THE FULL BLOSSOM Virtual MALL!!!

GRAND OPENING!!!

Introducing Jessica Browne

WINNER of Full Blossom’s

April -Model of the Month

Introducing Nik B

WINNER of Full Blossom’s

May -Model of the Month

I am a Full Blossom Beauty and

SO ARE YOU!

Spring is here!!! And in a few days, we willwelcome Summer!! Ladies, we have beenwaiting a long time for the warm weather toarrive. For some of us, it has been six longmonths of cold, harsh, bundled-up weather.Now it is time for us to shed those layers.Get ready for those wonderful exciting colors,patterns, & styles that will accentuate our fullfigures, embrace our personalities, andunleash the wonderfulness within us! Wewill wear our hair short, long, braided,twisted, curly, in kinks, and even bald toshowcase our many distinctive looks. As youknow, our accessories are also important. Inmost cases, the right accessories will make anoutfit pop even more. From the bracelets tothe bag, it has to be just right before we stepout for the world to see. Oh, how could I notmention the shoes? That’s because we knowthat goes without saying. If the shoes are notright, the whole outfit is NOT right.

As fashion is important, we must first andforemost recognize the greatness that wepossess in order to make everything cometogether. As the seasons change, let us alsoembrace change within. Without change wewill never know how we can fully blossominto that great woman we were meant to be.So Full Blossom readers, I encourage you tobe different, be fashionable, be great, bestrong, and blossom into your full potentialduring this wonderful season!

Lakeisha SmithCEO Unique Vizunz

www.uniquevizunz.comGuest Blogger

Get Ready for Summer 2013

I am a Full Blossom Beauty and

SO ARE YOU!

Thai Salmon

Stir Fry

Eat Healthy…

Introducing

Nicole

Taylor!

LOOK

OUT FOR

THIS

Incredible

New Model!

Nicole has

the looks,

curves,

charisma

and drive to

take her far

in the

industry!!!Make Up: Iesha NicolePhotography: MomentByMello.com

FACEBOOK

ME

1 2 3

45

By AXUM ABEBE(919) 699-4215 axumabebe@yahoo.com

5 ways to put a spring in your step

After the darkness of the winter months, Spring sunshine is verywelcome. Everyone has a spring in their step. Grown men are humming SpiceGirls songs and the very bravest of us have actually ventured out without acoat. There is an energy in the season that needs to be harnessed and it's theperfect time to make changes. Spring cleaning your lifestyle will create abalance that promotes a healthy mind and body. Even the smallest ofchanges now will make a huge difference to your well-being.

By Margot Bloom

Model: Simone Dockery |Photo by Marc Wyche

Wedding Season Has Begun

sunsetbeachwed.blogspot.com

Photography: Shane Irwin

written by Charity Lynette of Curvy Chick Fitness

||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

So your boo boo, shuga wuga, honey pie, love of your life haspopped the question. After the initial shock and excitement diesdown, a million and one thoughts start to run through your mind.Do we want a spring or fall wedding? Where will it be? Will all ofmy family travel? Who are my bridesmaids? What colors do I wantto work with? What style of dress do I want my bridesmaids in?Dress? My dress ...what kind of dress do I want to wear? Themoment you think of your dress whether you know the style youwant or never have thought about it you immediately pictureyourself in a dress. Then one of 2 things happen. One, youimmediately get excited at the thought of being able to wear yourdream dress that you have had picked out since you were 17 ortwo, your hands gravitate to your mid-section and grimace at thethought of squeezing into a wedding dress. Whether this is yourthought process or not most brides to be make the declaration tobe somewhat smaller than what they currently are. My goal is tooutline a few things that can help make this process a little lessintimidating.

Congratulations

You’re Engaged!

Now Let’s Work It

Out

Start off by making your fitness plan a priority with all of your other weddingplans. If it is not a part of your routine, you need to find a realistic time slotwhere it can go. You want to give yourself about 5 to 6 six months before thewedding day to have healthy results. Remember your not looking for a quickfix for a fitness plan you want to make sure that this is carried over into alifestyle verses a crash diet just to fit in a dress. Incorporate this fitness plan inyour budget if working out and nutrition are not your area of expertise thenyou are going to have to hire someone or pay for a class of some sort that isgoing to give you knowledge in this area. Treat this as an investment for yourwell being. Some people are paying $1500 for a photographer but think that$500 is too much for personal sessions. We spend so much money on materialitems such as cars, phones, the best designer clothes but then we want to becheap when it comes to healthier food and gymmemberships.

