Jamila Choyce Has Her Plus-Size Clients “Living Like Lizzo”
Please introduce yourself, what you do, why you do it, and what you want people to know about you.
“THE PLUS SIZE ENTREPRENEUR” Plus Size is a Choyce Upscale Fashions, Runway Modeling & Print, Magazine Covers & Features, Podcast Interviews, & Nationwide Casting Calls. Jamila Jay offers plus-size women an opportunity to “Living Life Like Lizzo” which means plus-size women should beam with confidence, truth, and love.
Jamila has created an empire to inspire Plus Size Women to use their talents, and greatness to achieve their Modeling and Acting DREAMS!
FASHIONS
From Africa with Love – Ankara Fabrics, Beautiful and Vibrant Colors Upscale and Classic with a Splash of Denim! Jamila Choyce is excited to announce her new collection, Jamila Jay’s Fashions, inspiration from African. The garments are constructed with Ankara fabrics with a contemporary vibe. Courbee’ Couture bras match with a peplum jacket gives the garment a sexy touch.
In addition, the Ankara fabrics are combined with denim. The collection consists of, patchwork denim skirts and jackets, along with the reversal and non-reversal jackets Ankara dresses, blouses, and skirts.
The Plus Size market has been ignored by the Fashion Industry for far too long. Her goal is to change the trajectory of Plus Size Fashions with vibrant, classic, and upscale garments from sizes 8 to 28.
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
Ms. Choyce is a model/actress, journalist, stylist, and fashion designer. As a journalist, she has published over 300 articles from plus-size fashions, domestic violence, to celebrity interviews worldwide including Canada, Africa, and the Caribbean. In 2017, Choyce has been appointed as Editor-In-Chief, as Courbee’ Exotica Magazine which showcases and celebrates plus-size curvy models.
The plus-size market is growing immensely. The plus-size market is exploding! It is on a continuous growth pattern with retailers such as Target, J.C. Penny, and Walmart has a plus-size division with anticipated sales reaching over $21.4 billion. The average woman in America is a size 14/16 (plus sizes are typically between sizes 14 and 34).
However, in the fashion industry plus size starts at a size 8 and up, yet retailers barely cater to this crucial demographic. If roughly 60 percent of the population is considered overweight, for argument’s sake, let’s say half of that number is women.
So, of the estimated 310 million people in the United States, we can extrapolate that roughly 93 million are female shoppers in the double-digit size range.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you wanted to do what you do now. Who did you tell first? What has it been like since that moment?
As the quintessential Plus Size Entrepreneur, Jamila Choyce is the owner of www.JamilaJayPlusSizeCasting.com. In 2016, the conceptual idea of www.JamilaJayPlusSizeCasting.com website was created to unite plus-size talent with producers, directors, magazine editors, fashion show coordinators, and casting directors with plus-size talent.
Casting directors can submit their casting needs on the website. Therefore, it is an opportunity for plus-size talent and casting officials who are seeking plus-size talent to meet and work together. Talent can register and submit for acting, modeling, dancing, and singing opportunities.
In 2010, after being laid off as an elementary school teacher, she embarked upon the world of acting and eventually plus-size modeling. At a blazing 5’9’, and size 16 she did not fit into Hollywood’s stereotype of beauty. Although she landed a few commercials, court shows, and pilots, her acting head shoots was the key to open the door to her new career.
This was the moment that I know that I can live my dreams.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to face and how did you overcome it?
The COVID 19 panic and quarantine has been the biggest challenge thus far. It was difficult because there were not any opportunities for modeling and acting. Therefore, we had to pivot and make changes to our business plan. We had to implement an interview platform via FaceBook Live entitled “Jamila Jay Girl Talk.”
Courbee’ Exotica was published quarterly, but now the magazine is published monthly.
If you had to pick the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could take your career (or business) to the next level…who would those 3 people be?
I believe that God will bring the most influential people on my path, and complete my journey. I believe that I will meet the right people and at the right time to open the correct door that will led to the optimal opportunity.