Words matter. These are the best Philomena Kwao Quotes, and they’re great for sharing with your friends.
New York City is one of the best cities in the world for walking: it’s virtually impossible to get lost.
When I finally discovered the ‘Sports Illustrated’ swimsuit issue, I browsed through archives and saw a picture of an incredibly stunning model, Damaris Lewis. Her images inspired me, and I imagined being in the magazine myself. Never in a million years did I dream it would actually happen.
I think the real problem is all the negative connotations people have with that term. They think, ‘Oh my God! I don’t want to be ‘plus-size!” But people attach too much significance to terms. We can’t let these terms define us or our beauty.
By being present and being true, I believe that, in my own way, I am promoting diversity.
I try and work out as much as I can because when you exercise, it releases endorphins and makes you feel really good. I also make sure I schedule time with my friends, family, and loved ones because I realize that, as well as your physical well-being, you have to look out for your mental well-being, too.
I think it’s just that the fashion industry can only accept one thing at a time. It’s like, ‘OK, well, if we’re going to add plus, then let’s keep it hourglass and white.’
If you call me ‘fat,’ it doesn’t bother me because I just don’t care.
I’ve been lucky enough to do a few editorials in the U.K., but I’ve never even been on a casting for mainstream commercial work. When I try to understand it, I think people are scared to try something new.
If a brand wants a specific girl, they want a specific girl, wherever you are.
War and armed conflict disproportionately affect women and can turn what is supposed to be a joyous and beautiful experience – childbirth – into a horrific or even fatal one.
Growing up, I had body confidence issues, not really so much because of size but my skin color. I had trouble recognizing that the depth of my skin tone is really beautiful because whenever people referred to a beautiful black-skinned woman, you’d see Beyonce and Rihanna.
Women of all ethnicities, complexions, and sizes want to be able to wear makeup and nice clothes. No one wants to go out and feel like they’re substandard or that there’s only one mold that they don’t fit.
Women need to be empowered to shape their own livelihoods and become CEOs of their own lives. They must be allowed to take control of important life decisions that are so often decided by others.
I try my best to stay healthy by paying attention to the ingredients in foods and trying to make sure my food is organic and not full of sugar or preservatives. I also try to do at least 30 minutes of cardio every day in the gym.
Plus-sized women have been told for so long to cover up. Whether it’s with a one-piece, a tankini, a bikini with a skirt, high-waisted things, we’re always told to hide these things that society calls flaws.
I think, for so long, women of different sizes have been pigeonholed, and with every campaign, it’s always an adaptation of making fashion but for plus sizes. Sometimes it’s in a little bit of a negative way, and plus is always a little bit slow to be fashion forward.
There is beauty everywhere. But if I had to narrow it down, I absolutely adore Beyonce. She’s the ultimate icon for me. I also love Naomi CampbelI, Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, Daria Werbowy, and Genevieve Nnaji.
I have to congratulate L’Oreal on its True Match foundation range. It’s my go-to foundation, and I absolutely love it.
I love technology. I love the Internet.
When I started, there was only one other girl that I could name that was even close to my shade. I didn’t understand why there weren’t more black plus-size models with darker skin tones. It feels like the final frontier of beauty is to be black, to be plus, to have natural hair.
My journey into modeling began completely by chance. I was in school finishing up my master’s degree in health management and policy when a friend entered me into an online modeling competition.
The #SwimSexy campaign is redefining standards of beauty, and I’m proud to be a part of it. My hope is that this campaign connects with women and girls of all ages, body-types, races, and backgrounds.
Torrid has given me an amazing opportunity. I can reach out to different girls and help them realize that they are beautiful, too.
No woman anywhere should be denied access to quality healthcare because of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
Fat is fat. This goes back to the word ‘plus.’ We describe things. We are humans, and we need to describe things.
My best advice is to celebrate your own unique features and never put them down. There is beauty in individuality, and it’s so important to appreciate everything your body allows you to do. It’s OK to have a down day – we all do from time to time – but it’s not OK to compare yourself to others.
My mother was born in Ghana, but she moved to the U.K. when my sisters and I were born.
In Ghana, most of the women I know do not identify as sexy, and the reason may be cultural. With imported beauty standards from the West, it seems that many African women feel they need to be fair and slim to be beautiful.
Magazines don’t go far enough to be inclusive and have at least have one model representing every major skin tone.
The brands that choose to use me, my agency and social media have given me a face and a voice.
My mom and my sisters have helped me to be comfortable with who I am. It’s a process of loving yourself as you are. I can say that it’s been a journey. I see the changes little by little.
For me, less is more. I don’t often wear makeup, but when I do, a little concealer and some powder go a long way.
You can’t say you’re inclusive when you only have one plus-size, hourglass white model.
My goal is always to help other women with programs that help them live better lives, especially is areas where health care is missing. Both of my parents are from Ghana, where there is a need for health care in the smaller villages.
Women I’ve met in different countries have told me that seeing my face in magazines gives them the courage to love themselves.
I grew up in the U.K. and now reside in the United States, and my family is from Ghana.
I’m from Ghana, in West Africa, and all the women in Ghana absolutely love shea butter. We use it for everything, head to toe. I’ve used it all my life.
It’s refreshing to see plus women being treated as part of the fashion community as a whole and not just a separate piece or separate different thing.
Much noise has been about size diversity but not enough about skin tone diversity. It’s time for this to change.
There’s not many models in the U.S. that have my depth – like, really dark skin – that are also plus size. Skin color has been one of those things we haven’t really, really addressed on a large, widespread scale.
Everyone needs to realize the responsibility they hold and realize where they can make a difference.
Women are hit especially hard in regions of ongoing conflict. Before, during, and after conflict, women bear the brunt of the consequences of war. They are left as the providers and guardians, responsible for rebuilding their country one family at a time.
I want to use my voice to better health care for pregnant women.
I am from Ghana, and although Ghana is celebrated as a relatively peaceful country in a historically war-torn region, the issues of development and recovery are still apparent.
