Artist Spotlight: Fatima "Miss Tima" Gaskin

Welcome to Fashion Plus Blog' s new segment Artist Spotlight, geared towards the support and  progression of various types of artists. As newcomers in our chosen industries, it's difficult to navigate, and network among our peers; for this reason we felt it was our mission to showcase the talents of a new generation of artist, established or up and coming.

Fashion Plus Blog's first artist in the spotlight FATIMA GASKIN! This young woman has not only accomplished incredible things, she has also done it with determination and grace. Hailing from Newark, New Jersey Fatima attended Spelman College in Atlanta, has joined the Navy and is currently on active duty, while nurturing a modeling career, and raising a young man.  Forget Jack of all trades; take your left hand and beat the hell out of your right hand, and give it up to JANE OF ALL TRADES!

Realizing that giving back to the community is beneficial for not only the soul, but teaches our youth to appreciate their beginnings, and  look forward to future possibilities, Fatima and her son work as volunteers in a number of charities including Goodwill Drives, Breast Cancer Awareness fundraising, and sign up for work in soup kitchens. Never missing a beat, she also supports her son in his extra curricular activities; such as karate, gymnastics, and Lego robotics club.

Her bodies of work include:

- Print/Runway modeling
- Fashion/Film/ and Video services\
- Writings for print/online publications 
- Advertisements for clothing/shoes/accessory/ and other products campaigns
- TV/Radio 

My favorite quote from Fatima "Miss Tima" Gaskin:

"I learned I don't fit into the box of standard or plus size in modeling and instead of letting that stop me I owned it as another unique factor about myself."

Fatima has defiantly earned her spot on ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!

* FOR SERIOUS INQUIRES: Contact Ms. Gaskin via email at gaskinti@yahoo.com

Please help SUPPORT all of our very talented artists! 

** Find out how to qualify for ARTIST SPOTLIGHT below!

**Find me on social media!

BLOGSPOT: www.Fabulouslyp.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK: www.Facebook.com/FashionPlusBlog

INSTAGRAM: www.Instagram.com/PlusSizePrincessDom

YOUTUBE: www.Youtube.com/user/dom4fashionplus

Who can apply?

Comedians

Hairstylists/Makeup Artists

Actors 

Models

Singers/Rappers/Dancers

Illustrators 

Fashion gurus

Chefs

designers

Writers/Producers/Publishers

Authors

Spoken word artists/poets

*ALL are welcome!

Email submissions to: Fabulouslyp@gmail.com

With:

-short bio-include goals,and inspirations

-Photos

-Contact Info/website

- Other relevant info

Belly Dance Or Die! Plus Size Rhythmically Hypnotizing Art Of Dance

Plus Size Belly Dancer Adina Gamal.

Who says a big girl can't Belly Dance? Certainly not Adina Gamal! What this beauty has done only few voluptuous ladies dare to perform. Using tantric hip thrusts, while moving seductively to hypnotizing music, Adina has made a traditionally straight size dance available to plus size women who are daring enough to put on a jeweled bustier and skirt, harem pants, or any other body reveling outfit and sensually dance in front of a room of strangers! Talk about a rush of adrenaline! Allowing yourself to be completely taken over by the tantric sounds of the music, while putting all of your emotions into visually intoxicating sequence of moves. Exciting isn't it?

With roots in various Middle Eastern countries, belly dancing  is a type of performance art usually done by women who are societal slim, very flexible, and in some way studied the art of different dances. Due to the athleticism and controlled movements involved in the dance, we can see why plus size women didn't attempt to master such a physically challenging dance....UNTIL NOW!

Adina started belly dancing as a means to gain confidence, also what better way for a plus sized woman to show tenacity of ones self than to sever the ties that bind plus size women to being unattractive, undesirable, and un-sensual. By expressing herself through something as difficult as belly dancing Adina has set the bar high for what expectations are regarding the abilities of voluptuous women. Intrigued by the concept I had to interview Adina check out what happens!

Interview with Adina GAMAL:

ME: How does belly dancing make you feel? Do you feel sexy, seductive, etc.? How much does your alter ego take over when your performing?

ADINA GAMAL:  Belly dance or die.... Belly dancing makes me feel beautiful confident sexy and it also makes me feel like I'm in another world it out of body experience when I'm on stage much like Beyonce has Sasha Fierce take over, Adina takes over Adina Gamal takes over janine is not the same person.

ME: I want to know how well received was plus size belly dancing when you first started? How did you feel, and what was the audience reactions?

