Philomena Kwao : (8)

" I think, for so long, women of different sizes have been pigeonholed, and with every campaign, it’s always an adaptation of making fashion but for plus sizes. Sometimes it’s in a little bit of a negative way, and plus is always a little bit slow to be fashion forward. " - Philomena Kwao

" My best advice is to celebrate your own unique features and never put them down. There is beauty in individuality, and it’s so important to appreciate everything your body allows you to do. It’s OK to have a down day – we all do from time to time – but it’s not OK to compare yourself to others. " - Philomena Kwao

" The brands that choose to use me, my agency and social media have given me a face and a voice. " - Philomena Kwao

" Fat is fat. This goes back to the word ‘plus.’ We describe things. We are humans, and we need to describe things. " - Philomena Kwao

" Women I’ve met in different countries have told me that seeing my face in magazines gives them the courage to love themselves. " - Philomena Kwao

" Torrid has given me an amazing opportunity. I can reach out to different girls and help them realize that they are beautiful, too. " - Philomena Kwao

" We are all beautiful. " - Philomena Kwao

" When I finally discovered the ‘Sports Illustrated’ swimsuit issue, I browsed through archives and saw a picture of an incredibly stunning model, Damaris Lewis. Her images inspired me, and I imagined being in the magazine myself. Never in a million years did I dream it would actually happen. " - Philomena Kwao