Workout classes are a great way to get you started plus it allows you to gettogether with girlfriends and the bridal party to discuss a few plans and agreat stress reliever at such a hectic time. Also with your fiancé! That can begreat couple time. You could even purchase a group package from a personaltrainer that you and the girls could go in on together if being in front ofstrangers is too intimidating. Getting together for group walks/jogs is anotheroption. Whatever route that you decide to go, make sure you start two to threedays a week. Get with the group once a week then the other two days dosomething different so that you don't get bored with your routine. Themoment you get bored switch it up. Eventually you’re going to want toincorporate strength training because that is going to burn fat faster.Experiment with different workouts do not do the same thing every time youwork out that will only maintain your weight instead if help you lose andtone.

Now that we have the workout component naturally we have to talk aboutnutrition. The two go hand in hand. One without the other can make theprocess longer than what it needs to be. Plus neither one has to be too strict ifyou find a good balance between the two. Here are some helpful nutrition tipsthat you want to start using along with your new fitness plan.

Snacks are your friend. Do not beafraid to snack just snack on goodfoods fruits & veggies, hummus,low-fat yogurt, nuts, protein drinks,natural peanut, almond, or soybutter lean meats like fish andchicken are easier to digest.At dinner stick to a meat and aveggie. No pasta & bread at dinnertime.One cheat day a week!Stick to foods that grow from theground that you have to cook.Processed and frozen foods onlyslow the process down.Eggs work for any time of the dayand a great source or protein.Use the internet! There are so manywebsites with healthier recipes onmaking your favorite foods.

Drink plenty of watereveryday this will help withskin care and digestionAlways eat breakfast even if itonly a half an apple you haveto get your metabolism jumpstarted.

Planning a wedding and preparing yourself to blend families and householdswith another person can be extremely stressful and emotional experience.Which can take a toll on your overall health you want to give your body thebest foods as possible and exercise the body. Treat the inside of your body asgood as you cover the outside. Don't take the cheap route for your health. Eventhough you may be starting this journey because of the wedding doesn't meanit ends the day of the wedding. That's why you want to start 5 to 6 months outso that it becomes a pattern and a habit to eat well and exercise. You only getone body and what you do with it is your choice. Choose a healthy lifestyle andblend that lifestyle with the groom to be, so that if children come into thepicture you are passing down such a great message. Remember if you live inthe New York City area feel free to contact Curvy Chick Fitness, so we can tailora fitness package for you or your whole bridal party.

Twitter @curvychickfit @charitylynetteFacebook: Curvychickfitness

Photo Credit: Kendra MartinMUA: Brittany-Lee

5 Tips A

Plus Size

Diva

Must

Know

To Be

Successful

Tip #1: Know how to dress for

your profession and for

specific occasions.

There is nothing is worse than

someone ill dressed for a

meeting, interview, or

presentation. It leaves a bad

impression. You have 5

seconds to make a first

impression and unfortunately

the first one is always visual.

For the full figured person this

is a great task to perform.

You have to be neat as well

capable. Some employers

may assume that your size will

be an issue when conducting

certain tasks. You must prove

to them in a non-verbal way

that you are fully capable of

any task they set forth.

Tip #2: Wear confidence likeyou would your favorite pair

of shoes!

When you walk into the roomtry to be the biggestpersonality there (no punintended), not overwhelming,or "cocky," but intelligent. Aswe all know, there is a thinline between confident andcocky so try your best not tocross it. Just put in your mindthat no one is sexier, morebeautiful or half as muchintelligent as you. When thishappens you feel morecomfortable in yoursurroundings and that allowsyour personality to shinethrough giving the otherperson a glimpse into what itwould be like to work with

you.

Hello Dolls! Today I want to

bring to you five tips that

will make you successful

in your industry. Let’s be

honest. Full figured man

and woman being

considered for particular

career paths is much

harder than it is for our

smaller counterparts. So

in order to get a fair deal, I

have devised a few ways

to get the ball in our court

and climb that "corporate

ladder."

Tip #3: Personal Style

Stand out as much as possiblewithout overpoweringonlookers. Make the otherpeople look as if they weremanufactured drones that arefresh from the assembly line.Their generic looks andpersonality will be no match foryou. Just be aware of yoursurrounding and adjust if needbe. Try not to wear strongperfumes or colognes; nothingwill turn someone off morethan to be aquatinted withyour fragrance before theybecome aquatinted with you.

Tip #4: Be Knowledgeable

Study the company orbackground of the attendeesas much as you can prior. Thatway you can build a casualconversation with one or agroup of people and makethem feel more relaxed to talkabout a subject their familiarwith. This relationship buildingcan lead to networking withinyour industry as well as openyou to new ones. Know yourconversational strengths andplay them up with full potentialand growth; you’re bound toget the attention of some highprofile person, client, or groupthat can lead you into the right

direction.

