BBW

In Tennessee I receive more compliments about my physical appearance - my distinctive beauty marks, my curves, hair, almond-shaped eyes, pretty face - than anywhere I have lived before. This is odd to me because here, more than anywhere I have lived, I see prototypical beautiful females with gorgeous painted faces, loads of cleavage, tight tummies; everything tanned and toned. I hate to compare but I have a muffin top, sausage arms, ugly nails, and sun damage is beginning to creep over my complexion. However, I know physical beauty does not only come in a size six with curly blonde locks and a polished face of make-up. Those said folks who offered me compliments evidently feel the same. I know I have a unique look - I call it American mutt with Hungarian honey!

I ashamedly worry about trying to be thin but why do I suddenly care so much about being pretty? Well, at my quasi-youthful age and with my bangin body type, I qualify to be a plus size model. I think this is a possible fruitful second income. My first "photo shoot" was at an ecclectic boutique in Downtown Knoxville last Saturday. Photos of the Vagabondia "costume" shoot will be posted here at some point: Vagabondia website. I had a great coach, my friend Amy, who used to model all over the world for the big guns (she modeled for Calvin Klein; she has great legs).

Next photo shoot is this Saturday for a Johnson City Magazine. However, I am in charge of the "styling". Want to help? I have a few ideas and I am totally in charge - what I wear, how I become dollish, where we shoot the shots, pretty much everything. I am not going to attempt to look like a runway hussy, although Amy is going to try to gussy me up like that. She used to do runway makeup. I need to be casual but dressy. I want to be granola but polished. There are two places on Douglas Lake I want to take photos (the spots with the kick ass views of the span of the Great Smokes and the lake unobstructed by manmade features). Photos with my pant legs rolled up, standin in the water, ya know, nature inspired, like me? Do I wear pants though? How about booty pants (those be the tight ones)? A skirt? Short sleeves? Tank top? A sweater? More importantly, what do I wear to cover my feet? Chacos? Please advise. I could also really use your creativity to brainstorm some photo options. Should I bring "props" to the lake? My kayak? A blanket? Ember? I know some of you are having a hard time believing I am asking questions about modeling. I am over it if you think it is shallow; I used to think so too. For your information, I have a little southern belle donated from the X chromosome, but the phenotype had not been expressed until I moved to Tennessee. I am not sure my photographer, Paul Bishop, as professional as he is, has ever worked shootin a nature freak with limited modeling poses, at a lake bottom in November. I think I may be a little embarrassed with Paul and my coach, Amy, but if this doesn't jump start my career, I know there will be some good laughs shared. You all are clever and creative, help, and I promise if I make it to the runway in Italy, I'll bring ya over on the yacht I purchase from P Diddy. We will cruise around the Mediterranean for a month eattin fresh caught shrimp with cilantro sauce and visit my bungaloo on the coast of Croatia that I share with my fisherman/chef/paddler/anything but rockstar husband. Begin with the end in mind; that is the mantra of the moment.