FROM BODY SHAME TO BEAUTY FAME
Agency focuses on plus size beauty
Juice Promotions Modelling, owned by Motswana model Julia ‘ Juice’ Tsile, has signed Batswana plus size models who have already featured on international brand campaigns, different fashion runways and graced various red- carpet events.
Tsile, who has 17 years- experience as an international model, said she wants to influence positive change in the modelling landscape. “I choose to work with diverse models; those who are plus size, those who have albinism, cancer survivors and those who come from minority groups such as Basarwa and others. Representation and inclusion are important because every human being deserves a sense of belonging, and everyone is beautiful in their own way. The perception in modelling is that you have to be skinny and tall to be considered beautiful, but this is absolutely wrong. I want a young girl who is full figured or a certain body size to also have representation.”
Tsile said plus size women have always been made to believe that they are not beautiful because society has made us believe that they are not. She also said that embracing bigger sized models does not necessarily encourage obesity, but rather the importance of appreciating diverse beauty and embracing different body shapes. “We don’t believe in telling models how to look. We rather encourage them to exercise regularly and eat healthy, without dictating to them to be a certain size,” she said.
Tsile said that body positivity and diversity is taking centre stage in the beauty and modelling industry. “Just recently, we saw Miss South Africa being clinched by a curvaceous woman, embracing her body and bald head. This shows that the world is slowly accepting diversity in the beauty and modelling industry. Also, just recently, one of our plus size models, Latifah Kgosidintsi was crowned Miss LLC 2020/ 21. She says plus size models are now taking over the industry, especially in commercial modelling. In South Africa for example, many plus size models are influencers and make a lot of money through digital marketing. “We are also seeing a lot of international brands such as SavageX and Fenty including plus size models in their runway shows. There are now many globally acclaimed plus size models such as Kate Wasley, Georgia Pratt, Robyn Lawley and
Tara Lynn, among many others. Here in Botswana, we have our own Latifah Kgosidintsi, who has been selected as a Pan Africa Game Changer. We also have the amazing Nadine Motshegwe, who is a plus size model, and a cancer survivor. The inclusion of plus size models shows that they belong, and that the world is changing,” she said. Tsile said Juice Promotions Modelling is an agency with a purpose. “Our agency advocates for inclusion of demographics in Botswana. For example, I sometimes travel to rural areas across Botswana as far as Shakawe, to scout for models. I have always believed in giving a chance to people who are often overlooked. We groom and nurture them, and help them make their dreams come true. It’s magical seeing them blossom.”