by Editor, Maddy Figueroa-Jones

This plus model not only breaks the rules, she stomps them in the ground and creates her own. In four short years this determined diva has single handedly molded her career from unknown to an up and coming curvy mogul. With the overwhelming success of Love Your Body Day, Flawless Calendar, and a hit show on BET under her belt it seems that this diva has the Midas touch! PLUS Model Magazine ends 2007 with our very own Empowerment Editor and you'll see why Chenese Lewis is flawless!
 
[Maddy] 2007 has been a really great year for you, you appeared on Dr. Phil as a self esteem expert, became a cast member of a hit show, was a keynote speaker at a national convention, and started your own company just to name a few. What was your mind set going into 2007 and what's your key to success?
 
[Chenese] Last year, Dec. 31, 2006 I was in Baton Rouge enjoying my family for the holidays. I didn't go out to party for New Years like usual instead I stayed home with my parents. I watched a New Years Eve countdown on television and when the clock struck midnight I jumped out of bed stood in the middle of the hallway and screamed "2007 is going to be my year and I claim it in the name of Jesus!" I'm not a super religious person but I believe. I believe that if you stay positive, believe in yourself, believe in your abilities, and stay focused you can achieve anything. I'm far from famous and still have a long way to go to achieve my career goals but I'm extremely happy in the direction everything is going. My key to success is never giving up, for every achievement or success you can list for me I can list two things I've been rejected for or failed which you don't know about.  I can't dwell and be depressed on what I failed because I'm too busy trying to succeed!
 
[Maddy] When did you first become interested in modeling and acting?
 
[Chenese] I took acting classes in high school and college because it was an easy A, I wasn't thinking about pursuing it professionally at the time but I thought it was fun. Modeling, I never thought was an option for me because of my size until my friends and I heard an advertisement on the radio that a modeling convention (scam) was coming to my town scouting for plus models. I decided to pursue modeling and acting at the same time as a result of attending the convention (which I stress was a scam), however it sparked my interest and I continued pursuing it ever since.


Photo Credits
Inez Lewis Photography
Hair & Make-up: D'Shayne Washington