Tip # 5: Coordination

No matter what industry you’re in, your ability to be adaptable to any

corporate structure is essential. Start a routine and try to build or improve on

it as soon as the occasion calls for it. Be the captain of every ship in your

port. Know what's going on and what their needs are. While doing this, also

remember that you are not every man or woman. Sometimes you need to

enlist the help of others. Being a multi-tasked person doesn't mean you have

to do it alone.

Remember these five tips. I'm sure they will come in handy! As always stay

Beautiful, Confident, and Full figured! Until next time xo!

BY Dominique Ali

*See more Fashion Plus on Facebook at

www.Facebook.com/FashionPlusBlog

Some plus size fashionistas will say

that no matter what trend is out

there circulating in la la land, you

can wear it. From skinny jeans to

bikinis to mid-riff baring tops, there’s

no shortage of absolutely fabulous

apparel out there waiting to be

found. The fact is these plus size

bloggers, consultants, and fashion

proponents are right. You CAN

wear it, you CAN rock it, and you

CAN be all about it.

But the real question is should you

jump on the bandwagon? Being plus

size doesn’t mean that you have to

limit your wardrobe, but it does

mean that you need to be conscience

about what looks good on your body

specifically, and what makes you feel

good about yourself.

Whenever I try a new trend or a new

garment, I have a sort of litmus test that the

item must pass in order for me to adopt the

trend or buy the garment. Having this test

in place ensures that I don’t buy something

that I will never wear, or even worse, buy

something that would have Joann Rivers

declaring me the “Fash-hole of the Week.”

First and foremost, I have to feel great in

the item. If I look at myself in the dressing

room mirror and I have that “Eh” feeling,

the garment’s a no go. If I notice any big

issues with the garment, such as bunching

in the wrong places with a pair of pants, I

don’t say, “Oh, I can cover that up with a

long blouse.” Instead, I say, “Time to move

on!”

Second, I try to think in terms of outfits

rather than a single item. When you try on

a piece of clothing, you want to think about

what you have that could go with. If

you’re trying on a blouse, do you have the

ideal skirt or pant to go with it? How about

jewelry? Shoes? If you’re not thinking in

terms of the total package, there’s a good

chance that you’ll buy the item and it will

sit in your closet or wardrobe, unworn and

unseen.

It is only after I’ve truthfully considered

these two major things, and I’m satisfied

with my answers and thoughts, that I make

an item a permanent part of my wardrobe.

By Charity Jackson

Model: Nicole FloresHair, Make Up & Styling: Barbie ArmstrongPhotography: MomentByMello.com

By Charity Jackson

Model: Nicole FloresHair, Make Up & Styling:

Barbie ArmstrongPhotography: MomentByMello.com

Bikini 2013 By Startrease Robert

Take advantage of our Grand Opening LOW, LOW LOW PRICES! Book Your Store today! Limited slots available!

Visit the Mall Today @ www.FullBlossomMagazine.com/FBMMALL#To book Your Store Email FBMMALL@FullBlossomMagazine.com

THE FULL BLOSSOM Virtual MALL!!!

GRAND OPENING!!!

Full Blossom Magazine kicks off its

New “I am a “Full Blossom Beauty” Campaign with

Three HOT New Videos on Full Blossom TV!!!

Click on Each One of our Beautiful Faces to See Their Video!!!

Photography: Erin Fackler

FBM Exclusive

Crysta l HerInterview

FBM: Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us, Crystal. It really is apleasure for us and our readers to be able to have a chance to get to know you alittle bit better. First off, you have such an exotic, rare look. If you don’t mind usasking, what nationality are you?

Crystal: Hmong

FBM: That certainly is not common! Very nice. We’d like to know if you had to useone word to describe yourself. What would it be and why?

Crystal: If I could use one word to describe myself it would be confident. Not to bemixed up with conceited. I've always been a bit different and I like it, it gave me adifferent perspective on things. I believe that is were my confidence grew from.Being different made me I accept who I am and made me realized beauty comes inall shape and size. That gave me the confidence to push the boundary of what thesociety perceive as beauty.

FBM: We know all about pushing those boundaries here at FBM. That is onereason we are so grateful you agreed to be our cover model this issue. It is great tosee a woman be confident and comfortable in her own skin. Well that’s great, howabout tell us what some of your hobbies are? What do you do enjoy doing in yourspare time?

Crystal: Some of my hobbies are arts and craft, doing making and hair. Although Ispend most of my free time with family and looking after my grandmother.

FBM: We thought that doing make-up and hair might be on the list after stalkingyour Facebook page! You’re always coming up with something great. And hownice to know that you get to spend time with your family like that. Thanks forsharing! So, tell us how old you were when you decided you wanted to become amodel?

Crystal: I think when I was 15, I wanted to me famous. A couple of years later atthe age of 17 is when I really thought about it and wanted to be a model. But I didn'tlook the part and I was not thin or 6 feet tall.

