My Shape, My Silhouette, I’m Confident – Sneak Peak into Plus Size Model Angellika Mortons New Documentary
Angellika Morton’s name was mentioned numerous times in our January “Icon” issue so we decided to catch up with her and we are so glad that we did. Angellika is still booking jobs after 20 years in the plus size industry and is on the brink of something new.
With stereo types of bigger women taking place on a living room couch, Angellika is set to set to show another image of the plus size woman. One which is beautiful, sexy, confident and living life.
Maddy: Tell me a little about yourself:
Angellika: I started modeling in Washington, DC in the mid eighties. I was sitting with my mother in a restaurant and this lady, who owned her own agency in Virginia, asked me if I wanted to model. I was okay with it, so I got some bookings with her as a straight size model.
I came to NY and started to look for an agency. I walked into this mall agency and the receptionist told me they were not looking for models like me. In the meantime, Time Magazine had just come out with an article about how the “mixed” models were in high demand. As I was walking back to the elevator, the owner of the agency came running behind me and asked me where I was going. She asked me in, sent me to a photographer to do a test and I worked off that one picture the entire summer.
This is how my career started, while I was in college. The agency was eventually sold and I was in between agencies. My body began to change and I ended up with Ford as a plus size model.
Maddy: So how was it going from straight size modeling to plus size modeling? Were you treated any different?
Angellika: The only difference I have seen is that in the plus size industry we are each other’s enemy. For instance, I did this booking with a model – she was biracial as well. We looked nothing alike by the way, and after the booking she went back to the agency and said that I had said something inappropriate. I went to the agency; I asked if they could call the client. They called the client and they explained that we had all been laughing and joking around but that nothing was said that was out of line. As we hung up with the client, “the model” walked into the agency. She knew right then and there something was going on so I was a lady, and I walked out.
At the end of the day she called and apologized but it was all so unnecessary. So I feel like in this industry we are not as supportive as we should be.
Maddy: For those newbie’s who don’t know you, what were some of our clients?
Angellika: Talbots, Catherines (I still shoot for them), Lane Bryant, Evans, Ulla Popken, Just My Size and others. There is still more that I feel like I can do but most of the work I did was catalog. I did MODE Magazine often as well, but the thing plus size girls don’t often get are campaigns. We don’t get as many campaigns as the straight size industry. I don’t understand why a plus girl can’t do a beauty campaign.
Maddy: You’ve been in the business for twenty years, how do you feel about the aging models that are going under the knife, getting botox, liposuction and other surgeries in order to continue as a fashion model?
Angellika: Well the fakest thing about me is my extensions. That’s about it! I go to the gym a lot during the week. If you take care of your body, it will take care of you.
Maddy: Well let’s talk about that. You’re in great shape.
Angellika: I’ve always been very active since I was a kid. As an adult, you just have to find creative ways to get your work out. Right now I go to the gym and I box.
Maddy: You were mentioned a lot in the Icon Issue, Michele Weston loved working with you because you had no issues with your body and if you were asked to roll around in sand, you did it.
Angellika: Actually I did do that for her, they never used the photos but I did it. The one picture that became really popular was the one of me walking in a dress towards the camera. That was the picture the magazine used at bus shelters. It was a big deal because the dress was nearly see-thru.
Maddy: Do you feel like the plus size industry has truly embraced the plus size woman?
Angellika: Well it would be great if the surges of popularity for the industry were not based around eating disorders. What about those of us that are just this size, and never had an eating disorder. I think we should be talking about something positive and celebrate those women that just love their bodies.
If you look back at the supermodels, they were not as skinny as they are now, the Cindy Crawfords of my day were size 6 and 8 and now we are trying to push those numbers into plus sizes.
Maddy: Yes, there is something VERY wrong with this picture!
One of the things I learned from doing the Icon Issue is that just because you’re a model, does not mean that you are confident and love your body. I want to talk about your video and why you decided to do it.
Angellika: I’m doing this documentary/ reality show about my life. It’s called My Shape, My Silhouette, I’m Confident. It’s about me and about the respect I believe we should demand as women.
I met this man at a red carpet event, he’s from Zaire but was living in Paris and we totally hit it off and he asked if he could do a story on me. He was very well aware that in Paris plus size women don’t have access to clothing like we do here in the states. We decided to put this together, and show the life of a plus size woman who happens to be in the plus size industry.
My purpose is to show Madison Avenue that we don’t have to be skinny to sell a product. For instance, here I am going to the gym, why can’t we sell sneakers?
We are still filming, so we created a trailer for you and your viewers to see.
ANGELLIKA (MODEL)