A Letter from the Editor-In-Chief, Marie Denee: 15 Years of Plus Size Fashion with TCF

Fifteen years. 15 Occasions. 3,590+ Articles. 850,000+ followers, followers, and subscribers from the US, Italy, and the UK to Australia, Canada, Brazil, Japan, and China. This yr’s birthday (Christmas to be precise) marks an anniversary that I by no means dreamed of reaching– marking 15 years (and counting) of The Curvy Fashionista bringing you the newest in plus measurement trend information, fashion, and assets! 

I believed for some time about which path I needed to go along with this reflection on the previous 15 years. Not solely have the plus measurement group and the fashion industry grown, developed, and reworked over time, however TCF and I have grown, developed, and reworked. Do I trend a “better of,” “high moments,” or a “what I’d prefer to see from plus measurement trend” method? Might that probably seize all the pieces I’ve to say?

This yr, particularly after the final two years, has been so impactful and transformational for me personally and professionally that it doesn’t make any sense to create a listicle. I’d quite share a mirrored image of this progress and the joy I’ve about what’s to come back… from the lens of a founder, an Editor-in-Chief, and a member of this group.

Reintroducing The Curvy Fashionista

So, the place do I start? Let’s first begin with the place I’m– as a result of this yr has been really a blessing in disguise– one I prefer to seek advice from as my Phoenix elevating from the ashes. This has been a yr of therapeutic. A yr of transition. A yr of schooling. A yr of basis. And better of all, a yr that has birthed a renewed pleasure and vigor that I missed! 

I need to admit… it was not till final yr that I actually realized what (and the worth of) what I had constructed. After a failed enterprise deal that eviscerated and deflated any sense of self, I’ve been on a transformational journey that has helped me understand my value, discover my confidence, and supply readability on what I used to be constructing and why. 

It’s been a journey that’s begged me to ask myself, “How am I showing up for me?!” How may I present up for my enterprise if I didn’t present up for myself? My group? My family and friends? 

Now that I’ve readability, permit me to reintroduce myself:

Whats up! My identify is Marie Denee, and I’m the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Curvy Fashionista. This reintroduction, getting extra private than I ever have, is my manner of exhibiting up for you. For TCF. For many who assist make TCF what it’s and might be. As a result of darling… this acutely aware confidence I’ve discovered? This self-awareness? This therapeutic? This drive and ambition? I’m sooooo geeked for what’s to come back. 

For my fellow entrepreneurs, you’ll perceive me after I say, “If you find yourself good, your enterprise is sweet” and vice versa! BUT! What occurs once you utterly neglect your self? I didn’t even understand that I had been pouring a lot of what I had and knew into TCF that I did not take care of a very powerful thing- ME. And I didn’t understand how vital I used to be within the equation that’s my enterprise. 

I let disappointments, heartbreaks, misplaced friendships, errors, and the concern of rejection, acceptance, or each dim my mild. I fell all the way in which again. I made myself small. Together with the despair that led to my remedy journey, I used to be carrying the residue from childhood traumas that I believed I had handled. It was there I spotted the necessity for the group– the group I had spoken about a lot. It was the impetus for launching our TCFStyle Lounge. I wanted that. I wanted YOU. However as a result of I fell thus far again, I didn’t know HOW to indicate up. 

It was with final yr’s divine realignment and repositioning that I actually realized, questioned, and really noticed the numerous errors and classes that I wanted to deal with and the way TCF was in its good place to develop and scale to larger heights. Divine timing. 

When the Scholar is Prepared, The Lesson Seems

I wrote a reflection on the BOMESI Accelerator Program, and shared how my new mentor helped appropriate my mindset and method to TCF and the enterprise of publishing. It was mind-blowing and eye-opening! It confirmed me a complete new world. 

You see – when I started TCF, I had no concept that this journey would deliver me right here! Running a blog was not a proper profession that you could possibly make a residing from. There was no marketing strategy. No technique or group to make it work. It was all natural progress and many leaps of religion. 