Photography: Erin Fackler

FBM Exclusive

Crys ta l HerInterview

FBM: Well thank goodness being thin or six feet tall is no longer arequirement, right? We love that the modeling scene is diversifying; it’s aboutdang time! How about you tell us what or who some of your inspirations are?

Crystal: My inspirations are my mother and grandmother. They are bothstrong women. They really took care of everything when the odds wereagainst them. They came here in the States with nothing and couldn'tunderstand a word. But they learned the language to better their life andfamily. If they could go to a country knowing nothing and is able to surviveand grow, I can do the same in this industry. My other inspirations are myfellow plus size women. They inspire me to be stronger and really push theidea of what beauty is. That also inspired me to push designers to cater to usas well. Just because we are a bit thicker doesn't mean we can't look good.You ladies inspire me to do better so I can in return inspire you to loveyourself and go for your dreams.

FBM: That is really great, Crystal. What an incredible story about your family.We love your drive and passion to help driving the fashion industry forward;we can’t wait to see what you do next. In terms of the plus size agencies andmagazines out there today, what made you decide to be a Full Blossom model?

Crystal: What made me decide to become a Full Blossom model was that itwas a chance for me to inspire more women especially women in the Asiancommunity and also to let the world know a bit of who I am and where Icome from.

FBM: Well it definitely is a rare opportunity, and we know that our Asianreaders, both male and female, are really going to love that. How exactly didyou hear about Full Blossom?

Crystal: I actually heard about Fully Blossom through a friend’s page onFacebook. I'm really glad I got the chance to learn about Full Blossom and beapart of their wonderful goal in changing the view of plus size woman. I amhonored to be featured in one of your magazines.

FBM: Well we appreciate you strokingour ego a little bit there… ha! Butseriously, that’s exactly our goal: tochange the way people view the plussize woman. Thank you for being a partof that and helping us achieve our goals.Are there other people that continue toinspire your life in general, not just interms of the modeling world?

Crystal: My family inspires methroughout my life. I also have to sayfailure is a big inspiration too because Idon't want to be a failure to my familyor myself. So I really strive to do betterfor myself in life generally.

FBM: It’s clear that you’re not going tobe a failure, and we love that you workso hard. Do you have a favorite quoteor phrase and inspires you to kick it intoover drive for your work?

Crystal: My favorite quote that helpsme stay positive is a quote I got from afortune cookie, "A day without smilingis a day wasted". Life is not alwaysgreat, but putting a smile in it canbring you up or makes someone’s daybetter.

FBM: Dang, a fortune cookie soundsreally good right now. Actually, somebeef and broccoli, then a crab-rangoonand then a fortune cookie! Sorry, didn’tmean to get sidetracked. Ha! Back tobusiness; can you tell us about some ofthe obstacles you’ve had to overcomewhile breaking into the modelingindustry? We know it isn’t alwayspeaches and cream… sorry, last foodreference, we promise!

Photography: StartingImages

Crystal: I had to overcome thestereotype Asian women fall into.Which is most of them are thin. Also theheight, I'm only 5'6. Most models are5'7 and up.

FBM: Stereotypes are the worst. Whydo they even exist anymore? Well wemust say, for being 5’6”, you sure carryyourself like you’re 6’1”. Keep rockin’ it,girl. So we asked about your obstacles,but for a second we want to be reallyspecific and ask about the strugglesyou’ve faced in your journey as a plussize model.

Crystal: The struggles I have so far arelike most models that are just starting,ex: where to go, how to contact people,and who is real and who's not. Being abit too short, that had prevented mefrom some opportunities for a shootsand shows. But I'm not going to let itstop me. I'm still going to go for it!

FBM: That’s exactly it. We all have bigdreams, but half the battle is to justkeep pushing and not ever stop. Welove that about you. Even though you’veprobably felt like giving up before, whatkept you motivated?

Crystal: What keeps me motivated ismy family and the fear of failing.

FBM: Family seems to be reallyimportant to you, they must be reallyproud of all you’re accomplishing anddoing then! We’d love to ask you a littlebit more about where your family comesfrom and your culture. Could you tell uswhat your native language is?

Crystal: My native language isHmong

FBM: What is your favorite aspect ofyour culture?

Crystal: My favorite aspect is thatwe are very family oriented.

FBM: We can definitely tell you fitthe bill on that part of your culture!Does your culture embrace plus sizewomen?

Crystal: My culture embraces allsizes, but I do notice that most menprefer their woman a bit smallerthan them.

FBM: Well everyone is entitled totheir preferences. We wonder if anyof our Hmong male readers feeldifferently and like a woman withextra curves! How about the food?What type of food is popular amongyour culture?

