Maddy: I can remember Angellika being in this c-thru dress, without a bra walking towards the camera. Were there models, that you just had to put in the magazine over and over?

Michele: That was Angellika Morton; her confidence was undeniable, she shared herself with our readers. She appealed to every women, no matter the size or ethnicity because we all wanted to feel, how she felt and we all wanted to see ourselves, as she saw herself. She was the perfect model, she had no problem taking off her clothes, trying new things and taking direction.

Maddy: Generally speaking, what were the requirements for plus size models?

Michele: The stats were pretty much the same, we needed 5'9 and up and proportionate, but the size options were different. We had our choice of size 12 to 18.  We also took certain girls into consideration because of their look. Maybe they did not fit the requirements exactly, but their look was so strong and they could transcend on camera so well, we would be willing to give them a shot.

Hour glass figures were not the only ones getting work, women with other body types like Kate Dillon were successful because they represented and appealed to so many women with different body types.

Maddy: Talk to me about why modeling has traditionally stopped at a size 18?

Michele: I know a lot of the models do not want to hear this, but I'm going to explain the reasons why as I know them. Patterns change once you go into bigger sizes, past a size 22, it is very expensive to pattern a pattern. It's not just as simple as sizing up, like many stores still do today. You have to consider armholes, shoulders and waist size. Adding to this, the different body types, the companies can't afford to make the samples in those sizes.

Maddy: Fast forward to today's plus size model. What is happening to the "plus size" model? The curvier models, are almost extinct as far as I'm concerned. What are your thoughts?

Michele: We have to look at who is booking them, and what companies. What Mode did, was because we were on the shelves, we helped to keep that woman in the minds eye. This is why I love what your doing at PLUS Model Magazine, because you have to make sure that YOU show that you don't need a size 10 to sell plus. Just because it's a double digit, does not mean it's plus!

Maddy: It seems like real validation for plus size models comes from "mainstream" media.

Michele: I'm disappointed, at times, when I see certain girls doing campaigns. Let's talk about Crystal Renn. I'm not angry at Crystal Renn, personally. Clients are still booking her, and are casting her so presidents and CEO's of other stores that do plus size think that this is what they need, smaller models to sell. It's very hard to get them, then and now, to shoot larger sizes and to stand behind that decision.

Maddy: So is the problem not just with "mainstream" brands and designers? Should we be focusing on plus size stores?

Michele: What has happened is that they are simply stating "available in plus sizes", and they are shooting safe (smaller models) for the company. There are some companies that have stuck to their guns, like Playtex, Just My Size, Monif C.

In my opinion, the world can't swallow big sizes and they are not as forgiving as they should be. The issue is that there are people that have decided what we are all supposed to look like; the beauty of Mode and now PLUS, is that we pushed against all that.