ADINA GAMAL:  When I first started belly dancing people made fun of me I actually had a cyber stalker I still do actually he sometimes going to my post and makes fun of me many people didn't believe I was a belly dancer I've even had people tell me that I would never perform professionally do to my size. 

ME:  What is the message you want to convey to people regarding belly dancing for plus women?

ADINA GAMAL:  I've helped to change perceptions of many people through the love for the dance in existing the beauty that I have inside and on stage as a very good dancer.

Well said Adina, well said. She has definitely created a new and exciting get platform for curvy woman to have fun, engage in low impact exercising, and feel sexy at the same time; what woman or man for that matter can argue with that? I for one can't wait to catch the show. Together with nine performance instructors Adina has created PlusSizeBellyDancersConvention.com, they offer workshops and guide you through mastering the Art of belly dancing. Also, they've hosted their first Belly Dancers Convention with another in the works for 2015, I love a woman with vision and ambition! Check out their home page below for information on the next upcoming event!

**For more info please visit their website at www.plussizebellydancersconvention.com**

Photos from PlusSizeBellyDancersconvention.com:

 
To book me For: Appearances, Interview, and More! Please email me at Fabulouslyp@gmail.com

Find me on Social Media:

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/FashionPlusBlog

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/PlusSizePrincessDom

Youtube: www.Youtube.com/Dom4FashionPlus

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Caner Awareness month, and in honor of the all women affect by this disease I'm dedicating this weeks post to the women who continue to fight the good fight and look beautiful will battling their illness.Before researching Breast Cancer, I didn't know much about it. The most I knew without researching is that it is deadly to some, and treatments include radiation treatment and/or mastectomy. I was basically ignorant to the causes of this illness. The first I found in my research was that Breast Cancer affects 1 in 8 women. Let's rewind that...1 in 8 woman, can you imagine that? Well, imagine this; get seven of your closest friends together, now visualize that one of you statistically may have a high chance of developing breast cancer. Scary right!

 What's the facts? 

Breast Cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. It occurs as a result of abnormality in genes that regulate the growth of healthy cells. The presents of the mutated cells can divide like normal healthy cells usually do, and continue to replicate itself until a tumor is formed. 

There are 2 types of tumors. Tumors can be benign which isn't dangerous or it can be malignant which can has not only the ability to be dangerous, but deadly. Most likely cancerous, malignant cells can spread to other parts of the body causing the process to repeat.

*Information provided from BreastCancer.org

Fabulous regardless of diagnosis!

In fashion, we tend to want to make everything appear perfect regardless of the chaos born of trying to give the appearance of being flawless. In life we all know that avoiding chaos is damn near impossible, so instead of celebrating the the false sense of perfection we all crave; we should embrace if only for a moment the fact that beauty is found within. 

In honor of Breast Cancer Awarness Month I've found several retailers and designers that have georgous items that we all can wear to show support to women who fight everyday. 

(NOTE: these items are not all associated with Breast Cancer Awarness, I just thought it would be a great way for us plus sized girls to show support.)

We can show our support through fashion!

Zelie for She

Monif C

Bella Rene'

Torrid

Eloquii 

Hips & Curves

Amazon.com

Nordstrom

Asos Curve

Together We Conquer, Divided We Fall!

Find me on social media:

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/FashionPlusBlog 

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/PlusSizePrincessDom 

BLOGSPOT: www.Fabulouslyp.blogspot.com

Zaftig Diva's #Confident #Beautiful Tee Shirt Line: Interview with Creator & Designer Mary Leandra

I absolutely love meeting new people, and that includes budding entrepreneurs like myself.  Recently,  I've had the pleasure of interviewing Mary Leandra, an up and coming diva with a mission to promote self love, appreciation, and worth among full figured women. I love the idea of a woman who is taking control of her choice to believe in herself and abilities, despite the mainstream pushing their perceptions of beauty on us (the public) through what's presented in mass media. Through our correspondence I've learned of how she wanted to expand her Facebook group Zaftig Divas into a tee shirt line. This is a huge step, let's see what Mary has to say...


1. Who is Mary Leandra? How did you come up with the idea for Zaftig Divas as a company?

She is a plus sized woman who was born and raised in South Texas.She has overcome and conquered the struggles that are associated with being a plus sized woman. She has gained confidence and boosted her self-esteem by realizing how beautiful she is and the fact that society does not make her.The idea for Zaftig Divas as a company came about my constant sightings of women on social media degrading themselves by posting provocative pictures to get reactions from men I just hate when women feel the only way to feel sexy or beautiful is if a man tell them because most of them are not looking at you as a person but as a piece of meat and it’s your fault because that is how you sold yourself.   I mean there is nothing wrong with someone complimenting you, but it should be an extra perk because you know how beautiful you are.


