Bey Does it Again!!

My BFFIMH (Best Friend Forever in My Head… Duh!) Beyonce (Who else?!) has done it again!

With the release of her highly entertaining workout video aimed at getting today’s youth moving towards healthier lifestyles for the Michelle Obama, “Let’s Move” campaign, Bey is motivating all of us!

LOVES  it!!

XOXO,

Mia

Mia Amber’s Two Minute Photo Shoot

It’s ANTM Wednesday so I felt the need for an impromptu  photo shoot in the bathroom, at sunset.

No professional hair or make up…just me and my camera phone after long day.

#DontJudge

XOXO,

Mia

Calling All Designers

 

If you’re in the New York Area or have a passion and drive that will take you there, Project Runway wants you!!

Auditions are being held for season 9 of the hit Bravo show on May 4th from 10:00am-4:00pm at the Hilton Hotel in the heart of NYC.  I’d love to see a designer of curvy couture make the cut!

Good Luck!

XOXO,

Mia

Jill Scott and The A Group

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Hollywood Listening Party for one of my all time favorite artists Jill Scott’s new album, “Light of the Sun.”

Jilly from Philly NEVER disappoints…ever!  I sang at the top of my lungs and sweat my hair out on a “school night!”

With a bolder than ever voice, a new home at Warner Brothers and incredible new background singers who go by the name, “The A Group” ( these girls can sang!!) Jill is poised to run to the top of the charts!

Here’s a look at the just released video for, “Shame,” one of the hottest songs on the album.  Jill and the girls were styled by the incomparable Susan Moses!

I can’t wait to hear the album in its entirety this summer when it’s released.

Congrats Jill!

XOXO,

Mia

Kaylea Moss

I was pleasantly surprised as I was perusing the aisles at my local CVS (a favorite pastime) when I saw a familiar face!  One of my favorite people and nicest models in the industry, Kaylea Moss has a new campaign for Dove Visible Care!

I’m super proud! Congrats, Kaylea and kudos to Dove for continually recognizing beauty at any size!

Keep up the great work!

XOXO,

Mia

Barbie Gets Real

In an effort to bring awareness to National Eating Disorders Awareness Month, Galia Slayen decided to create a life-sized Barbie based on the iconic dolls dimensions. 

If Barbie were a real person she would be about six feet tall, and have 39-18-33 Bust-Waist-Hip measurements.

Slayen, a former anorexic, fashioned her Barbie in a size “00” jean skirt that she herself wore in the midst of her disease.

I think this is a powerful message on body image and the effects it has on girls, young and old alike.

You can read much more on Slayen and her message HERE

XOXO,
Mia

Mia Amber’s Curvy Mail

I received the following letter via email:

Hi Mia,

First and foremost I want to say that I look up to you. You are an inspiration to all women that are curvy and you have shown the world that curvier women are beautiful.

I know you get a lot of mail so I want to thank you for reading this. I am really trying to become a successful full figure model and I don’t know where to start.

How do you know if you have what it takes to model and should I get an agent or contact designers directly?

Thank you,
Shelly

Thanks for writing, Shelly! 

My honest answer is that you should do whatever it takes– WITHIN REASON–until you get your fashionable foot in the door.  Visiting open calls and submitting your photos via the web to reputable agencies (don’t pay anyone ANY money up front) is  a great way to get started. Check out this post I did on OPEN CALLS!

You also mentioned contacting designers directly which I think is a potentially good idea. 

As an actress I would never turn down a great role in a student film with a student director.  The general rule of thumb is that you never know how far that director may go as a filmmaker so it’s best to get in on the “ground floor” with them and they will always remember you!

I say all that to make a comparison to new designers.  A designer who is just starting out may be looking for models to work with and you never know how their career’s may take off.

When you submit to agencies and designers be sure to send the proper photos– no nudity, pets or friends in the photos with you!   Also, do as much reasearch as possible regarding the person/company you are submitting to. 

Another bit of advice is this– be ready! 

If you submitted to an agency tomorrow and they called you in, would you be ready to work?  Would you know how to pose, find your light and behave on set?   Would you know the differences between fit, showroom, print, commercial, high fashion, lifestyle and runway modeling?   Do you know your measurements?  Would you know where you fit in within the industry?