Crystal: Since Hmong people livearound with a lot of Laotian andThai most of our food is intergrade.Traditional Hmong food is actuallyvery simple. Just rice with boiledchicken with herbs, boiled pork withgreens, steam fished with herbs,pepper, cabbage rolls and a couplemore dishes.

FBM: We promised no more foodreferences, but this is making ushungry again! If you were to makeus your favorite traditional Hmongdish, what would it be?

Crystal: I don't really have a favorite Ilike all of them. If I really, really haveto pick I would have to say boiledchicken with herbs and pepper.

FBM: Sounds great! Hopefully we canmeet up again sometime soon and youcan make us some authentic Hmongfood! Is there a specific stereotypeabout Hmong people that you wouldlike to dispel?

Crystal: Some stereotype I would liketo dispel is that we are not all ingangs, farm and do poorly in school.In every culture and race they have agang but not everyone is one. There isa good population of Hmong farmers,but that's not THE majority, and anystudent can do poor in school if theeducation system isn't doing a goodjob.

FBM: Thank you for sharing that withus. It’s so important to learn aboutother nationalities, and you’ve been abig help for us learning about theHmong culture! We have just a fewmore questions for you before we getout of here. If there is just one thingthat you want people to know aboutyou, Crystal Her, what would it be?

Crystal: One thing I want people toknow is that I am well around. I lovemodeling, doing hair, makeup, styling,designing and photography.

FBM: And we love watching all of thosethings come together for you! Finally,what advice or last words do you havefor our Full Blossom readers?

Crystal: Follow your dreams andlearn to love yourself. Once you doyou'll gain confidence and when youdo there is nothing stopping youfrom what you what to do.

FBM: Great advice. Thank you somuch for letting us inside your worldtoday, Crystal. It has been fantasticgetting a chance to work with you forthis issue, and we look forward tocatching up again soon in the future!

Photography: StartingImages

Model: Malinda Bell

"Yumyum"

Clothing: 710 Designs

Hair: YaYa Sabree-Melvin

Make-Up: Valerie Stanley

Photographer:

Pagan Photography

I am a Full Blossom Beauty and

SO ARE YOU!

Model: Morgan WhitneyMake Up: Thea Tucker

Photography: Lemuel Craddle

Ph

oto

grap

hy:

Sta

rtin

gIm

ages

How To BeA Sexy & Alluring Woman

Since the beginning ofcreation there has been agreat expectation ofwomen to be beautiful andalluring, and women havegone through great lengthsto achieve such an image.Through the use ofcosmetics, dress, beautyregimens, surgicalenhancements and othermeans we continue tosearch for new ways torefine our image in theworld.We've read so much inmagazines about how to asladies, become morealluring and desirable tothe opposite sex…how tograb their attention…whatto cook for them…how tolead them on and how tospend hours trying todecode their mysteriousbehavior.

Model: TechlaPhotography:

Modern Photographix

By Nina Kocendova

Yet there is actually a secretto allure. And surprisinglywhile some women areaware of it, it continues toelude the great majority.Have you ever met a womanwho seemed to attract allthe attention of men andwomen wherever she was,no matter the crowd?Perhaps she was not eventhe most attractive womanby traditional standards orthe best dressed yet therewas something about herthat captivated yourattention and the attentionof those around her.Or you can think of a personthat is always a great joy tobe around, and they seemto always be swarmed byadmirers and friends…theyusually seem to possess theability to even befriendcomplete strangers rathereasily.The thing about these typesof people is you can'texactly put your finger onwhat it is about them mosttimes. Outwardly they mayrange from plain/averagelooking to quite attractive,but one thing becomes clearpretty quickly and that isthat their true attractivequality…their magnetism soto speak, arises from a placemuch deeper than outwardappearance.

These people we admire so muchhave what you call charisma. Therarest, most profound type ofcharisma is the kind a person isnaturally born with. People who areborn charismatics, have an incredibleadvantage in the world over others.But charisma and poise can also to agreater degree be cultivated. Thosewith charismatic personalities easilygenerate interest. And they finessethis interest into allure.True allure cannot be reduced tosomething as superficial as a fabulousperfume, or smoldering eye makeup.These things are all in our repertoireto enhance our looks, however realallure cannot be bought.Charismatic people are like a brightlight that draws people into its warmglow. They are inviting andapproachable to talk to, providingpositive and interesting insights intothe conversation. You will rarely heara charismatic person lingering on anegative topic for very long. They areoften funny, or sweet…possessing atype of charm that makes people feelgood about themselves just being intheir presence. And they give you justenough of their feel-good presenceand personal information aboutthemselves to create allure.They don't put all their cards on thetable, and they don't qualifythemselves to you in an attempt togain your approval. This behavior initself signals confidence on asubconscious level.

