Keisha Francis, Comfort and curves

Occupation: Non-profit director
Stats: Age 24, Size 8

Her style: Colour and comfort. I love wearing jeans and a T-shirt, but I also love throwing on a dress. With everything I do, I love experimenting with colour.

Inspired by: Tyra Banks. I love her and her sense of fearless style. She’s willing to try out different types of looks even though she is curvy. She is not afraid to show her true personality with whatever she wears.

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More…

Tyra apologizes for Top Model promo

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Her body image obstacles: My hips. I am really curvy. Even if I lose 100 lbs., I will always have curvy hips. I grew up around really thin girls, so no one else had curves like me. For years, I thought I was too fat because there was no one else like me. Accepting my curves was probably the biggest obstacle for me. It’s something I am still getting used to, but I am slowly coming into my own.

On confidence: Moving to Toronto, I started to see more women who have curves. It was great, people were embracing their curves and people appreciated that. It was around that time that I started feeling better about myself.

On changes in the fashion industry: It all starts somewhere, whether it’s someone like Tyra Banks speaking out about her size or an ad campaign like Dove. All it takes is one magazine, one person to say, ‘Hey, maybe we should change our perspective on this beauty issue and include real people.’ It makes sense because the people who are reading the magazines and buying the clothes are real people! We want to see models included who are beautiful, real and who look just like us.

Shopping tips: If you’re curvy, finding a pair of jeans is the hardest thing in the world. My advice when jean shopping is to give yourself a lot of time. Try on lots of jeans, and do not get discouraged. Sometimes I will try on 100 pairs of jeans, or so it feels! Do not dismay, you will find a pair that finally fits.

Secret style weapon: A vintage wrap dress I got from Queen Street. It accentuates my chest, ties in my waist and flows off my hips. Every time I wear that dress, I get a thousand compliments.

Loves fashion because: It can be a reflection of whom you are inside. You should always wear the clothes and never let the clothes wear you.

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