CHELSEA SETTLES.

I know most of you have either seen the first episode of Chelsea Settles or have at least heard a buzz about it. If you haven't seen it, allow me to fill you in. Chelsea Settles is a new reality show on MTV featuring an overweight 23 year old girl from a small town in PA, who studied fashion in college but is so embarrassed of her weight that she has let her dreams hold her back.

 Going through great measures not to draw attention to herself, Chelsea eats alone, hides fast food bags in the back of her car and arrives to class an hour ahead of time just to pick out a chair she can fit in. One aspect of her life however that her weight has not interfered with is her love life. Chelsea is in a long distance relationship with boyfriend Rory who is in the Army, stationed in Kentucky. Even though the relationship seems to be going well, Chelsea soon reveals that he has cheated on her. Chelsea justifies her boyfriend's infidelity as okay because she doesn't know "who else will love me at my size". After having dinner with Rory and hearing him doubt her ability to move to LA and "fit in", Chelsea decides that she is not going to let anyone deter her from her goals. Later that week, Chelsea makes her first attempt at 'clubbing' but decides to leave after the bouncer tells her to step aside as he lets thinner girls enter. As she walked back to her car, drunk club-goers shouted terrible weight related remarks at Chelsea, who broke down crying and tore off her microphone equipment. After 5 days of feeling down, Chelsea finally decided to make a change and move to LA to chase her dreams!

Weighing in at 324 lbs, Chelsea decided to leave the only town she's ever known, her first love Rory and her ill mother and head to LA with her cousin Jarel to fulfill her fashion dreams and start her weight loss journey.

What I love about this show is its relatability; Weight is such a sensitive subject and it hits a nerve with even the skinniest girl in the room. Chelsea is so brave for sharing her story and I wish her nothing but the best of luck on her journey.. she is definitely not alone and is such an inspiration to girls all over the world.

The show airs every Tuesday at 11pm ET on MTV!
Follow Chelsea Settles on Twitter: @ChelseaSettles

TLC's "BIG SEXY".

If you have not yet started watching TLC's newest hit show, Big Sexy.. I have to ask, what in the world are you waiting for? The only thing I hate about this show is that I didn't come up with the idea myself.. I could be making lots of money right now haha. The show takes place in New York City and follows 5 ladies who are part of the fashion industry and love their curves. It's pretty refreshing to see a show on tv that doesn't talk about plus size women trying to lose weight (ie. One Big Happy Family, The Biggest Loser, Celebrity Fit Club). Not all curvy women want to be slim..healthy maybe, slim?! No; I'm just glad a show came around that embraces the plus size woman and showcases what life is like for us when it comes to dating, health, shopping, careers, etc. Producers of the show say: 

“ Weight bias is notoriously rampant in their chosen industries, and it is their mission to prove that a bigger girl – the girl that most Americans can relate to — can break the mold and change the fashion and cultural norms that have restricted and rejected them for so long.”

The show comes on TLC every Tuesday at 10pm Eastern time.  Tune in, you won't be disappointed!!

NICKI MINAJ AT SPRING 2012 #NYFW: DEF OR DEF NOT?

Last week in NYC, September 8th to the 15th marked one of fashion's most glorious events, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2012. Designers from the likes of Michael Khors and Herves Leger, to Rebecca Minkoff (♥ her handbags), Betsey Johnson and Tory Burch (who made her Fashion Week runway show debut) showed off their latest designs. As expected, celebs were photoed out and about in their best, front row center at the event's shows. I'm sure we can all agree that the person who stuck out the most this week was *in unison* NICKI MINAJ

Nicki at Oscar De La Renta Spring 2012

I don't hate this outfit.. minus the animal winter hat, and I might even love it if there was a change of shoes. 

Nicki Minaj is most often found in the fashion worst column of most fashion mags and on Joan River's Fashion Police show on E! but sometimes I think she is just misunderstood. Now, don't get me wrong. This in no way means that I love all of her looks, as some of them are way over my head. I'm just saying, I understand. Nicki and artists like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have pretty much changed the game of how an artist is defined, taking it from an average person with talent to a completely animated character. With an alias of 'the Harajuku Barbie', how can Nicki Minaj NOT dress this way? Japanese Harajuku culture is all about bright colors, mismatching, dressing funky and pretty much doing what you want. So I'm saying... if Lady Gaga can dress up in raw meat and walk through central park with 24 inch latex heels and be called creative, why can't we cut Nicki Minaj some slack?!

Harajuku Barbie at Prabal Gurung

This outfit was one of my favorites! I feel it really embodied Nicki's Harajuku style.

Nicki Minaj  at Carolina Herrera Spring 2012

 There was a lot of buzz surrounding this outfit choice from Nicki Minaj for Carolina Herrera's spring runway show. Many speculate she copied from one of Jessica Rodger's pieces..the two pieces do have the same color concept and the puff ball stuff but it's clearly two different things. One is a top, the other is a dress. I'm taking Nicki's side on this one.

FUN WAYS TO ROCK YOUR MAXI.

One of the best things about the summer time, aside from the amazing weather, vacation from school and of course my birthday (July 21st!) is the ability to wear less clothing! I know all you ladies feel me on that haha. It's best feeling to get out of those stiff jeans and slide into something more comfortable like.. a maxi dress! Here are some funky ways to rock yours:

1. CHANNEL YOUR INNER CELEBRITY

Put on a straw hat and big sunglasses with your maxi dress and I swear you'll feel like a superstar!

2. ADD A SCARF

There's two ways I've seen people wear scarfs with maxi dresses that I adore. The first, as seen on Love Brown Sugar blogger Christina is worn as the top part of the maxi. This is so funky and I love it because it allows you wear the same maxi and have it appear as a completely different dress! Plus, if you keep changing up the pattern on the scarf, your possibilities are endless.

The second way is of course, on your head. I'm a lover of the turban style.. I find it fresh and different. If your not into the turban, you can always wear it as a regular scarf and let the ends hang down to one side  (sort of like a ponytail)

PLUS SIZE REMIX: RIHANNA.

Plus Size Remix: Rihanna by TheJuicyJournal featuring white pants

My last post which briefly recapped my most and least favorite outfits from sunday night's Billboard Awards featured Rihanna wearing an all white Max Azaria pantsuit which I absolutely adored! Being that I was obsessed, I had to do a Plus Size Remix of the outfit. I've paired it with rose gold accessories, nude platform heels and a red satchel because I'm sure most of you don't have Rhi Rhi's flaming red hair but I loved how the color popped against the all white. Hope you love it as much as I do!

BILLBOARD AWARDS: THE CUTE AND QUESTIONABLE.

As we all know, the billboard awards were on last night and it was actually quite entertaining. From Rihanna's sensual performance of "S&M" to Beyonce's electrifying "Run the World (Girls)" performance and hubby shoutout ♥, there was much to talk about.. or in my case tweet about! (Follow me @TheJuicyJournal) Check out some of my favorite looks from last night.. the cute and the questionable.

CUTE.

Rhi Rhi in Max Azria White Pantsuit

I loved this outfit on Rihanna.. I thought it was so chic and very spring 2011! Paired with those red bottom nude heels, plunging neck line and fiery red hair, she is certainly making a statement *finger snap*

Kelly Rowland in Herve Ledger bandage dress