Model Anna Clement Explains Why Women Should Be Called 'Curve' Not 'Plus-Size'

OK!: How did you break into the modeling world?

Anna: I was actually working for the army back home in Mississippi. I loved my job, it was great and I had no intentions of doing anything else until my Major came to us and told us everybody is kind of coming home from the war so our job was slowly kind of fading out. I decided I’d go to Los Angeles to take a makeup artistry course to build a new career. I went out there for the course and last few days instructors brought in models for us to do their makeup and then she’d take pictures of them to build our makeup portfolio. So she came to me because one of the girls didn’t show up for the class one day. She said ‘I think you have a good look. Why don’t you sit in and be one of the models for the day?’ I did and when the photos came back she said ‘I think these are really great. You should send them to these agencies and see what they say. Just give it a shot.’ So I did and I flew up to NYC and signed with MSA Models Curves division. It’s actually one of the top curve agencies in the country. So I was so fortunate to hook up with them.

OK!: What are your thoughts on the term “plus-size” to describe curvier models?

Anna: The term “plus size” to me never really had a great reference to it and I’m so glad it’s changing in the industry. But I prefer the term “curve” because it’s more relatable to everyone. A size 8 girl can be curvy and in the industry plus size models start at a US 6 so it’s hard to say that that girl is plus size to me. I think curve kind of covers the whole spectrum. You can be curvy at a size 6 you can be curvy at a size 16, so it’s all about embracing that.

OK!: With the rise of curvier models being on the covers of magazines and strutting the runway, do you think this is it just a trend or that it’s here to stay?

Anna: It’s amazing and I hope it’s something that’s here to stay and becomes less about ‘we’re promoting curve girls’ and more ‘we’re promoting healthy women.’ It’s more about being healthy women than type-casting someone’s body.

OK!: In addition to modeling, what else are you involved in?

Anna: I’ve always been really involved with different philanthropic events and projects. It’s just something that I love to do on the side—it kind of feeds my soul. I actually started a charity within MSA Curve divison and it’s called Curve Cares. It’s a group of the girls that I work with who volunteer as well and we go to the NYC rescue mission and they have a women’s division. So we try to go once a week. Basically we sit with the ladies while they have dinner, we talk with them— we will paint their nails or do their hair. Anything to make them feel more confident. We also like to help them with resume building. They like to hear our stories and we try to be an example for them and they really appreciate that. They help us as much as we help them.

OK!: What advice would you give to young girls who are dealing with body image issues?

Anna: The moment that you love yourself is the moment that you’re going to feel so confident and it shows. I’m a model and I still feel self-conscious sometimes, but you have to be confident and you have to realize we are all build differently. Nobody is the same and some of those beauty standards are just not attainable. So it’s important that we just accept who we are and try our best to be healthy. No trend is right for everybody.

OK!: What are some tips you can offer for boosting ones confidence?

Anna: I think a good pair of heels can boost my confidence level. That’s always really helpful for me to feeling more confident. Also I’m a big fan of red lipstick. But you know sometimes I need to put on my headphones and listen to music and just get in the zone. It’s all mental. You have to mentally feel confident in order to look confident.