by Editor Madeline Figueroa-Jones
Plus Model Randi Graves is funny, smart and an amazing model. Oh,
did I mention BEAUTIFUL? This month we had the privilege of working
with Randi for our first Shape Issue. Get to know her as we now know
her... as a woman who does not take her blessings for granted.
[Maddy] This issue is very important to us – we believe that being in
shape means being healthy body and soul. How do you maintain your
positive body image?
[Randi] I let the fat little girl within and the skinny woman emerging,
battle! LOL!! Seriously, it took work. I love myself but I once
didn't. My body is my temple... OUR bodies are our temples and we must do
better by it. The age old answer of eating healthier, working out, and
loads of water helps to maintain a positive attitude. Think of all the
activities as women that we accomplish on any given day... I love my
body for carrying me through it. My man loving me helps, too.
[Maddy] Do you ever feel the pressure that a modeling career could bring?
[Randi] I absolutely felt the pressure but that was my problem. I'm
only going to put this out there because I'm more confident as a woman
now than I was a confident girl. Back "then" I had an eating disorder
and it consumed me for awhile. What I thought was an 'answer', was
counter-productive to what I wanted to achieve. I know that now. I'm so
grateful and blessed that's all behind me.
[Maddy] Take us back to when you first started your modeling career.
Were you discovered or was this something you always dreamed of doing?
[Randi] I love this question! LOL!! It involves my best friend JR. He
and I have 'history' that goes back to our hometown... Yummy! Well, he
dared me. That bugger dared me to go into several agencies and just see
what they would say. I of course had to get a dinner out of the deal.
That was the dare. I go in, have a look and regardless of the out come,
he'd buy dinner. I got positive feedback from Wilhelmina and a year
later... That's all she wrote. I didn't dream of being a model. I NEVER
thought myself pretty enough. When it came to beauty while growing up,
I just wanted to look in the mirror and be as beautiful as the women in
my family and love myself.