How you match up with industry standards is very important in knowing whether or not you have a “shot” at making a career in modeling. You asked me how to know if you have what it takes– Confidence goes a mighty long way and knowing that you have something to offer will take you even further.

I visited my current agency six times (open calls) before they called me in for a meeting.  Each time they said “no” I just kept working on my own and building my portfolio.  One day, they just called me in and I was ready.

If you aren’t ready, get ready!  Your passion could be realized and you don’t want to miss any opportunity to feed your soul.

XOXO,

Mia

#Curvy.Girls.Rock!

Sidebar…

Say it ain’t so! ABC has canceled iconic soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live.

ABC has canceled two of its longest-running programs, daytime soap operas “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.”

The network announced Thursday that the two soap operas would end, with “All My Children” going off the air in September and “One Life to Live” going off the air in January.

In their place, a Mario Batali-hosted food show called “The Chew” will premiere in September, and a health/lifestyle transformation show tentatively called “The Revolution” will premiere in January.

“General Hospital” will remain on the network.

“All My Children” has been the subject of cancellation rumors of late, with Deadline.com’s Nellie Andreeva reporting last month that the show might be replaced by a talk show.

“While we are excited about our new shows and the shift in our business, I can’t help but recognize how bittersweet the change is,” Brian Frons, ABC’s daytime department president , said in an announcement. “We are taking this bold step to expand our business because viewers are looking for different types of programming these days. They are telling us there is room for informative, authentic and fun shows that are relatable, offer a wide variety of opinions and focus on ‘real life’ takeaways.”

The first of those new shows to premiere, “The Chew,” will be hosted by Batali, “What Not To Wear” host Clinton Kelly, “Top Chef” alumna Carla Hall, restaurateur Michael Symon and “Dorm Room Diet” author Daphne Oz.

SOURCE

I’m at a loss for words to think what will become of Erica Kane!  I have been an AMC and OLTL fan since I was a little girl watching “the stories” with my grandma.  I didn’t always understand what was going on but the glamour, drama and intrigue definitely translated 100%

The following clips of Jenny Gardner’s death on AMC are etched in my brain… 

I was in South Carolina watching the show with my cousins when it happened and we were all screaming and upset and yelling! My grandma ran into the living room thinking one of us was injured.  We told her that Jenny died and she was so mad at us for being silly!

RIP AMC & OLTL… Thanks for the memories.

XOXO,

Mia

Adele’s Tops!

Curvy singing sensation, Adele has officially hit the mark as the first platinum selling artist of 2011!

Earlier this year, British soul singer Adele surprised just about everyone when her sophomore album, ’21,’ debuted atop the Billboard 200 album chart with an astounding 352,000 copies sold — the biggest debut of any album this year. This week, ’21’ claims another title: first album of 2011 to go platinum.

According to Billboard, Adele topples Britney Spears’ ‘Femme Fatale’ to reclaim the pole position on this week’s album chart, moving 88,000 more copies and pushing her total domestic sales to 1.03 million. The year’s second-biggest album, Mumford & Sons’ ‘Sigh No More,’ is a distant second, having sold 645,000 copies.

SOURCE

Congrats!

XOXO,

Mia

“Too Heavy” for Idol Audience

If true, this is disappointing…

A 19-year-old fan of the hit show, “American Idol” says she was removed from her choice seat in the front row because she was “too heavy.”

‘She had been given free tickets to attend the filming of American Idol and was understandably excited.

But 19-year-old Ashley Kauffman’s joy soon turned to upset on being told she was ‘too big’ to sit in the front row.

‘There were two ladies and one said: “Oh, I don’t want shorts in front,” about my friend,’ Miss Kauffman, of Riverside, California, told MailOnline.

‘Then she looked at me and said: “Oh no, you’re too big, too heavy to be in front!”‘

SOURCE

There’s  MORE on this story but none of it makes sense.  As a former Audience Coordinator I’ve had to remove my share of people from camera seating many times for a variety of reasons but rule #1 is NEVER tell the individual why they’re being moved ESPECIALLY if it’s because of esthetics.  Regardless — you don’t remove a teenage fan or anyone because of their size.

XOXO,

Mia

UPDATE!!

TMZ is exclusively reporting that the folks at American Idol are denying Ashley’s claim over size discrimination… you can read their explanation HERE!