After a couple of cool campaigns (Evans, Chevrolet, Marina Rinaldi, Nordstrom, and Gap) and awards (The Root 100, Ebony Future50, and the FIIAs, amongst a couple of others), I knew the place I needed to go, however I had no identify for it or roadmap for the way to get there. 

I’m chuckling to myself as I write this in hindsight realizing how hilarious it was not realizing what I used to be constructing or what trade I used to be really aligning with. And I didn’t have the acutely aware confidence to make all of it occur. Even nonetheless – my massive furry audacious objective of TCF sitting subsequent to WhoWhatWear, The Zoe Report, or Refinery29 was by no means a matter of if I may do it, however how. 

And it felt just like the spirit answered my query. 

People say when the coed is prepared the lesson will present itself, proper? Properly, this yr has proven that to be so true for me! Because of the BOMESI Accelerator and different divinely aligned of us, I’ve a transparent path of the place I need and must go, the instruments that I would like, and the ecosystem wanted to help me and my imaginative and prescient. Shifting ahead, one of many methods I’m honoring all that TCF is and will be is by not figuring out as a weblog, however as a trend digital media writer.

For the “how”, that is the place the New Voices 2023 Madam CJ Walker PACE Bootcamp comes into play in relation to my private stage up as a enterprise proprietor and founder. 

My private journey has been loads of realizing and acknowledging my errors, studying from them, however NOT beating myself up about it (which is hilariously arduous to do as a Virgo with a Cap moon IYKYK). It additionally means studying the way to ask for assist and never judging myself for momentarily forgetting that I’m not a Superwoman. It additionally means studying the way to acknowledge, obtain, acknowledge, and rejoice myself– interval. 

 “When you already know higher, you do higher.”

Actually all people and their mama

What to Anticipate in 2024 from The Curvy Fashionista

Whereas we make this transition, there might be small adjustments right here and there as we tinker with the brand new instruments and assets at our disposal. You’ll be able to anticipate to see new matters, deeper dives, and new faces on our platforms. Now, I wish to share how I see TCF rising and what you possibly can anticipate from me. 

This new chapter is all about managed progress, leaning into the novelty, and being intentional. Up to now, TCF grew hella quick in sure areas- solely to should contract when it didn’t work or after I had no concept what I used to be doing. So, now? It’s all about schooling, technique, planning, and audacity. 

Since I’m extra conscious of the enterprise of publishing, I now know and see the place we’ve got alternatives for progress. I need the interviews, the in-depth reporting, the introduction of matters that we love, however by no means understood the way to roll it out– which brings me to Micah. 

Our Managing Editor, Micah Gause (please welcome her, y’all) is such a breath of recent air of path, group, and technique to the staff. Her content material technique expertise, resourcefulness, and sweetness background, paired together with her being a plus measurement individual residing on the East Coast deliver a ravishing steadiness and path to our content material! 

As I discover ways to defer all issues content material to her, I might be engaged on driving the imaginative and prescient of the model. Occasions, partnerships, and this *new & shiny* column. You will note extra of ME in new methods. Now that I’m again residence in Southern California, I’ll make certain to indicate up in ways in which problem my previous Most cancers rising hermit consolation. 

However that is the place I would like your assist. 

As I work on exhibiting up for me and TCF, may I’ve your help right here? As I be taught to ask for assist, I believe my first step is asking you to assist maintain me accountable. If I slide again into being quiet otherwise you wish to problem me to indicate up extra, please don’t be shy… tag me in! 

I might additionally love your help within the feedback. Sharing our content material on social. Subscribe to our publication. Reply to our newsletters when you’ve got a problem, query, or want some recommendation! If you’re on X (previously referred to as Twitter), cease by and say hi to me @mariedenee! That’s the place I’m THE most energetic! 

I actually wouldn’t be capable of develop with TCF if it had not been for every certainly one of you studying all through the years. So, for that, I thanks. Thanks for each manner you’ve proven up for me, even after I didn’t know, couldn’t, or was afraid to indicate up for myself. 

I hope that you’re prepared for what’s to come back as a result of I do know that I *lastly* am. Thanks so rattling a lot. Right here’s to fifteen years, and searching ahead to fifteen+ extra!