Full Figured Fashion Week® 2013 Special Wrap Up Interviews – Ana Garcia
By Sharon Quinn
Casting Director FFFWEEK 2013
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. 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 below:
Tinder Badhesha – We took note of Tinder from the moment she walked in the door she was beautiful to look at but her pictures were absolutely amazing! Her beauty was unlike anything we had ever seen before in plus modeling. Both Gwen and I took one look at her photos and said to each other “Oh yeah…we’re definitely taking her!”
(Photo by Alec J. Turner)
What’s your name and where are you from? Tinder Badhesha, and I am from Los Angeles, California.
How long have you been modeling? I have been modeling for 2 years.
Number of years (if any) you’ve participated in FFFWeek®? 2013 was my first year participating in FFFWeek®
In what city did you attend the casting call? I attended the Los Angeles casting.
What was the casting experience like for you?I was a little nervous because I did not know what to expect, but the casting team made me feel comfortable and it was a very quick casting.
Tell me about your FFFWeek® experience and how it has affected your life/career? My FFFWeek® experience was amazing! I have not been this challenged by something in a very long time and this experience has helped me feel better about myself and my abilities to succeed in anything I put my 100% effort into. It was an honor to be among some of the most beautiful women around the US and to be coached by the leading experts in the Plus Size industry. And the most enriching part for me was all of the friendships that I made with the other models.
As far as how FFFWeek® has impacted my career, all I can say for now is that some of the most important people who play a major role in this industry got to see me in action. I made so many new connections, and we will see in the next few months how much more this event has enhanced my career as a model.
What was your Favorite moment during FFFWeek® 2013? My favorite moment was representing designer Rue114 at the press reception. The outfit the designer chose for me was one I had my eyes on. I felt absolutely perfect in that outfit, and to have been chosen to represent the FFFWeek® Designer of the Year was amazing.
How important do you think an event like FFFWeek® is and why? I believe that FFFWeek® is one of the major events that bring a lot of awareness to the plus size industry and helps generate more of a demand for plus size clothing options for women all over the world. This event is important for the longevity of the industry. It’s the tree where other ideas can branch off from and help strengthen and grow the industry.
How and/or where can your newfound fans reach you?
My fans can reach me at www.facebook.com/TinderBadheshaPlusModel or follow me on Instagram.
Check out the entire Full Figured Fashion Week recap in this month’s issue.
