UNABASHED: Chardline Chanel Faiteau

This week, I am introducing a new segment!!!!! The segment will be called "Unabashed" and every week I will feature a plus size person who I think epitomizes the phrase "big and beautiful." Through this segment, I want to share with you some of the people who inspire me, and hopefully inspire you all in the process. I will feature everybody and anybody from bloggers, models, plus size industry prifessionals and even the girl next door! Inspiration comes from various sources, and you can be inspirational in many ways so there will be a wide variety of features... :-)

Now that I've introduced the segment, I would like to introduce my first feature, Chardline. She is one of the most inspirational people that I have met since moving to Boston. I don't care what anyone says, this girl is my best friend in my head, and i look up to her in so many ways. She is a 24 year young plus size fashion and health enthusiast who has been inspiring people through her amazing fitness journey.

She describes herself as a LIFE ENTHUSIAST who loves all the blessings that GOD has put in her life and, as a person who loves to encourage people to reach their fullest potential as well as find what makes THEM special.

Name: Chardline Chanel Faiteau
Location: Dorchester, MA
Occupation: Community Liasion fo Mayor’s Office.
Blog: Plus Size Beausion (www.chardline.com)

Follow me: @itsameechardio (twitter)
                    @fabulouslyfat2fit (instagram)
                     www.facebook.com/chardline



When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a means to express my love for myself in 2011. At first it started out by self-hate and not being able to find ANYTHING to wear…but little by little I found myself growing to love myself and seeing myself in a light I never knew existed. Through finding fashionable clothing I saw that I was beautiful. Then I learned to embrace the IMMATERIAL. I saw that I was more than a pretty face and that when I chose what to wear, a piece of the joyful and effervescent person that I am shines through my style. Then I thought to myself, “if I am going through this struggle, I am sure there are other women who can benefit from this.” It was then Plus Size Beausion was born. I first started on Tumblr then in 2013 I went on to start publishing under www.chardline.com

What amazing experiences have you had because of blogging?

Networking. I love to meet woman like me from all over the world. From Brazil to Cali to right here in Boston I have met some AMAZING women! I’ve also met women who said that I’ve inspired them to come out of their shell. Hearing that was music to my soul because I remember a time when I lived in a shell and didn’t want to look at mirror. From aspiring models, to fashionistas, to health enthusiasts, it is always an adventure!

Who are your fashion icons?

My fashion Icons today are: Rihanna, Solange, Joie Fulani, Angel Wonder, Shainna Tucker, Tamara Wilson, Marilyn Monroe, Marcia Kim, Nadia Aboulhosn, Smallie, and Allison McGevna. They embrace all different types of fashion and I wish I could raid their closets in my size.

Favorite Trends for this season?

My favorite trend this season has to be black and white. I know…very plain BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH LIFE when they are combined. Add a little neon in there and you're good to go.

What new piece in your wardrobe are you most excited to style?

My friend Jeminatu is one of the founders of Afrik Inspired and she is making an outfit for me that I am ECSTATIC about from Ankara patterns. It will be neck tie, earrings, bangles, shorts, peplum skirt and scarf! I can’t wait to do it up!

 Favorite places to shop?

I don’t know if this list will ever end but my top 10 place would be:

• Thift Shops
• Etsy
• Ebay
• Fashion to Figure
• Wole
• Ose Uhseh
• Grandmother’s Closet
• Forever 21
• Instagram Boutiques (there’s at least 60 of them)
• TJ Maxx

What is your number 1 piece of advice when shopping?

If it doesn’t call to you, don’t buy it. I used to be a trend shopper. A trend shopper is someone who loves to shop by whatever is trending at the moment. EVEN IF I DIDN’T LIKE THE TREND I’D BUY IT. But now, I embrace all trends no matter what the season. Vintage has to be my favorite because they are timeless so ALWAYS TRY TO ADD SOME VINTAGE ITEMS TO THAT CLOSET!

So I know you started an amazing fitness journey. Could you tell us a bit about that?

Recently, the doctor told me that I was very unhealthy and that I was on the verge of getting diabetes and other weight related diseases. With the recent discovery of my grandmother’s heart failure, I chose to take back my health a step at a time. I researched different ways to try and get there and I am happy to say I am 40lbs down! I can run faster, breathe better, and I eat COMPLETELY DIFFERENT then how I used to eat. I exercise 6 times a week and LOVE IT! I actually fill incomplete when I am standing still!

What is your current favorite new healthy meal?

