more. She is also the creator of #TheKentTest and the co-creator of The Kelli & Kat Test—both of which are media litmus tests designed to evaluate the quality of representation that exists for Black women, women of color, and fat [Black] women respectively.  Currently, Kent is working on a novel about a Black female outlaw and a TV comedy pilot about an immortal familiar.

Ta Morrison is the CEO and Founder of Star Class Travel, a luxury full-service travel agency and hand-crafted and pored T-Lites Candle company in Houston, Texas. Ta became the Texas Ambassador for National Curves Day, Inc. in September 2016 because she saw a need for outreach in her local community. She is currently the Global Director and ambassador for National Curves Day and shares their mission to embrace, encourage, and empower women and men in the plus-size community by teaching them to self-embrace, self-identify, and self-love. She recently helped launch the Plus Travel Network, a division of NCD that is a cultural collective dedicated to redefining world experiences for the big & tall and plus size community. The inaugural Body Confidence Fest is happening August 3-7, 2023 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic!

Tawana Blassingame is the Founder and Executive Producer of The Full Figured Industry Awards and the CEO and Founder of Queen Size Magazine. In 2011 she began publishing Queen Size Magazine, a monthly full figured fashion and lifestyle publication for both men and women. Under her parent company Cohesive Minds Inc, Queen Size Magazine has enjoyed ten years of continued success. Tawana has recently embarked on a new journey, she is now the Executive Producer of the Full Figured Industry Awards (also known as the FFIAs). The FFIAs is a prestigious ceremony of awards and of distinguished recognition honoring the craftsmanship and commitment to excellence across various platforms spanning the full figured industry. From models, makeup artists, and designers, to bloggers, photographers, entertainers, influencers, productions, and more. Through the magazine and FFIAs, Tawana and her team are continuously working to ensure that the full figured and the big and tall industry is seen, heard, respected, and recognized. The Full Figured Industry Awards happening Nov. 5th at theJamaica Performing Arts Center!

A former award-winning journalist, Phyllis Brasch Librach traded deadlines for hemlines after she failed to find a trendy plus size prom dress for her curvy teen-age daughter. In the beginning, Librach was just another mother anxious to wipe away her daughter’s tears. Twenty years ago she founded Sydney’s Closet, which has become an international company that sets the bar for fashion-forward prom, wedding, formal, evening and party dresses in sizes 14 to 40 that fit and flatter curvy women and teens. The Company now produces 10,000 dresses annually in 8 different collections. Dubbed the “plus size fairy godmother” by the Chicago Tribune, she is being honored with the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award at The Full Figured Industry Awards happening Nov. 5th

Cameron Boyland, also known as “Big Cam,” is a dedicated Big & Tall Model and influencer based in Dallas, TX. Over the past year, he has become a Tik Tok Viral Sensation and the 2021 DXL Big Model Search Winner. Outside of being a professional Big & Tall Model, he is also an entrepreneur, creative director, and producer. Cameron is represented internationally in London and signed to 5 agencies in America. Some of the major brands he has worked with include SavageXFenty, JCPenney, DXL, and Champion. He has been featured in publications such as XL Tribe Magazine, KRAVE Magazine, Voyage Dallas, and Yahoo News. Cameron partnered with National Curves Day, Inc as Co-Founder of “The Bigger Picture” campaign, sponsored by Johnny Bigg, taking place Sept. 10 during New York Fashion Week to advance the Big & Tall Community within the fashion industry.

Tajma "Taj" Myles is a cast member of WEtv’s new hit reality show “Super Sized Salon”, which follows the staff of the first beauty salon that caters to the plus size community. The reality show follows six women business owners from across the country who joined forces to open the world’s first recognized plus size salon, customized to accommodate women of all sizes and shapes up to 800 pounds. Tajma is one of the industry’s most sought-after expert hair stylists and makeup artists. She has worked with celebrity clients such as Vanessa Simmons, Kindred Family Soul, Frenchie Davis, Sherri Shepherd, E40, Lloyd and Karen King, among others. Taj’s work has also been featured on projects for Chris Brown’s Black Pyramid, Amber Rose’s SlutWalk, and John Legends’ Darkness and Light Tour. She is the owner of The StylezByTaj Collection,a full-service luxury salon in Berkeley, California. The StylezByTaj Collection salon exudes glamour and provides a “high-end” one-stop shop for all your luxury beauty needs including hair styling, makeup application, and also features Taj’s Luxury Naked Hair Line, Stylez By Taj Collection. Super Sized Salon airs Fridays at 10:30 p.m. ET on WEtv. The series will also stream on ALLBLK every Tuesday following its WEtv airing.

A-Love is a cast member of WEtv's new hit reality show “Super Sized Salon”, which follows the staff of the first beauty salon that caters to the plus size community. The reality show follows six women business owners from across the country who joined forces to open the world’s first recognized plus size salon, customized to accommodate women of all sizes and shapes up to 800 pounds. The San Diego native is a hairstylist and entrepreneur with her own holistic hair care line. She wears many hats in the entertainment industry ranging from comedy, acting, and public speaking. A-Love is also an influencer on social media for the empowerment of plus size women, self-love, and so much more! Super Sized Salon airs Fridays at 10:30 p.m. ET on WEtv. The series will also stream on ALLBLK every Tuesday following its WEtv airing.

