A woman who was deemed unfit for modeling has finally broken into the industry of her dreams by winning a contract with a lingerie brand.
Taylor Rhoden, a former student nurse from Los Angeles, was picked among almost 1,000 competitors to become the new face of underwear label Curvy Kate.
For years, Taylor, a size 12, was told she was ‘too curvy’ for catwalks and ‘too tall’ for commercial modeling, but yearned to see more women like her in the fashion world.
Big break: Taylor Rhoden, who was deemed unfit for modeling, has finally broken into the industry of her dreams by winning a contract with a lingerie brand
Winner: The former student nurse from Los Angeles, was picked among almost 1,000 competitors to become the new face of underwear label Curvy Kate
Judgement: For years, Taylor, a size 12, was told she was ‘too curvy’ for catwalks and ‘too tall’ for commercial modeling, but yearned to see more women like her in the fashion world
Opportunity: Curvy Kate ran an open casting call to pick its next model, and Taylor, who gave up nursing and moved to LA to pursue her modeling dreams, entered the competition
Curvy Kate ran an open casting call to pick its next model, and Taylor, who gave up nursing and moved to LA to pursue her modeling dreams, entered the competition, dubbed Star In A Bra, hoping it would give her a long-awaited big break.
After a round of live auditions, Taylor won the final vote, which was left up to the public. In addition to becoming the face of Curvy Kate, she has also won a modelling contract with True Model Management, an agency based in New York.
‘I’ve been turned away from many agencies due to my height. I’ve always been told that I’m “too tall”. Although I thought my height and look was beautiful and unique, I felt like the agencies never saw that,’ Taylor said.
‘It’s because of this that I entered Star in a Bra, in the wider modelling industry I am yet to see women that look like me, not only am I tall, I’m also plus size and I’m black, African-American, so I would really like to see someone that resembles me for once in the spotlight.’
At first, Taylor said she ‘literally could not believe’ she had won the competition.
‘It felt so surreal because I’ve been working so hard at turning my modelling dreams into my reality for so long and finally everything was coming to fruition,’ she said.
‘Through winning I’m hoping to bring a new look to Curvy Kate. I am not the traditional curve model, and I think that’s always a plus. I’m hoping that by adding me to the family, a different target population of women will also feel included: women of color and taller women
‘This is an opportunity for me to inspire women all over the world to love the skin they’re in.’
Picked: After a round of live auditions, Taylor won the final vote, which was left up to the public
Winner takes all: In addition to becoming the face of Curvy Kate, Taylor has also won a modelling contract with True Model Management, an agency based in New York
She did it! ‘It felt so surreal because I’ve been working so hard at turning my modelling dreams into my reality for so long and finally everything was coming to fruition,’ Taylor said of her win
Last month, Curvy Kate asked a group of women with larger breasts to do whatever they could, including cartwheeling and jumping around, to test the support of its newest strapless bras.
Curvy Kate claimed the garment could will provide as much support as any woman might need, even those ladies with very large breasts.
So confident was Curvy Kate in its claims that it asked a group of budding models of all shapes and sizes to put the design through a rigorous series of tests, doing everything they could to try and make themselves spill out of the bra, from dancing around the room to cartwheeling across the floor.
Each of the 20 women were given the chance to test the design out during a casting call in New York City, which was held as part of the competition now won by Taylor.
Trying it out: Last month, Curvy Kate asked a group of women, including Taylor (pictured) , to do whatever they could, including jumping around, to test the support of its strapless bras
Contest: Each of the 20 women were given the chance to test the design out during a casting call in New York City, which was held as part of the competition now won by Taylor
Gravity defying: A group of budding models happily put the bra through a series of very rigorous tests, including dancing and handstands
Design: Featuring foam lining, ‘inside sling support’ and four hook and eye fastenings at the back, the bra has been engineered to provide lift and support without slipping
The women, including Taylor, all jumped at the chance to proudly show off their curves while putting the bra through a great number of trials, all while being filmed.
The wannabe models were filmed throughout the test jumping, leaping, twirling, and jiggling around the studio – with some even going as far as to start doing gymnastics, performing cartwheels and headstands, and all while wearing nothing other than some panties and a bra.
And the women all managed to keep their breasts safely tucked into the bra, barely moving as they completed their rigorous movements.
Featuring foam lining, ‘inside sling support’ and four hook and eye fastenings at the back, the bra has been engineered to provide lift and support without slipping.
Two years in the making, it costs $75 and is available in three shades (black, white and nude) and comes in sizes 28D-40J.