You'll rarely see these people usingoverexposure in their way of dress as ameans of gaining attention becausethey don't need to. Women inpossession of the winsome qualities ofcharisma and allure are most often sexyin a less superficial way, and are sexy ina much more magnetic way. They exudeconfidence and royal bearing in the waythey hold themselves, the way theyengage you in conversation, and theirbody language.So many lovely ladies today haveforgotten what truly attracts. Many areresorting out of desperation toobscenely obnoxious behavior thatlacks class or poise, for attention that isshort lived and often negative.Overexposing your skin regardless ofsetting, being loud and overlyprovocative and indulging in negativeand controversial discussion are alltempting ways to garner attention forsome because they are easy. They willgain you short lived attention frompeople who seek superficial stimulationbefore they move on to the next thingthat captures their attention.True beauty, true magnetism, and trueadmiration like all of the most wondrousthings in life, arise from a place within.Learn to cultivate your charisma, poise,confidence and allure and you will becultivating what is the secret toattraction and the secret to being sexy.Make others feel good in your presence,engage them and show interest in theirlives...don't only converse for anopportunity to speak of, or promoteyourself.

Show restraint when the urge toshowboat arises, be slightlymodest in showcasing the bestyou have. Contrary to what youmay be inclined to think, this willcreate more interest and allurewhile showing off to many isrepugnant.Work on the way you carryyourself and refine yourconversation skills. Show that youare interested and listening towhat people are saying by givingthem eye contact, askingquestions at appropriate timesand giving them feedback whenasked. Don't impose youropinions on others with noregard, and please speak at areasonable volume. Those withgreat bearing and pose, do notneed to yell over others to getattention and to be heard. Theycommand respect and attentionautomatically with theirpresence. You must learn how tobecome self aware and work onall parts of you that pertain toyour bearing and presence. Taperbad habits, and replace them withmore winsome characteristics. Asyou continue to work on yourself,refrain from judging others whoare still holding on to the sameold habits you are trying to ridyourself of.Remember, we are all on a questto better ourselves and becomethe best, most alluring versions ofourselves that we can be. Noteveryone is in the same stage ofthe process as you and we allhave to start somewhere.

Model: TechlaPhotography:

Modern Photographix

Introducing

NATURALLY

YOUDedicated to the Beauty of Natural Hair

Model: Teisha ThomasPhotography: Damion King

3. What is your current hair regimen?Currently I wash and retwist as needed,approximately every 2-3 weeks. I usually retwistmy locs into an updo for low maintenance thatcan easily morph into a second style for thefollowing week. For example I will plat my hairinto braids and then configure my plats into apincurl bun for the first week. For the followingweek I will unbraid the plats and my hair will befull of defined crinkles for at least another twoweeks. I always wrap my hair in a satin scarf toprevent breakage every night

1. What inspired you to go natural?I have always been enticed by natural hair butneeded time to be confident enough in myself togo for it and go against the grain of what themedia deemed beautiful. When I went off tocollege I received the support of fellownaturalista's, who were so confident andcomfortable in their coils that I let go of myreservations from there and followed suit.

2. When did you do your big chop?My big chop was in my sophomore year of

college. I nervously asked my hairdresser to cutall of the processed hair off and all I could thinkabout is what everyone else would think of mebut I wanted to start fresh, so I began with ababy Afro that morphed intoStraw sets and eventually into a throwbackseventies version of a full fledged Afro with theblack power pick to boot.Unfortunately my place of employment did

not agree with my choice in hairstyle and onceagain I succumbed to societal pressure ofstraight being the equivalent of beautiful andacceptable. Fortunately that journey was shortlived. My hair rejected the a new brand ofrelaxer and went through a horrible phase ofexcessive shedding. No hair treatment, biotin,or moisturizers helped.. I finally decided to growmy hair our naturally once more, through kinkytwists and ,oh so happily, here I am today.

Interview with TEISHA

THOMAS

Model: Teisha ThomasPhotography: Damion King

4. What are your favorite hair products?Some of my must haves are Taliah Wajid's Lock it Up gel , Black Soap shampoo, andHealing Oil. I also use Black Women Natural Hairstyles (BWNH) Organic Herbal Hair tea tocondition and cleanse my locs. When my locs feel a little on the stiff side I spritz with amixture of Argon, olive oil, and warm water to add moisture.

5. What are the pros and cons you've faced having natural hair?One definite pro is the length and healthiness of my hair. I have never been able to grow myprocessed hair past the nape of my neck and now my locks are flowing freely down my back.I have truly grown to love my hair throughout my loc journey. There were many times I almostcalled it quits while beginning the locking process, thanks to the sideways stares and theSistah Souljah commentary. Once past this phase,my locs have truly became a part of myidentity and have taught me patience and self-acceptance amongst other lessons.One con I've noticed with having natural hair is that even though we are making huge stridesin the natural hair evolution, it still has yet to be accepted without resistance or stereotyping.Occasionally, I still encounter those awkward moments when a person gets bold enough totouch my locs and enquire about how I make my hair this way or if I wash my hair. I try tothink of those as teachable moments where I'm slowly debunking one "dreaded" myth at atime.