Brittany “BB” Martin is a cast member of WEtv's new hit reality show “Super Sized Salon”, which follows the staff of the first beauty salon that caters to the plus size community. The reality show follows six women business owners from across the country who joined forces to open the world’s first recognized plus size salon, customized to accommodate women of all sizes and shapes up to 800 pounds. Brittany, who was crowned Miss Florida Plus America 2012, is a celebrity artist and owner of BBDesire Glam in West Palm Beach, Florida. The beauty bar is a complete custom luxury one-stop beauty experience that specializes in enhancing and redefining the beauty in everyone. Super Sized Salon airs Fridays at 10:30 p.m. ET on WEtv. The series will also stream on ALLBLK every Tuesday following its WEtv airing.

Erial Ramsey, The Dream Queen, is an author, marketing & brand expert, serial entrepreneur and instructor. With over 17 years of entrepreneurial experience, Erial is the owner of Nimiety Holdings. This is the parent company of many brands, including her longest running business, Imperial1002 (ten-oh-two), a full service design and marketing company. Through her company she has branded / mentored / consulted a few hundred businesses across most industries. The “Dream Queen” title is a nod to her 10 years of participation in the pageant industry. Most recently, Erial has acquired the Miss Plus World International Pageant System and will be serving as Executive Director and Producer. Although Erial has many creative pursuits and brands, she is most proud of two accomplishments: Publishing over 100 women’s stories through her She is the Ish brand AND showcasing her accessory line, e.dele (ee-duh-lee), at NYFW. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Erial currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. She is a proud two-time alumna (MA, BSJ) from Ohio University, in Athens, OH.

Le'Andra Dove affectionately known as Elle is a black American designer. She was born and raised in Atlanta, GA and from the time she was 8 she knew she wanted to become a designer. One of her first designs was inspired by a Georgia O'Keefe painting. She is formally taught and received her BFA in fashion design and merchandising from the International Academy of Design Technology- Orlando in 2012. She later launched Lorenza James by Elle Dove in 2013. "I was making beautiful garments that I couldn't wear the entire time I was in school. Now I want to serve women that look like me..." Lorenza James by Elle Dove has seen its ups and downs over the years since its conception but has always found a way to thrive and serve the plus community through stylish looks that turn heads and provide comfort. Le'Andra is a finalist for The Cultivate Award Year II presented by The Curvy Fashionista with founding sponsor Eloquii.

Born in Baltimore and raised in Howard County, Maryland, Charniece White is an economist, curator, pattern maker, and full-package technical designer with 10+ years of experience. A social justice, civil rights, and women’s rights activist, Charniece lives for being a champion for the underrepresented. She curates and dreams for little Black girls and children who don’t see representations of themselves in fashion on the runway and behind the runway. Charniece was inspired to be a designer after attending Spelman College and getting involved in Fashion Clubs that crossed over with Clark Atlanta to throw fashion shows. Charniece owns two sister lines that offer up to sizes 5X and 30, Pinecone Row and B A R K W O O D. The former is named after the street she grew up on and the latter speaks to the woman she is and aspires to be. Pinecone Row, the fun and trendy of the two, was launched during the pandemic after realizing the need for more moderately priced clothing was eminent. B A R K W O O D, which launched in 2017and was temporarily closed due to Covid but is set to reopen in September 2022, is a more modern, contemporary and elevated brand. Charniece is a finalist for The Cultivate Award Year II presented by The Curvy Fashionista with founding sponsor Eloquii.

Matthew Robinson has loved fashion for as long as he can remember and grew up obsessed with shopping as a child. He designed his first dress at 13, designed high school classmates’ prom dresses, and began his career in the fashion industry at 16, working retail for Lane Bryant, Torrid, Bloomingdale’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue. He studied fashion at El Camino College in Torrance, CA, and earned his degree in Apparel Design and Merchandising at San Francisco State University. In 2019, Matthew began working as an adjunct instructor for the Academy of Art University. Starting his entrepreneurial designer endeavors in 2011, Matthew created one-of-a-kind pieces, focusing on size inclusivity. In 2017, Matthew showed his first collection – “Part One: Color Block”, a colorful, playful collection inspired by mid 20th century at Full Figured Fashion Week. In 2018, he showcased his second collection which was in partnership with Dress for Success San Francisco at their Annual Benefit Gala. Matthew is a finalist for The Cultivate Award Year II presented by The Curvy Fashionista with founding sponsor Eloquii.

Founded in 2010 by celebrity designer Angela Rene’, Rene’ Tyler creates custom, contemporary designs for women sizes 12 and above. Rene' Tyler designs have been worn by celebrities including Laverne Cox, Dulcé Sloan, Mary Lambert, Marsha Ambrosius, and most recently Vivica A. Fox. The brand was featured on the critically acclaimed AMC television series Dietland starring Julianna Margulies and Joy Nash. In 2016, Rene’ Tyler made history as the first-ever plus-size brand to show at LA Fashion Week. Inspired by the belief that high-end fashion should be inclusive for women of all shapes and sizes, she opened the first-ever plus-size boutique on the Las Vegas Strip, at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort.  In 2020 the boutique opened at the Fashion Show Mall. Her Noir et Blanc collection debuted in New York at Oxford Fashion Studio, at Pier 59 Studios, making her the only brand to showcase an all plus-size collection for the fall and winter 2020 season. She believes whether you’re a size four or thirty-four, fashion is for everyone! Angela' Rene is a finalist for The Cultivate Award Year II presented by The Curvy Fashionista with founding sponsor Eloquii.