Hope you enjoyed learning about Caribbean petite plus blogger Kenty of Kerai Kreative Style last week! This week, we’re featuring Texan tall plus size blogger Tameka of Embellished Dame. Blogging for only two years, Tameka is already blogging full-time and has recently started her own YouTube channel. Tameka talks all things fashion, beauty, and body image and is so supportive of other plus size bloggers. She is a plus size blogger YOU NEED TO KNOW!!
Meet Tameka of Embellished Dame!!
Blog: http://embellisheddame.com/
Age: 34
Height: 5’11”
Location: Houston, TX
How long have you been blogging? 2 years
What or who inspired you to become a fashion blogger? What led you to it?
Well, I have always been into fashion. As a teenager, there were not very many places for me to shop being that I was over a size 16 and stood tall at 5″11. I spent a lot of my youth feeling awkward, and out of place because I felt like I didn’t fit the mold of the typical teenage girl. Fast forward to adulthood, after I had my daughter 4 years ago, I came to an epiphany. I wanted my daughter to learn to be confident and feel beautiful by watching me as her example. In late 2014, a year after having my daughter, I started my blog which was great timing considering I was dealing with my own body challenges of getting used to my new body after having a baby.
Do you blog full-time, for fun, as a hobby? Share your evolution!
It definitely started as a hobby and something that I did to hold myself accountable, as far as getting up every day and presenting my best self to the world. I will admit, I definitely fell into a bit of a funk right after having my daughter as I was already plus size and gained additional weight from pregnancy. When I first started my blog, my readers were kind of on a journey with me as I learned how to dress my new body. With all the positive feedback and encouragement I received from women from everywhere, I decided to continue to grow my blog and spread my message of body positivity and to encourage others who may feel like because they are of a certain age, size, have kids etc. that it somehow limits them in accomplishing their dreams. In 2016, I stepped out on faith and started blogging full-time. I truly believe this is the best decision I could have ever made.
What is your favorite asset? Your legs, arms, waist? How do you play that up?
I guess I would say my waist. I play that up by wearing things that are high-waisted or fitted with a focal point that draws attention to my waist.
What are the challenges, if any, you face regarding being tall and plus size?
Shopping can be very challenging, particularly online, because I am both plus size and above average height (5 11”). The reality is clothing, plus size or not, is mostly made for average height women. There have been many instances where I will order an item off line based on how it looked on another woman and received it and it is entirely too short on me. Or not being able to pull jeans up past my thighs because the inseam is so short even though they are supposed to be my size.
What’s your favorite thing about being tall and plus size?
It was not until my college years that I began to accept my body for what it was and to be okay with being tall. It was a process, but I eventually grew to love my height. I realized that it made me different, and different is not a bad thing at all. Plus, being tall I always stand out in a room which over the years I learned was not a bad thing.
What’s your favorite thing about being a blogger?
What I love most about being a blogger, in particular a plus/tall blogger, is the impact I have on my followers. I love that I can be a face of encouragement to a woman who may feel that because of her size she shouldn’t rock a certain outfit. I also love the sisterhood I have been building with so many of my fellow curvy bloggers. I am fortunate to say I have met a lot of great women by being part of the plus blogging community. It’s also been nice to shop each others’ closets and be able to exchange outfit ideas with other plus size ladies.
Who/what are your favorite designers/brands?
ELOQUII, Society +, ASOS Curve, Boohoo, Ashley Stewart, Courtney Noelle, Zelie for She, Fashion to Figure, JIBRI……there are just so many!!!
Describe your personal style.
My personal style is just as free-spirited as my personality. I like to play around with different look depending on my mood or the occasion, but overall, I like to keep things simple and chic.
Which bloggers inspire you? Plus or straight size! Any bloggers currently on your radar?
There are so many!! Chardline of Chardline.com because her fashion sense is fantastic, and you can tell that she works really hard to put out a clean and professional product. She has accomplished so much as a blogger all while remaining humble and empowering other bloggers to achieve their goals.
The Curvy Fashionista, of course! Because she is one of the first to do it! If you want to know what the hot trends are, her website is where you should look first! She has mastered blogging with such grace and professionalism all while remaining down-to-earth and genuine. She has an impeccable reputation within this industry and that says a lot for a person who has been in this industry for as long as she has.
Thera Warren (cloudonefour.com) because just like myself she is a tall girl, mommy, and entrepreneur. On top of all, that she is super down- to-earth, a total boss babe, and her styling is just pure perfection!! My newest blogger crush is Blair of Note Blair. I love her style aesthetic.
What do you think about where plus size fashion is today versus a few years back?
I believe plus size fashion has come a long way. Unlike in the past, we have more stylish clothing options to choose from. I also have noticed that more plus size women have become comfortable with shopping online. There has also been more effort made by retailers towards having models that represent all sizes of the plus size spectrum. I believe that the sky is the limit from here, and the plus size industry will continue to expand. I look forward to seeing more plus size designers and opportunities for plus size women in the industry.
What do you think or hear from readers, is one of the biggest myths about plus size fashion?
There are so many myths out there, from “you shouldn’t show your arms if you’re plus size” to “you shouldn’t wear shorts,” and the list goes on. The biggest myth of them all is that plus size women are not confident and can’t possibly be happy with who they are or how they look. I have had readers write to me on many occasions and say “Wow, how are you so confident?” or “I wish I could be confident like that,” and I always think to myself “why wouldn’t I be, why wouldn’t you be?” Unfortunately, this false sense of self has been ingrained in us from society to think that we are less than or not beautiful because we aren’t a certain size.
Are you working on anything or have anything to share? Anything else you want The Curvy Fashionista’s readers to know?
I believe 2017 is going to be a great year for me! I recently launched my Embellished Dame YouTube Channel, that will include a collaboration of all the things I love – hair, beauty, fashion, girl talk…. you name it….it could possibly be on my channel. I also have a new website that is connected to the blog that includes my photography, events I will be attending etc., and I most recently became an S+ Style Agent for Society Plus.
Lastly, what does Curvy.Confident.Chic mean to you?
Curvy, Confident, and Chic means being confident in who you are, not being afraid to express yourself through your personal style while embracing the body you have been given.
Be sure to check out Tameka’s blog at EmbellishedDame.com!!!
Do you dig her style? Which look is your fave? Let’s talk about it below!!
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Looking for more plus size blogger style inspiration?
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