Model: Teisha ThomasPhotography: Damion King

1. What inspired you to go natural?My inspiration to "go natural" came after multipleyears of relaxers, colors, and weaves. I knew thatmy hair was not its healthiest and wanted a freshstart. Besides, the change was a new and uniquelook for me as a plus model.

2. . When did you do your big chop?My "big chop" occurred in the spring of 2010 at theend of a love/hate relationship with having my hairdyed black.

3. What is your current hair regimen?I shampoo, deep condition, and moisturize my hairweekly. If I have the time I will finger roll my hair tomaintain a consistent curl pattern and style onceset. Otherwise, I will wear an afro. I have also wornmy hair molded straight back and pressed for morevariety. Those styles take a lot more effort. I almostalways allow my hair to air dry. I will use anoverhead dryer no more than 15 minutes.

4. What are your favorite hair products?

Taliah Waajid's Total Body Black Earth ShampooPalmer's Deep Conditioning Protein PackSoftee's Coconut Oil.

5. What are the pros and cons you've faced havingnatural hair?Pros include having healthier hair, no harmfulchemicals, more manageability, and quick styling.Cons include not having as much variety in stylesbecause of the length of my natural hair. Also whenpressed, certain styles don't last because theelements can change my hair texture (humidity, rain,etc).

Interview with ANDREA

JACKSON

Make Up: Tasha AndrewsDress: Big Girls UnitedPhotography: MomentByMello.com

100 % NATURAL HAIR Tee ‘s & Bags Sold @ FullBlossomMagazine.com

Indulge a

little bit…

I AM A

MOTHER,

TEACHER,

DESIGNER,

MAKEUP ARTIST,

and

WRITER........... I

AM A

WOMAN!!!

PERFECTLY

IMPERFECT

LIVING PHAT

GIRL FRESH

AND LOVING

IT!!!

Full Blossom Magazine New Designer

Spotlight

Maui Bigelow

I am Maui Bigelow, a 35 year old single mother who takes pride in being awomen's advocate. I have experienced my share of hardship throughout mylife but I learned to appreciate them, because it made me who I am today. Iam a very passionate person and I make it a habit of putting my all into everytask I am faced with. I work as a substitute teacher and my message to theyouth is the same as it is to adults; "anything is possible" and "if you learn tolive outside of your situation, you can overcome anything." I promote selflove because if you don't love yourself, no one else will. I know thatwomanhood does not greet every girl, in the same manner but there arethings that each of us must grasp in order to transition. My goal is to cater tothe souls of my sisters (women) because many times we find ourselvesdiscouraged, beat down and depressed about who society say's we are oraren't. It is important to remember that the size of our body doesn't make uslarge; it is the size of our hearts.

I love the path of life I am traveling down because I am doing exactlywhat I love and although the financial reward may not be great; myheart is filled with joy. I love doing things that empower andencourage others and all of my work does just that. I AM AMOTHER,TEACHER, DESIGNER, MAKEUP ARTIST, and WRITER........... I AMA WOMAN!!! PERFECTLY IMPERFECT LIVING PHAT GIRL FRESHAND LOVING IT.

The person or thing that honestly motivated me to start this journey is a womanthat is near and dear to my heart; Ms. Linnie McCoy, my Big Mama. Although Iwas raised and reared by a number of strong black women, she is one womanthat I got the most from. She is my aunt by blood but she has been so muchmore, I remember how fashionable she always was and how her curves wereundeniable. She never tried to hide them; she dressed to assure that shecomplimented them. Initially I was just going to sell plus size clothing anddesign tee's and P,H.A.T GIRL FRESH was simply a slogan. However, the moreI thought about it, I was able to identify with the significance of the term and itall tied in with what and who my inspiration is. My Big Mama, in her prime andeven today she is, the epitome of P.H.A.T GIRL FRESH. A bold woman in everyarea of life, A woman who is confident about who she is and the power that shewas given by God. A woman who is perfectly imperfect and unapologetic forher flaws. A woman who is indeed Powerful, Honest and True (P.H.A.T).

I chose hearts as the logo for all of my companies because hearts are curvywith straight parts like women. Hearts represent love. The color pink isused to identify the female gender which I love and respect. The pink is alsothe color of the breast cancer ribbon (I am a survivor/warrior). Purple is thecolor of the lupus ribbon which is a disease that affects many womenincluding my inspiration, Ms. Linnie McCoy (big mama). Purple is also thecolor that represents another issue that affects women, domestic violence.The hearts are intertwined because we are all connected in the game of lifeand the sisterhood of womanhood.

