Originally published PLUS Model Magazine 1/01/2010
Makeup Artist are a dime a dozen but a good makeup artist is more than just someone who has a great makeup kit. These people are called “artist” because of the talent they bring to each project they touch.
Former plus size model, Marlene Hoffman, is sweet, talented and stands behind the plus size industry 100%. With her new makeup line, Naked Minerals, she is devoted to help women feel and look their best.
[Maddy] Before you became a makeup artist, you were a plus size model. Can you tell us a little about your earlier days in the plus size industry?
[Marlene] Actually I decided to try plus size modeling hoping it would help take my makeup career to the next level. You see, at the time I lived in Cleveland where my makeup options were running out. I was lucky enough to be represented by one of only two legitimate agencies in town (the other agency did not even represent plus models at all). I remember that I alone represented the entire plus board for my agency, which by the way treated me like dirt.
I decided to try my luck with a bigger well known agency in Chicago. There was no plus board and we were mixed in with the commercial talent but there was a lot more work. Unfortunately I was still treated badly. Even when you booked jobs the treatment was not much better. You were called fat to your face! Skinny models really tormented you and I would hear comments like “what is she doing here? She is not a real model”. You always felt insignificant and like the step child no one wanted. It was really hard on my self esteem. The only reason I tolerated the abuse was because I was getting booked as a makeup artist.
As time passed I began to get angry about the extreme prejudice, especially after I learned more about the statistics of who I represented, which is the majority of America. I remember that was a real turning point for me and for the first time I wanted to model because I wanted to stand up for myself. I wanted to be a part of the size acceptance movement. By the time I came to California I considered myself a plus size activist more than a plus size model. My makeup career was really in full swing by then and modeling was getting harder to fit into my schedule but I managed to stay in it enough to watch it grow, slowly gain acceptance and better jobs with better pay come along.
[Maddy] I think that if models today had to endure half of this they would surely give up quickly.
[Marlene] I must admit, I get real upset when I hear “newbie” plus models complain about how tough it is because they actually have it a lot easier. There are far more opportunities available to them now than ever before, they are treated with respect and get paid the same rate as the thin models (which is huge…no pun intended). There is so much to be grateful for, yet still a lot to fight for. I’m just proud that I was actually a part of the initial plus size movement and I sincerely hope I will still be around to witness true size acceptance one day.