My favorite meal would have to be Salmon with Teriyaki Mango seasoning…Multigrain Mixed Veggie Medley and Red Quinoa.

What tips would you give for girls out there who want healthy curves?

Start small work your way up. Talk to people who are on their own journey. Or schedule an appointment to see a nutrionist. Eating is truly 70% of the battle. Make sure you double check all your research and write down EVERYTHING so that you don’t skip a beat and it will be easier for you to figure out why weight was gained or lost.

Any last minute words of inspiration?

Always find that one spark that induces SELF LOVE! Just because you want to lose weight, doesn’t mean you don’t love yourself or how you look IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU ARE TAKING TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY THAT LOVE SO DEARLY! Also, don’t let someone tell you are ugly or you can’t dress that’s just a person imparting their insecurities about themselves in hopes that you’ll feel as nasty as they do! EMBRACE YOUR BEAUTY!!

Everyone needs to head over to Chardline's blog and check it out. She has some great fashion advice on there as well as ideas for whenever you are not sure where to look for certain clothing.

I hope you all enjoyed my first feature, and if you know anyone who deserves to be featured or if you would like to be featured, feel free to email me at forbiddenvanity@gmail.com with some pictures, a link to any websites as well as a short description.

Stay Succulent!

UNABASHED: Amber Riley

How many people watch Glee??? I'm assuming most of you, because if you're not watching it then you are seriously missing out on some good entertainment..... Anyways, my favorite characters is Mercedes Jones, the feisty, no-nonsense diva with one of the most amazing voices I've ever heard.... and the cherry on top is that she just happens to be plus size. Mercedes character is played by the fabulous Miss Amber Riley. Miss Riley, aged 25, was born and raised in California, and she is one of my plus size inspirations.....

Ever since she graced our screens and various red carpets, I've had my eye on her. Her style has intrigued and captivated me. She always looks amazing.... whether she is dressed down....

or dressed up....

Her style is impeccable!!!! And when i heard that she would be having a spread in Essence Magazines March Issue, I was super excited!!!! Just look how gorgeous she looks....

I think Amber Riley is well on her way to become a plus size fashion icon..... her clothes always look great on her, and her hair and make up is always flawless. Whoever her style team is sure know what their doing.... lol. Take a look at some of my fav Amber pics below.....

I think Amber Riley is just fabulous, she really shows us that plus size girls can look great too.... If i was ever to move to the US and become famous, I could definitely see myself being best friends with her...lol

Until next time,

Stay succulent!!!

UNABASHED: Gabi Gregg

Hey ladies!!!!

Seeing as this is my first real blog post, I decided to dedicate it to someone who really inspires me. She is one of the first plus size bloggers that i ever followed and she is the one who made me want to start blogging. Ever since I discovered her blog, my life has not been the same....

Gabi Gregg is a 25 year old New Yorker who has been blogging for about 3 years, since October 2008. She runs the blog Gabifresh, formerly called Young, Fat and Fabulous and if you are a plus size woman who follows blogs and you haven't heard of her, please tell me what rock you have been living under, lol. She started out as a plus size fashion blogger but she has gained acclaim as a fashion blogger in general. She has been featured in several publications including Glamour, Teen Vogue, Cosmo Poland, The Guardian, The New York Times, and has even appeared on Good Morning America.

Last year, Gabi beat several people to win MTV's Twitter Jockey contest to become MTV's first twitter Jockey. Plus Model magazine has named her one of the most stylish New Yorkers, she is a blogger for Vogue Italia and she even styled Fashion to Figure's Early Summer 2011 Lookbook. To top this off, she has partnered with The Lmited to bring out Eloquii, their first ever Plus size fashion line. It is set to come out sometime this fall.

I think Gabi is one of the most stylish plus size women out there. She always looks amazing but one aspect of her style that I absolutely love is her gorgeous blazers and jackets. Take a look at some of my faves below.

I love how she doesn't let the fact that she is plus size limit her or prevent her from looking good. She doesn't let clothes dictate how she should look but rather, she takes the clothes and wears them in the way that she wants them to look. In an interview with Tiffany from Fatshopaholic, she said something powerful that has stuck with me ever since. She said, "it's not about copying the look and buying the exact items, it's more about translating styles you may admire onto your own body."

Gabi is an amazing woman and her blogger success story is one that anyone would die for. She truly is one of my big inspirations when it comes to style, as well as attitude and body positivity. Check out a few of her many looks that I love:

source

Make sure you check out Gabi's blog at http://www.gabifresh.com!!!!!!