2. The name Zaftig is rarely heard of, what made you choose that name? Also, how does it represent you and your brand?

Zaftig meaning- a pleasantly plump figure; full-bodied or well proportioned woman.

I chose the name “Zaftig” because I hate being classified as a “BBW”, because around 1979 it was originated to be used in the context of a “Fat Fetishism” and I just could not stomach that.  Also, the words thick, curvy, phat etc, are overly used in the Plus Size community and I feel they are used more as a sex symbol than signifying who you really are. “Zaftig” represents me and my brand because I once was that “Zaftig” woman who lacked confidence and low self-esteem. I can now use my past experience to uplift these divas and help them grow, so they cannot let anyone define who they are.


 3. Expanding your brand, and perusing different venues to do so is commendable. What made you decide on expanding into a Tee Shirt line?

As some may know, Zaftig Divas started as a group on Facebook that promotes self-confidence and boost self-esteem in plus size women, so they can grow to love themselves for who they are and not how much they weigh.   I decided to expand Zaftig Divas into a tee shirt line because the more you see, hear or say how beautiful you are the deeper it will sink in your mind and release that confident inner Diva in you.

4.  What separates your line of tee's from other companies? How do you come up with unique phrases? What is your favorite phrase?

I think what separates my line is I am using my shirts as billboards to share affirmations.  As stated earlier, you will start to believe what you see, hear and say the more it is presented to you, like that song you can’t get out of your head. I try to create my phrases based the opposite of what you think of yourself.  For example, “I hate my curves” will be “I love my curves”. I want women to put on my shirts and say, “oh yea, I am beautiful, I am confident”, and when other women see them in my shirt they will think the same. My favorite phrase would be my Signature tee, “Zaftig Divas” because it will be the first step to admitting who you are and it has that reminder of who you are with the definition of Zaftig on the back of the shirt.

5. Who or what inspired you?

What inspired me was a female who told me she lives her life through me. She was a plus size woman who was not confident enough to wear that Yellow pump or those Purple skinny jeans, so she got life by watching me do it. From that moment on I wanted to help women gain my confidence and self-esteem.That is how my group “Zaftig Divas” was born.


6. In fashion, what colors and styles are available? Do you have tee shirts with phrases unique to the season?

As of right now I will start with White Tees and work my way to other colors once I start receiving feed back on what the Divas want or like. I am very big on input from my Divas. Yes, I am planning to create phrases based on seasons and holidays, so stay tuned

7.  Do you customize tee shirts? What are the size ranges?

Unfortunately, at this time I do not customize the shirts but plan on implementing it in the future. I will carry sizes XL-4X depending on the style of the shirt.


8. If I asked you to design a tee for me using your own creative license, what would you design for me?

For you Dominique, I would have designed my “Hash Tag Tee” for you. #Curvy #Beautiful #Smart #Confident.

9. Where can we find Zaftig Divas Tee Shirts? And what are any other social media outlets?

You can find Zaftig Divas tee shirt line on zaftigdivas.bigcartel.com.We can also be found on instagram @zaftigdivas and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/zaftigdivas. As of a week ago, I also have a Zaftig Divas public page where I will be promoting Zaftig Divas tee shirt line and other plus size events, it’s accessible to anyone.

10.  What is in the future for Zaftig Divas as a company and brand?

There is a lot in the future for Zaftig Divas. There will be a Curves and Confidence Boutique, Beauty Within Plus Size modeling agency, non-profit organization, book and a couture clothing line. Stay tuned!

There you have it a woman on a mission to succeed in the plus size fashion industry by making her own rules, while creating and reaching her goals. This interview has left me with so much hope for the plus size industry as a whole. While being a difficult arena to break into it has created a wonderful platform for young artists and entrepreneurs to grow, flourish, and most of all make great relationships with other people who understand that passion you have in this particular market. Please support this beautiful this diva to reach her ultimate success by visiting www.zaftigdivas.bigcartel.com.

Stay Beautiful, Confident, & Sexy!

 Find me:

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/FashionPlusBlog
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/PlusSizePrincessDom
Youtube: www.Youtube.com/user/dom4fashionplus

For Bookings or inquires email me @ Fabulouslyp@gmail.com