Philomena Kwao Hopes to Become Britain’s First Black Plus-Size Supermodel
Philomena Kwao is used to turning heads. The 22-year-old Bristol University grad and self-confessed ”economics geek” beat out fierce competition to win a High Street fashion model contest run by plus-size design house Evans and Style369.c0m, and has since been spotted in clothing ads and on the pages of Cosmo.
The Dartford, Kent native of Ghanaian descent says she wants to be a role model for girls and prove they can be smart and beautiful–no matter their size.
“I hope to use this as a platform by which I can hopefully empower girls and young women like myself. I also want to be a figurehead for young girls today who sometimes may become disillusioned by ‘the glamorous lifestyle. I want to show them that you can really do it all if you try; that is to pursue your dreams, whatever they maybe and get an education. Your education doesn’t have to suffer! I also want to help spread the message that there is beauty in everything: every shape, colour, size, and height … whatever. We are all beautiful.”
Apparently, the modeling world has taken notice. Lately there has been a push to embrace “curvier women” and Shelly Vella, fashion director of Cosmopolitan UK, thinks Kwao will be at the forefront of these latest wave of “curvy” models.
“She has an incredible face and body, not to mention a professional and driven personality,” Vella said. “She will excel, whatever she decides to do. Personally I would love to see her front a beauty campaign”
Despite the trend in including “plus-size” models, is the fashion world really ready to embrace women with curvier frames? Vella thinks so.
“The industry is definitely progressing its attitude to curvier girls, she insisted. “Healthier body attitudes and a backlash against REALLY skinny models have led a fair few designers to rethink the models they send down catwalks, and magazines to appraise their approach to their fashion pages.”
She is stunning really….however! I wish the industry would stop pushing normal sized woman as plus sized….they are not ok! This why we have so many spandex offenders in the big girl world….we see an average sized chick rocking the look thinking oh well thats a 1x/2x/3x I can rock that……then you get foollywang in the club! Plus aint 14-16 anymore boo boo it’s average!
She is very pretty but for all the people saying she looks normal sized well she really isn’t. A size 12 isn’t normal sized especially since my size (4, 5 and 6) is considered ‘medium’.
Oh girl…..a size 12 is not plus size. Maybe for someone in your size group… but the norm for most women is a 6-14 nowadays. And even in your size group she’s be more XL and that is not even considered plus. She is a knockout but plus sized she’s not. If your size cant be found in Ashley Stewart or Lane Bryant…ya aint a big girl…it’s ok we still love ya’ll LOL!
Gorgeous!