THE Ramada Georgetown Princess International Hotel is set to come alive Sunday with the launch here of the first ever ‘Plus-Size Expo’, which is aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and highlighting the beauty of plus-size women. The event will be hosted by lifestyle, society and culture platform, GT Memoirs, and feature attractions such as body confidence and self-esteem sessions, a Fitness Fete, a Plus-Size Fashion Show, and vendors showcasing products and services targeted at plus-size persons. In an interview with The Buzz, one of the facilitators of the ‘Expo’, David Dasilva, said that the idea for the event was conceptualised by a cosmetologist who dreamt of seeing an event in Guyana which catered to full-figured women.

“After seeing her enthusiasm, I decided to embrace her vision,” David said, adding:
“We want to get the message out there that full-figured women are beautiful, and that they are just as appreciated as thinner women.”
In a world where the definition of beauty has been redefined to include curvier women, however, David states that he does not believe that this is the case in Guyana, which brought about the necessity for such an event.
LOTS OF CATCHING UP
“I think the way Guyanese treat full-figured individuals on a whole shows that we have a lot of catching up to do,” he said, adding:
“Don’t get me wrong: There are a few persons that try to include models of a larger body type, but compared to reality, what they call plus-size really isn’t plus-size at all.”
Women who are full-figured, he said, are often faced with a stigma of not being beautiful, because they are not thin enough. So, there must be a change in the way we categorize beauty.
Interestingly enough, David said, when a full-figured woman dresses up and looks beautiful, it scares everyone.
“No one expects or wants a full-figured woman to look good…We as a people need to realise that there are many different reasons why women may be full-figured,” he said.
“They could have that size all their life; they could have gotten it through pregnancy… But it is highly offensive to go around making them feel like less of a woman, because they are not what the average image of beautiful is.
“It is 2016, and we finally see the world adapting to full-figured women, it is now important for designers and fashionistas to include women of all sizes to their portfolio.”
COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SKIN

But thankfully, he said, more and more full- figured women are seen as being more comfortable in their skin, and making moves in the fashion industry.
One such example, he said, can be seen in Guyanese plus-size model, Natalie Moore who is currently in Jamaica completing her studies in Professional Makeup Artistry, and who stands on the platform as a model for NumNum Delicious Clothing, a fashion line which caters for plus-size women.
The ‘Plus-Size Expo’ will start at 18:00hrs, and will allow attendees to interact, discuss lifestyle concepts, purchase products and establish relationships for lifestyle enhancement.
Facilitators for the event are Rishon Seegopaul-Rambarran (Healthy Lifestyle Seminar), a health coach and wellness therapist specialising in Alternative Medicine and Philosophy; Wil Campbell (Body Confidence and Self-esteem Seminar), Managing Director of Solutions Training Consultancy and Counseling Services; and Valerie Browne (The Fitness Fete) of Guyana Jazzercise, a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, pilates, yoga and kickboxing.
The event is being held under the patronage of Dr. Michon Sukhoo-Pertab, Miss Guyana Plus 2012.
Pre-Expo tickets will be on sale until tomorrow, cost $2000, and will he available from Moi Toori Boutique, Loisanne’s Plus Boutique, That Look Boutique, Absolute Fashion and The Gift Shop at Ramada Georgetown Princess International Hotel. Tickets on the day of the event will cost $3500.