Meet some Plus Size bloggers from SPAIN! by Cristina Bonilla
Being a blogger seems like a dream. Being a blogger is not all about posting their daily pictures or updating us with the latest events. One day they are shooting pictures from one city to another showing off their curves, going to events meeting new bloggers, and sharing with us their journey. Take a closer look and meet the top plus size bloggers from Spain.
Meet Ana Pizarro
http://www.theduchessbyana.com/
instagram: analapizarro
What made you start a plus-size blog?
I started my blog because in Spain I did not identify myself with the type of bloggers I followed. I noticed that many women had the same demand, so I started to focus my blog from the point of view of a larger woman, claiming our right to have a presence in the world fashion. At that time, I saw it tremendously necessary give that the fat woman was rarely represented in the mass-media. I also followed bloggers like Nicolette Mason, Gabifresh or Nadia Aboulhosn, who in many ways, inspired me to start this exciting adventure
What Spanish designers inspire you?
I love Del Pozo, María Escoté, Lydia Delgado, Teresa Helbig…There are so many who inspire me.
What is it like to be living in Spain as a plus size person?
Personally, I do not feel like I’m from another planet because I’m fat. I am just like any other person and I live very happy.
What do plus size women in Spain usually look for in their clothing?
Generally, what we are looking for is comfort, garments that adapt well to the body and that enhances the shapes well and obviously that the quality and price ratio is reasonable.
What are your favorite places to shop at?
ASOS, Violeta by Mango, H&M are the stores I go to the most when I’m looking for something concrete because they never disappoint me.
What is your favorite plus size event?
Unfortunately, in Spain I have not been to any that was worth it. Few things like that are done here
What role do you think social media plays in plus size fashion today?
In this case, I think that social networks play a really significant role. For many women Facebook or Instagram has been a fundamental tool to raise their voice, to feel free and empowered. Clearly it had a determining role, it is a great speaker for all those who have suffered the stigma and we want to end it in a clear way
Where would you like to be in blogging in 5 years from now?
Maybe I am optimistic, but honestly I would like things to have changed by then and not have to be claiming the same as now. Hopefully this will really move forward and we will not have to tear down the stigma again and again. What I would like is that at some point we stop focusing on stigma from victimhood and start doing it from feminism.
If VolUp2 were to come to Spain, what is the best city for us to visit?
Madrid, with no doubt.
Meet Laura Martin Leyva
What made you start a plus-size blog?
I started teaching makeup, reviews and characterizations. Then, little by little, I began with poses and Body Positive, it makes me feel very good to help people, whether it’s putting on make-up or feeling good about themselves. It is very satisfying.
What Spanish designers inspire you?
They all bring a special touch. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada with colors, Balenciaga with its sobriety and Adolfo Dominguez with its simplicity.
What is it like to be living in Spain as a plus size person?
Sometimes complicated. It is not completely normalized and in some shops we are still called “Special Sizes” as if having extra pounds was to be special! I think we still have a lot to move forward.
What do plus size women in Spain usually look for in their clothing?
They look for the same nice clothe that normal sizes do. As simple as that. You go to the sections of large sizes and some shops still have huge coats that hide your curves. Its frustrating!
What are your favorite places to shop at?
H&M, Zara, Mango cannot be missed. Also Inside also has a lot of variety.
What is your favorite plus size event?
I love when people like Mariana Rinaldi organize fashion shows, they are great.
What role do you think social media plays in plus size fashion today?
Right now a very important one, I think is the medium that gives more visibility to all sizes, there is a lot of self-disclosure and that is wonderful. It is also a double-edge sword because it is a global showcase in which you expose yourself.
Where would you like to be in blogging in 5 years from now?
I am happy with what I do, I just do not want to give up my ideas. I would like to reach more people every time, to tell everyone without fear that they should love themselves as they are.
How are plus size people seen in the Spanish society?
A little displaced, maybe. No longer just the large sizes. If you leave a bit of the establishes canon, it automatically moves you in society. In the own advertising they take normal models that simply have curves and they sell them to them like big statures. I think it is distorting the image of what is a large size and that can lead to many insecurities because if you have a body similar to that model you assume that you are “big size” or “fat” when that is not true.
If VolUp2 were to come to Spain, what is the best city for us to visit?
Barcelona without a doubt! It has a lot of history, good beaches, interesting places and it is the capital of Fashion!
Meet Jennypher Aller Marquez
Facebook: secretosbasicosdebelleza
http://www.secretosbasicosdebelleza.com
What made you start a plus-size blog?
Actually, this was an adventure in which I was involved almost without realizing it. It all started with me having a personal blog, in which I simply talked about my feelings, to vent my feelings. I met many people, and among them I discovered the blogs of beauty and makeup, which at that time were much more popular. At that time in my life, I was not doing too well, personally and with myself, but little by little I was introduced to the world of beauty, I began to talk about it in my blog and I was making known. Shortly after, they offered me the possibility of acting as a model, and participating in Fashion Week, and from then on I started my career in fashion. I began to feel more sure of myself, and to work more on myself. In loving myself as I am. That made me want to share more my style, my way of seeing and living fashion and my experience in the modeling sector. I ended up deriving my makeup blog, to a more fashionable blog, in which I sometimes include makeup. Since my family has an online makeup storewww.selkiscosmeticos.com, and I've always loved it. Both the world of fashion, and the world of beauty. But seen everything from within, it is much more exciting. I simply felt that I had something to contribute, a lot to say and show. And it has always been easier for me to write, than to speak. So ... that's how it all began!
