by Madeline Jones

Many people were puzzled when I announced I would be starting the "New Year" with a tribute to the veterans and "Icons" in our industry. In an overly "botoxed" world, where getting older or being honored for your longevity, just stamps you as old, I thought I would bring light and honor to those models you probably don't know, or only recognize by face and knew nothing about.

I came into the industry many years ago, when it was already in the beginning stages, but I quickly admired what had been done before me, and I learned to appreciate all that I was afforded because of what others had done.

In order to know where you are going, you need to know where you come from. The plus size modeling industry did not just begin five years ago by one plus size model going mainstream. This industry has been around for over 20 years.  Some of today's models were just teen-agers when they began their careers and some of today's most popular models can than their careers to the numerous people who helped to pave the way for them.

In the following pages, we pay tribute to those models we know and love, who have been instrumental in paving the way for the plus size modeling industry we love and enjoy today.