by
Maddy Figueroa-Jones
Our August 2007 PLUS Cover Model is a vivacious woman with the looks,
drive and determination to make it to the top of the plus modeling
world! We discovered this beauty last year when
photographer Sita Edwards shared some shots, and it was her 'reaching out' that landed Maggie as our
Spotlight Model for the November/December 2006 issue. Little did we know what was waiting around the corner for this aspiring plus model...
What a pleasure to share Maggie's story...
[Maddy] For our readers who do not remember your "Tyra Show" debut tell us a little about it...
[Maggie] In November 2006, Tyra held her first ever "
Thick and Sexy Top
Model" contest. Tyra personally chose 6 girls from across the US who
all were a size 18+ and weighed 200 pound to put to the test. We were
given challenges that would test us to see if we had what it takes to
be a top plus model. All the challenges were modeled after challenges
given in cycle 7 of
America's Next Top Model. The challenges included
an indoor skydiving shoot (my personal favorite), a hair challenge, a
live commercial, and finally a romance novel cover shoot.
The guest judges included Ruben Studdard, Mia Tyler, and Josh Marrow.
As the winner of the
Thick and Sexy Top Model Competition, I received a
1 year modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models, $1000 from Lane Bryant
(which I put to good use right away!) and photo shoot for an editorial
with Bombshell Magazine (coming out in the fall).
Being on Tyra's show was an amazing experience! Tyra was absolutely
fabulous and so hands-on in the whole production of our show. I
absolutely adore her staff and producers, and have had the honor to
work with her staff again on other projects as well!
The show provided the platform I needed to jump-start my modeling
career. Since winning Tyra's Thick and Sexy Top Model, I have signed
with Wilhelmina Models and have had the opportunity to work with great
companies like Torrid, Wal-mart, and Mervyns.
Photo Credits:
Photographer, Frank Wise
MUA, Victoria Arnold
