Anna Scholz Blog

Plus size American model Jennie Runk says she was completely surprised that her H&M beachwear campaign would cause such a stir. Since she had never really considered how she looks in a bikini, she was surprised that so many people were pleased to see her curvy figure in the campaign photos.

In fact, says Runk, some women have confessed that her photos have “inspired them to try on a bikini for the first time in years. This is exactly the kind of thing I’ve always wanted to accomplish, showing women that it’s OK to be confident even if you’re not the popular notion of ‘perfect’.”

Runk has decided to use the attention she has received “as an opportunity to make the world a little nicer by promoting confidence.” She especially hopes to reach out to teenage girls as she had an awkward adolescence and feels it is a difficult period to navigate. “When our bodies change and we all start to look totally different, we simultaneously begin feeling pressured to look exactly the same,” says Runk. “This is an impossible goal to achieve and I wish I had known that when I was 13.”

Having finally survived her teenage years, “I feel compelled to show girls who are going through the same thing that it’s acceptable to be different,” Runk explains. “You will grow out of this awkwardness fabulously. Just focus on being the best possible version of yourself and quit worrying about your thighs, there’s nothing wrong with them. … After all, I never thought of myself as model material but then I was discovered at a Petsmart, while volunteering in my too-short sweat pants no less.”

Runk acknowledges that “there are also negative connotations associated with thinness. Just as bigger women get called fat or chunky, thin women get called gangly or bony. …There’s no need to glamorise one body type and slam another,” she says. “We need to stop this absurd hatred towards bodies for being different sizes. It doesn’t help anyone.”

When she was first discovered, Runk was given the option to lose weight and try to maintain a US size four (a UK six or eight), or to gain a little to be a US size 10 (a UK 12 or 14) – and start a career as a plus-size model. Since she knew her body was never meant to be a size four, she decided to go with plus modelling.

The self-professed “quiet type who reads books, plays video games, and might be a little too obsessed with her cat” seems to be doing pretty well so far!

Read Runk’s full self-penned article from BBC New Magazine.

We love seeing what new heights plus model Robyn Lawley’s career is reaching. A shoot for the November issue of Cosmopolitan Australia showed her frolicking in the blue lagoon at Aitutaki, Cook Islands. As ever, she looks amazing.

She also recently landed a contract to become the first plus model for Ralph Lauren. And many of you will remember her stunning shoot in Morocco for Anna Scholz’s Spring-Summer 2012 White Label collection.

See more of Robyn’s Cosmo Australia shoot here!

Danielle Line, plus-size model and creator of the cool new blog, The Plus Chronicles, posted some gorgeous photos of her wearing Anna’s forest print digital jersey gathered panel dress on her birthday.

“Because of the fabulous colors and print I decided to go simple and accessorize with a chunky bangle, matching earrings, and my go-to gold Carlos heels,” Danielle reports. “It is sexy and curve-hugging but not super clingy, so it allowed me to get my dance on with my girls.”

“Anna has an amazing way of making curvy women feel beautiful and confident with her bold prints, elegant draping, and impeccable fit. Most full figured women I notice will shy away from bright colors and bold prints, but I truly embrace them and hope you will too.Once you try on an Anna Scholz dress I guarantee you will be hooked.”

Thanks Danielle and happy belated birthday!

We think you make one sexy Leo…r-r-r-ow!  Read more of Danielle’s blog here!

Muse modeling agency posted this hot promotional video on YouTube.
It features the agency’s amazing curvy models posing for the camera, and includes Harriet Coleman, who is the model for Anna’s Spring-Summer 2012 Black Label campaign imagery.

Daphne Ooms, our agent for the Benelux region, reported back to us about the Plus Model Awards event she attended this past autumn in Belgium.

Daphne wrote: Plus Model Awards is a Belgian modelling contest with just that bit extra!

The grand finale of edition 2011 was held on the 10th of November. Eighteen finalists gave their absolute best in a spectacular catwalk show.

Sarah Schroeyens, last year’s winner, passed the crown to the 2011 Plus Model Mélanie Van Houdt.

The Winner

Anna Scholz provided the dresses for the “cocktail” theme, and Mélanie also received a long black sequinned evening dress from Anna as a prize.

The girls really rocked the stage, which was much appreciated by the large crowd that showed up for this event.

Our friends at Madison Plus recently shared with us their exclusive interview conducted by plus-size supermodel Ashley Graham of the newest rising stars at Ford+ modelling agency, Alyona and Sabina.

Also, check out Madison Plus’s exclusive photo shoot with Alyona and Sabina in New York’s Central Park.