What Spanish designers inspire you?
Many, really. I find inspiration in almost everything. I love seeing their creations, from the most famous designers, to others that may be starting right now. For example, I am very impressed by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, her designs and fashion shows are always so full of energy and life, I love it. As well as Marta del Pozo, and the elegance that she conveys in each of her designs, and photo sessions.
What is it like to be living in Spain as a plus size person?
I feel it is still difficult, society still does not accept a large body, and criticism is daily. However, maybe I am being innocent, but I see small advances, and that makes me feel optimistic about it. As if all the work, that all the models or influencers of the sector do, really work. My childhood and adolescence were hard, but they forged the person that I am today. For me, right now it is perhaps a little easier. In some way I have managed to be surrounded by an environment of wonderful people, and to create a family in my social networks, of followers who give a lot of love. Yes, I get hate sometimes, but the love I get is so great, it goes totally unnoticed. I feel very lucky in that sense, many girlfriends bloggers or models, they get too much hate, and it's very unfair. Nobody deserves that, ever. There is too much hate in this world, let's make love more.
What do plus size women in Spain usually look for in their clothing?
Do not hide your curves or hide your body with wide garments. What we are looking for today are garments that favor our bodies. We also use necklines, skirts or short dresses. And above all, modern clothing and not the typical. We like fashion, and when it comes to the plus size garments, we are happy. I think I can only speak for myself, really, but I love when a garment is daring, and breaks all the stereotypes of what a plus size girl should wear.
What are your favorite places to shop at?
Today I feel that what I have most in my closet are clothes from Xehar, Yours Clothing Fashion Nova , Taille Plus ... they are online stores that I love to enter, because they are always including new things, with the trends of moment. As a physical store, I also like, sometimes,H&M or Ms Mode
What is your favorite plus size event?
Here we do not really have many specific events for girls of large size, however right now here in Asturias are beginning to have more fashion show of plus size girls. And even inclusive beauty contests, in which girls of all sizes enter. And that is wonderful.
What role do you think social media plays in plus size fashion today?
Social media are important at all levels. But perhaps in fashion, what helps us is being able to reach all kinds of clothes and trends of the moment. They help us to keep up with the influencers, to see how the garments can be combined, or how they are simply in women with different body types.
Where would you like to be in blogging in 5 years from now?
It is rare to think about where I would like to be in 5 years, when this summer just 5 years ago that I started with this blog. Although Blogger has been 9 years, with the fashion blog, I have already completed 5. So I guess what I would like, is just keep growing, be able to reach more people. Serve as a help and speaker for the body positive. And for the plus size fashion. I would love to have the opportunity to work with more brands, and get involved in more projects. Be more active within this community. But, I am already planning many things, so ... time to time, everything will come. If I am something, it is patient.
How are plus size people seen in the Spanish society?
As I told you at the beginning, there is still a lot of work to be done. If it is true that it is said that large sizes or curvys are fashionable, or are popular right now. And maybe a little bit, in the sense that there is a lot of talk about it. However, that also brings a lot of hatred, and that shows. Especially on social media, but also on a day-to-day basis. People who stop people on the street, or in restaurants, to tell them that they should go on a diet and judge them without really knowing the person. As I said, there is a lot of work to do, but every time we are more, those who fight for acceptance and respect, we deserve.
If VolUp2 were to come to Spain, what is the best city for us to visit?
I am from Asturias, which is located in the north of Spain. And it is without a doubt a wonderful city, that I adore, full of beautiful nature. Regarding the largest cities ... Maybe Madrid, Barcelona, r Seville. But Spain is full of wonderful places to visit :)
Meet Cristian Vargas Paris
Agency: MADmodels
Cristian Paris (@cristian.paris) • Instagram photos and videos
What made you start a plus-size blog?
Well to be able to promote and promote the diversity of sizes in men's fashion, and be up to date with the new influences and trends.
What Spanish designers inspire you?
I can not say that they inspire me, but some that have open my eyes are for example Maria Fisherman and David Delfin.
What is it like to be living in Spain as a plus size person?
It is difficult to find my size so I prefer to dress as simple as possible, jeans or pants and plain white or black shirt.
What do plus size men in Spain usually look for in their clothing?
To be able to find variety in design and style in large sizes, which is difficult and scarce.
What are your favorite places to shop at?
I really like to be simple when it comes to dressing up but with clothes that fit and go with my figure, right now I really like Next, Pull & Bear and Levi
What is your favorite plus size event?
For now, I have not had the opportunity to attend any plus size event.
What role do you think social media plays in plus size fashion today?
To spread diversity and integrate new generations. To be able to promote the fashion of big sizes creating the opportunity to see how people of big sizes dress and feel good with itself and its look.
Where would you like to be in blogging in 5 years from now?
To be able to have a significant Instagram with respect to fashion in large sizes in Spain and Europe in general.
How are plus size people seen in the Spanish society?
From my own experience, we are integrated more and more but we are still a bit lonely on the subject of fashion, so it is complicated, you can not enter any store because you probably will not have your size and that is something that you always have to consider.
If VolUp2 were to come to Spain, what is the best city for us to visit?
Well certainly Madrid and Barcelona, re quite different cities, with a great artistic, architectural and political history, where you can also enjoy the incredible nature that surrounds them.