So there you have it, the birth of P.H.A.T GIRL FRESH!! I just want womento know that there is no shame in loving who they are in spite of. I wantwomen to know that despite what society says, beauty goes far beyond anyof our physical features and no matter what size you are, loving yourself isthe key to happiness.

Introducing FBM’s

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Make Up: Iesha NicolePhotography: MomentByMello.com

Justin Timberlake is Back2013 THE YEAR OF JUSTIN

7-26-13

Who Wore the Dress Best?

Theary Sim,Designer/Stylist

Kim McCarter,Blogger

Delvon Johnson,Celebrity Stylist

Evie Foster,Designer

Steffany Allen,Fashion Stylist

J-Lo VS Rhi- Grunge couture has been on the redcarpet more often now. These are two differentapproaches to this look. Jennifer made her lookmore chic and sleek by pairing feminine jewelrypieces with an obi belt. Now, Rihanna kept itsimple by making her statement with hair everchanging red locks. This look can be tragic if youdon't compliment it with the right accessories.Who's really glad to be wearing a trash bag onthe carpet? JLO wore it best.

J-Hud vs Kim K- We all have followed these twocelebs in the media. One shedding pounds the otherfor adding baby weight. But one can't argue thesetwo can rock some curves. Jennifer looks amazing, Ilove the gold accents and her flawless skin adds theperfect glow to any outfit. Kim, has such a naturalbeauty, which enhances anything she wears. Whichthis dress portion is key. Kim looks a bit top heavy inthis dress which doesn't flatter her bodacious body.Jennifer wore it best.

Jennifer vs Rhianna - While she may not be known for her singing,she is definitely know for her sense of style which is why I amdisappointed in how RiRi downplayed this dress. It almost lookslike she threw it on to make an errand run. JLO addition of thewide belt to define her waist makes this dress look really good onher! (A trick I love myself. If you have a defined waistline, addinga belt will make a frumpy dress look marvelous!) I would loosethat necklace though! All in all, this goes to JLo

Jennifer vs Kim K - While Kim K issmaller, she has curves that allowsthe details of the dress to beenvisioned. I know most aren't afan, but in this dress - she wore itbest. The fit is completely differentand for some reason there seems tobe just a touch more detailing.

Both Jennifer Lopez and Rhianna look stunning inthis get up, but JLow seals it. J-Low is rocking theperfect jewelry, shoes and belt. The thick beltreflects her fantastic shape. Her “up do” is theperfect hair style for this chic look. J-low can DRESSRhianna went wrong with the nude pumps, andshe didn’t wear any jewelry. The Ronald Mcdonaldhair color has got to go. Sorry, Rhi, Rhi, but it’s aMESS

Jennifer Hudson and Kim Kardashianlook equally ravishing. The dresshugs Kim and Jen in all the rightplaces, and they both look fabulous.If I had to choose, Jennifer gets theprize. Kim is a little “hippie” in thisshot. Was she pregnant yet? Jennifergets the DRESS while Kim is theMESS.

Jennifer VS RihannaLOVE this dress. Love the leather. Love the oneshoulder. Rihanna looks great and can totallypull this off but not sure I love the nude shoeswith the black leather. I love how Ms. Lopeztakes this edgy look and styles it with thesophisticated hairstyle and the heavy jewelledneck piece. I personally would have the lost theneck piece and done a big earring but I do lovethe black sophisticated heel. Jenny from TheBlock does it better!

Jennifer VS KimThis is a really beautiful dress and they both lookfabulous. Love the way it shows the curves and youknow I am all about the curves. However, the dressand its detail takes my eyes directly to Kim’s breastsand it really takes away from the rest of hercomplete look. Love Jennifer’s peek toe shoe butwith the beautiful detailed neckline on this piece, Iwould have like to see the hair up and away from herneck and shoulders. It’s a close one, but I think MissHudsons got this one!

J-Lo vs Rhi RHi:Clearly this dress is multi-purpose! You'vegot Red Carpet (J-Lo) vs dinner withfriends (Rhi Rhi) Both ladies are giving thisdress life and are appropriate for theoccasion. This is a tie for me! BTW -LOHVING the jewels J-Lo!!

J-Hud vs Kim K:Kudos to J-Hud for dropping the poundsand still embracing her curves! But thistime it's really NOT working for me. Kimkills it and fills out every inch of thisdress! Kim K is the clear winner...thistime!

I am a Full Blossom Beauty and

SO ARE YOU!

Model: Nicole FloresHair, Make Up & Styling:

Barbie ArmstrongPhotography:

MomentByMello.com