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Full Figured Fashion Week® 2013 Special Wrap Up Interviews – Stephanie Albanese

Full Figured Fashion Week® 2013 Special Wrap Up Interviews

by Sharon Quinn

Casting Director FFFWeek 2013

Well if you don’t know by now people, you’d better ask somebody!!! This year’s production of Full Figured Fashion Week ® 2013 will definitely go down in history as one of the best showcases we have ever put together.

The road to FFFWeek® 2013 was a fun, but definitely grueling one.  Gwen DeVoe and I kicked off a 14 city casting tour that was sponsored by Lane Bryant® beginning in Los Angeles, California on December 8, 2012.  Although traveling almost every weekend while maintaining a full time job can be demanding on your body.  I must tell you that this was one of the most fulfilling casting tours I have ever been on.  Over 1500 women turned out for us to meet, greet and check out their runway struts.  Out of that 1500, I had to narrow the selections down to a scant 50 models – this alone was one of the hardest tasks I have ever had to complete.  In the end it really came down to the photos that each model submitted.  Very few models stood out in my mind after each of the castings so their photographs REALLY had to be strong. 

The directive that comes from Ms. DeVoe every year is to “Keep it fresh and keep it diverse”, so that means that I am always on the look out for new faces and I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw on the road from the minute I hit the West Coast!

Although I would have loved to interview all 50 models for this article, that wouldn’t be realistic since that would pretty much take up more time than I had to meet this deadline.  So I sent 10 questions in regards to their FFFWeek® 2013 experience to a few of the models that “stood out” to me (for reason known only to me) and I am presenting their answers.

Stay tuned all week for more interviews from some of your favorite FFFWEEK models.

 

 #FFFWEEK

(Photo by Alec J. Turner)

 

Stephanie Albanese – Something about Stephanie took my breath away from the moment she arrived at the Denim & Diamonds launch party on June 17th. I didn’t really remember her from the casting but as soon as she walked up I was in her face, tall, long and lean the first thing that came out of my mouth was “Oooh!!! Who are you??? I still can’t put my finger on what it is….she just….Smolders.  I love her look!

What is your name and where are you from?  Stephanie Albanese. Atlanta GA

 How long have you been modeling? 6 years 

 Number of years (if any) you’ve participated in FFFWeek®?  This is my first time!

 In which city did you attend the casting call?  Atlanta, Georgia

 What was the casting experience like for you?   It was scary and exciting at the same time…there were so many beautiful girls that showed up and showed out! I had fun standing in line chatting with the other girls and admiring all the cute clothes Lane Bryant had in the store!

Tell me about your FFFWeek® experience and how it has affected your life/career? Full Figured Fashion Week® allowed me to make so many connections and opened doors for me that would otherwise be closed. Sharon and Gwen gave me the opportunity to meet not only potential clients, but also allowed me to meet girls just like myself from across the country.

 What was your favorite moment during FFFWeek® 2013?  Meeting Madeline Figueroa- Jones, The Editor in Chief for Plus Model Magazine…I got all flushed and excited!

How important do you think an event like FFFWeek® is and why? FFFWeek® is vital. It brings attention to the curvy woman’s fashion needs and proves that you don’t have to be a size 2 to look and feel beautiful. There is a health and body love revolution going on, and FFFWeek® is at the forefront.

How and/or where can your newfound fans reach you? 

 I can be reached at stephanieplus.Blogspot.com or salvagedgarden.tumblr.com  or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Albanese/338121772873073?fref=ts

 

Check out our Full Figured Fashion Week Recap in the July 2013 Issue of PLUS Model Magazine

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