by Maddy Figueroa-Jones

Plus Model Nicole Lebris is a classic beauty. Deep brown eyes accompanied by a soft and inviting smile. Never would we think that as a young child her playmates would call her names because she was growing at a faster rate than most. With her supportive family by her side Nicole began to appreciate her body and declared her independence from low esteem in one of Marie Claire's most well known articles about body image.

It was a pleasure to sit down with Nicole for a heart-to-heart on plus modeling and curvy life...

[Maddy] Were you a curvy girl in your earlier years?

[Nicole] I was always a big, curvy girl. I was tall and very womanly early on. Middle and high school were not my favorite years. All the popular girls were small and cute, and I was called 'ogre' and 'hulk'. I had very low self esteem and was constantly yo-yo dieting. My mom and older women I met would warn me that things would turn around as I got older, and they did. I absolutely love my body now.

[Maddy] How did you begin your modeling career? Were you discovered or did you discover "it"?

[Nicole] I first got into modeling by taking some snapshots with my digital camera at home. I did some fresh makeup on myself and went to the window and took some pictures and put them on the computer, made a mock up card, and submitted to all the agencies listed on plusmodels.com.  Ikon wrote back and I went in. The booker  told me she wanted me to test. So there went my first test with well know photographer Fadil. Shortly after I tested, I booked my first showroom job doing lingerie... in a thong no less! But it's a client I still work for today almost five years later.


Photographer: Gail Hadani