We’re excited to have the beautiful Samantha Lebbie on the cover of our November 2015 issue. She’s not only beautiful but down-to-earth, genuine, determined and hard-working. She started out her career with one photo shoot and a walk on the Full Figured Fashion Week Runway and those two moments catapulted her career into a successful one.
Today, you can see her working for plus size fashion retailer Ashley Stewart and on the pages of Essence Magazine. And Ebony Magazine calls her one of the “Top 5 Black Models in the Plus Industry“.
Get to know her better in her exclusive interview with Editor-in-Chief Madeline Jones in this month’s issue…
Maddy: What do you think was your big break in your modeling career?
Samantha: My big break happened when I met the Creative Director for Ashley Stewart at Full Figured Fashion Week 2012. She gave me a chance. I wasn’t signed with an agency and I had only been modeling for six months, so the opportunity I was given was life changing and beyond amazing. I was seen in stores all over the country and that moment was surreal.
Maddy: Being a model is very demanding on your body and psyche. How do you maintain a healthy grasp on it all?
Samantha: As a model, I am faced with many demands on my mind and body. Demands from my agency, from my fan base, from the brands I work with, and the demands I place on myself. The stress of all the demands can make you feel insecure. However, I use my role as a plus model, to not only inspire others, but use as a constant reminder to myself that with confidence and self acceptance, anything is possible.
Read more of this interview here where Samantha talks about how she feels about the term “plus size”, her advice to aspiring plus models (a must-read!) and more.
To see Samantha’s online portfolio at the IPM Models website, click here.