Monday, 15 April 2013

Saffi's The Curve Project created to help other 'normal' sized women become models

Size 10 model dropped by agency for being 'too big' launches project to help 'normal' sized women break into thin-obsessed fashion industry

Saffi Karina, 27, failed to maintain size 8 figure when 'womanhood ensued'
At size 12-14, she became a successful plus size model
Now she wants to help other 'normal' sized women become models

PUBLISHED: 17:51, 15 April 2013 | UPDATED: 18:35, 15 April 2013

A model once dropped by an agency for being 'too big' now wants to help other 'normal sized' women break into the thin-obsessed fashion industry.

Saffi Karina, 27, from Wandsworth, began her modelling career when she was a size 10 but as 'womanhood ensued', she was told she was 'too big' to carry on working because of her curvy hips.

'I had only been working for a couple of years, and really loving it, when they dropped me. But I have 41-inch hips - they are pure bone, there is nothing I can do about them, they aren’t going anywhere. I had to work with what I’ve got,' she told the Evening Standard.

The Curve Project: Saffi Karina wants to show women you don't have to be thin to succeed in modelling

She took a break from modelling for a short time and then returned to a different agency as a size 12 to work as a plus size model. Since then she has featured in numerous advertising campaigns including those for Debenhams, Speedo, John Lewis and Bravissimo.

She said: 'As you grow older, you become more womanly and I actually didn’t want to change that, so I started looking for what else was out there. I began working as a plus-size model and it is a very positive and happy industry. I still got to do what I loved and travel the world.'

As a size 12-14, Saffi has had a successful career as a plus size model

'Too big': Size 12, Saffi was once dropped from an agency because of her curves but has since had a successful career as a plus size model, featuring in campaigns for Speedo, left, and Bravissimo, right

Workshops: The 27 year old now wants to help others break into the industry

Now she wants to help other aspiring models follow in her catwalk footsteps by showing them you don't have to be skeletal to succeed.

She has founded 'The Curve Project London' where she will hold workshops alongside fashion photographers, make-up artists and stylists to show people how to make it as a model.

She said the aim of The Curve Project is: 'To empower, educate and encourage young women to love and embrace the skin their skin. It strives to endorse a positive body image and act as role models to young women who previously thought 'thin' was the only way to get a foot in the fashion threshold.'

Championing curves: The project wants to help 'normal' sized women make it in modelling

She added that the project 'champions curves and diversity within fashion and beyond. We also aim to cultivate the potential curvy catwalk talent of the future'.

The 5ft 10in tall model believes there is currently a 'real thirst for 'normal' sized women, especially for commercial brands'.

London curves are the next big thing, says Saffi - Evening Standard

Saffi Karina, 27, said she decided not to change her womanly figure when the agency dumped her six years ago.

She has since worked on plus-size campaigns for Debenhams, Speedo, John Lewis and lingerie specialist Bravissimo. At 5ft 10in tall and now a size 12 to 14, she is hitting back at the so-called “size zero” fashion epidemic.

She said: “I had only been working for a couple of years, and really loving it, when they dropped me. But I have 41-inch hips — they are pure bone, there is nothing I can do about them, they aren’t going anywhere. I had to work with what I’ve got.

“As you grow older, you become more womanly and I actually didn’t want to change that, so I started looking for what else was out there. I began working as a plus-size model and it is a very positive and happy industry. I still got to do what I loved and travel the world.”

She founded the Curve Project London campaign last year after being contacted for advice by “ordinary girls” unable to achieve the skeletal look described recently as “Paris thin”.

High-profile fashion photographers, make-up artists, stylists and catwalk trainers will offer their expertise at her workshops, where women will be shown how to start a portfolio necessary to begin working as a model, and gather tips on capitalising on their assets. Miss Karina, of Wandsworth, said: “I started thinking there was more I could do with all my contacts in the industry. I thought up Curve Project London — it is more than a workshop, it’s a movement to empower women, to give them confidence and skills for life.

“There is no A-class guidance for plus-size models. I wanted to offer that in London. There is a real thirst for ‘normal’ sized women, especially for commercial brands. I want to strive to endorse a positive body image and act as a role model to young women who previously thought ‘thin’ was the only way to get a foot over the fashion threshold.”

Vogue last week became the first publication to sign up to a 10-point code of conduct for models’ working conditions. Drawn up by acting union Equity’s model committee, it includes set working hours, breaks, prompt payment and the provision of nutritious food.

Catwalk choreographer Les Child, involved in the masterclasses, said: “Plus-size women are more realistic and it gives other women an image they can relate to.”

Sarah Tankel Ellis, fashion stylist on ITV’s Lorraine show, said: “I’m so excited to be a part of such an empowering and innovative concept. It’s a fantastic initiative to encourage and develop aspiring models of all shapes and sizes.”

Friday, 5 April 2013

Video: Saffi features in Lorraines Fashion feature for Spring 2013

Spring chickens!

Published: Mon, 01 Apr, 2013

All this week we are stepping into spring with spring chickens from fashion to the latest techniques to stay young and beautiful
Today were brightening up our day with some warming Easter yellow spring fashion!

Saffi's sexy screen siren success

MsSAFFI_K Saffi K27 Mar

My attempt at Screen siren...🙈💄LOVE the hair from this shoot x

Welcome to Saffi Karina's Official Fan Blog