Project Curves: Highlights by Gwendolyn DeVoe

The beautiful Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) was the perfect venue for the October 21st launch of ProjectCURVES™ in Atlanta, GA.  Although the GWCC is known for its great architecture, palatial meeting space, colorful artwork and atrium skylights, the venue could not compete with the enthusiasm, anticipation, and high level of energy that arrived with the aspiring plus models who registered for the ProjectCURVES™ Plus Model Workshop.

Workshop participants, some of whom had traveled from as far as Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA arrived early, eager to soak up the information provided by the stellar group of presenters that were lined up for the day.   After receiving their name tags, tent cards and workbooks, participants noshed on a continental breakfast while playing Curvy Celebrity, a popular game that is used as an “ice-breaker” at the beginning of the workshop.

Gwen DeVoe speaking to the curvy crowd

Gwen DeVoe, Executive Producer of ProjectCURVES™ opened up the session by welcoming everyone to Atlanta, GA and to the workshop.  As the morning continued, the models enjoyed presentations by Sharon Quinn (Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance), Jennene Biggins (CEO/Founder, The Voluptuous Woman Company), Chyna McGarity (Author, The Nitty Gritty of the Modeling Industry), Allison Perry (Fitness Expert).  

In the afternoon, in exchange for filling out a survey regarding the workshops they had just taken, participants were given signature pink shopping bags filled with products from ProjectCURVES™ sponsors and a monogrammed ProjectCURVES™ t-shirt, which was to be worn to the networking event later that evening.

A few of the curvy participants

With only two hours to prepare for the networking event, the participants hastily scattered to grab a quick bite to eat and freshen up for the evening event.  Meanwhile, Team ProjectCURVES™ rushed to turn the workshop room into a reception room worthy enough for the networking event and runway show that would soon follow.

At 4:30 PM, the venue began to swell with excitement and the din from arriving vendors and exhibitors as they too, began to set up for the evening’s festivities.  On hand exhibiting products and services were:  American Beauties Plus Pageant, Dignite Skin Care, Warm Spirit, VDINX Designs, The Voluptuous Woman Boutique, Jewels by Jill, Low Country Exposure, Monif C. Plus Sizes,  Charolyn’s Closet, and the Venus Revolution Exhibit, just to name a few.

At 6:00 PM, the doors re-opened for the ProjectCURVES™ Plus Size Networking Event and Fashion Show.  Guests scrambled for the best seats in the house, eagerly awaiting the screening of the documentary, “Big Boned Women”, produced by Yolanda Zellous, a young, Georgia-based film producer and the runway fashion show, featuring local plus models and the participants of the ProjectCURVES™ workshop.

The show opened with a musical performance by Shanta Davis, a fantastic gospel artist who resides in the Atlanta area.  Her performance rocked the house and had the audience standing on their feet early during her performance.  Following the musical performance, the audience settled back in their seats for the screening of “Big Boned Women”, a documentary about the lives of curvy, full figured women who live in Georgia.  The film was warmly received and is scheduled to be shown at numerous film festivals in the upcoming months.

Next came the highly anticipated runway fashion show featuring designs by Monif C. Plus Sizes, Bella Donna Designs, The Voluptuous Woman Company, VDINX, Igigi, and aspiring designer, Lisa Banks.

As the models in sizes 12-24 sashayed down the runway wearing the wonderfully fashionable garments provided by the above designers, the crowd’s applause filled the room as they rose from their seats on several occasions to show their appreciation of real size models wearing real fashion!  The highlight of the show was the runway introduction of the participants of the ProjectCURVES™ workshop, all of whom strutted down the runway clad in signature ProjectCURVES™ t-shirts and jeans.  A total show-stopper!

The mission of ProjectCURVES™ is to become an educational portal and resource for aspiring plus models.  To accomplish this mission, ProjectCURVES™ will be held in several major cities in 2007.  Visit the event’s website (www.projectcurves.com) for a complete listing of upcoming cities.  The event also has a Myspace page:  www.myspace.com/plussizemodeling which features great video clip of  testimonials from participants of the Atlanta workshop.

ProjectCURVES™ Atlanta was produced by DeVoe Signature Events, Divas Unlimited Inc. and the Voluptuous Woman Company.  The event was sponsored in part by: Venus Imaging, Curvy Chick/Bombshell Magazine, Plus Model Magazine, Elegant Plus, Blissful Elegance, YTB Travel, Catch the Revelation Publishing, Sea Breeze Naturals, Nature’s Sunshine, Mother Knows Best Herbal Solutions, Driven Marketing, Soft Lips, Shecky’s Girls Night Out, Skin Milk, and Studio Primetime.

ProjectCURVES™ - Coming Soon to a City Near You!