Maui Bigelow has carried out it once more.
Final week, the social media influencer celebrated the tenth yr of LifeStyled Honors, highlighting curvaceous Black ladies in style, life-style, social justice, and entrepreneurship in Atlanta, Georgia.
“On the coronary heart of this occasion, we’re celebrating the wonder and greatness of the Black girl. Our preliminary basis was to create an area for plus-size ladies. And over time as a result of we have now grown and perceive which you can’t create one sure house for Black ladies. It simply turned an area to have fun ladies doing wonderful issues and inspirational and aspirational issues for Black ladies and ladies,” Bigelow stated.
The layered ambiance of dozens highlighting their very own private type with the backdrop of a number of full-on style experiences made the entire 5-day occasion a vibe to recollect. Being current at Lifestyled Honors was witnessing an inflow of beautiful Black queens in real-time, expressing confidence, intercourse attraction, and collective pleasure.
Bigelow’s imaginative and prescient for the occasion has additionally advanced in real-time. It began when the trendy influencer created Phat Woman Contemporary in 2008, a social media platform illustrating the fly life-style of Black ladies in plus-size style and wonder. In 2013, she took her ardour for amping ladies as much as the subsequent degree by turning the digital platform into a totally immersive in-person expertise.
“I by no means imagined in 2013 after I began this that I might be right here. It was a one-day occasion,” Bigelow stated. “Now we’re at 5 days.”
“It’s only a nice weekend of fellowship, neighborhood, and all the great issues. After which comes the style, as a result of the women go to place the garments on. You recognize the women include make-up carried out, hair carried out,” honoree and entrepreneur Jazmine Howell stated whereas slaying in full glam from head to toe.
“Private type could be no matter you need, however it’s undoubtedly a mirrored image of your character. It’s vital on your garments and the way you look to characterize your self. With out even speaking, folks can decide up your vibe and what you might be about,” dressmaker and honoree Kenya Freeman stated. “It’s a enjoyable approach of expressing your self with out saying a phrase.”
The style by no means ended with runway-style occasions curated by Bigelow shining a light-weight on plus-size style designers.
“I simply wish to say. When you have one thing in your coronary heart. Simply go after it. Don’t fear about what the subsequent particular person is doing. Do you and go get it,” one designer stated earlier than the complete viewers erupted with celebratory cheers and claps. A synonymous feeling of concord and encouragement set the occasion’s tone as a secure house for Black Woman Magic.
The occasion captivated tons of star energy with appearances by Zatima actress Nzinga Imani, actress Raven Goodwin, Jessica Harris-Dupart, higher often known as Da Actual BB Judy, and Love & Hip Hop star Tokyo Self-importance.
“It’s humorous as a result of I look again only a few years in the past simply to see the fashions. To assume that we have now come such a good distance. I’m so completely satisfied to be part of that illustration. To be part of a neighborhood like this the place I noticed that illustration day in and time out, seeing large Black stunning ladies succeeding, it’s only a stunning factor,” Imani stated.
Bigelow’s inaugural night time it featured a Males’s and Girls SneakerBall occasion celebrating the Breonna Taylor Basis and honoring Taylor’s sister Juniyah Palmer and social media influencer Supa Cent.
“If you wish to do one thing. It’s important to imagine in your self. I do know it sounds cliché. It’s actually true. I believed in myself from day one. Actually, when nobody gave me a possibility to showcase my expertise within the artwork of dance. I stated I’m going to create my very own lane. As lengthy you imagine in what you wish to do, it is going to occur,” honoree Akirah Armstrong, CEO of Fairly Huge Motion, stated.
Commemorating the tenth anniversary of Lifestyled Honors additionally meant wanting again at how far Black plus-size style has advanced in mainstream areas, the foundation of why Bigelow began the occasion.
“Rising up, all I noticed have been ladies like me in my household. However within the exterior world, we didn’t see these varieties of ladies, so after I began it, I began it as a technique to make us extra seen. Over the previous ten years, we have now grown to the purpose the place we don’t want these plus-specific locations anymore,” the bossy-ass style maven added. “I inform folks on a regular basis, no person types and wow’s like Black ladies, and that’s not misplaced on fats Black ladies.”
The natural-haired magnificence’s authenticity has stored entertainer and activist Sasha Renee attending all through the years. In an interview, Renee mirrored on Bigelow’s candid and inspirational platforms which have additionally cultivated a neighborhood of assist.
“Tonight is all about celebration and giving her flowers, however in Maui style, she turns it round and needs to honor different folks within the trade which have carried out nice issues,” Renee stated.
Through the Lifestyled Honors finale brunch, Bigelow revealed that Curves En Blanc, a signature All-white style affair, will happen in Miami in 2024.
