If you attended Full Figured Industry Awards, then you know the magic that took place in the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens. But if you missed it – don’t worry, we have a full recap of the first annual Full Figured Industry Awards.
The saying goes – ‘if you can’t find something build it.’ And build it is exactly what Tawana Blassingame and Philip Drew did.
The duo behind Queen Size Magazine created the Full Figured Industry Awards (also known as the FFIAs) as a way to honor industry greats making a difference in the plus size and big and tall community.
The first FFIAs took place on November 2, 2019. Hosts MsNickee and Nathaniel Jaye kicked off the festivities. Full Figured Fashion Week creator Gwen Devoe received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Model Alexandra Boos earned the Iconic Award.
I won Male Blogger of the Year for my blog, XL Tribe. AND our founder and Editor-in-Chief Marie Denee took home Female Blogger of the Year!
The FFIAs will go down as one of the most instrumental moments in the plus-size and big and tall community. It’s an awards show created for us, by us.
Being in the room, you could feel the energy. It was an honor to be among the hard-working people that continue to move the culture forward. I remember chatting with Tawanna last year November and she told me she was going to start an award show for the plus community.
What an experience to see that vision come to life.
There were so many great moments at The Full Figured Industry Awards. Throughout the night, one of those memorable moments was a performance from Bobby Stone.
Another notable moment came from the spoken word performance by none other than Chris Perez. There was one line that he said that totally stuck out to me.
While speaking he started naming all of the things that a woman invented and he said a “woman created disposable diapers because quite frankly she literally sick of your shit.” When he said that line, I knew we had struck gold.
2019 Full Figured Industry Award Winners
Lifetime Achievement Award: Mrs. Gwendolyn DeVoe CEO, DeVoe Signature Events Creator & Executive Producer, Full Figured Fashion Week®
Iconic Award: Model Alexandra Boos
Avenue Confidence Award Recipient: Yasmine Arrington, Founder and Executive Director of ScholarCHIPS, Inc.
Female Blogger of The Year: Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista
Male Blogger of the Year: Kirklan Hawes of XL Tribe
Emerging Male Model Of The Year: Rah Mosley Of RahMosely.com
Emerging Female Model Of The Year: Tammy Bove
Female Model Of The Year: Liris Crosse
Male Model Of The Year: Miguel Perdomo
Boutique Of The Year: Classic Maven
Retailer of the Year: Ashley Stewart
Female Designer Of The Year: Veronica Lipscomb Tru Diva Designs
Male Designer Of The Year: Brandon Kyle Coates Of Brandon Kyle Collection
Female Photographer Of The Year: Zakiyah Caldwell
Male Photographer Of The Year: Jose Pagan
Journalist Of The Year: Marcy Cruz
Male Stylist Of The Year: Timothy Snell
Female Stylist Of The Year: Steffany Allen
Innovative Product Of The Year: Bandelettes
Production of The Year: Full Figured Fashion Week
Videographer Of The Year: Brian Tru
Hairstylist Of The Year: Nathaniel Jaye
Did your plus size industry fave take home a win? Who would you like to see nominated next year?
Let us know in the comments below!
This event was excellent!!! I thought all the nominees were rightfully nominated, and I think the winners were well deserving of the awards. Congratulations to all who took home the FFIA. YOU are the FIRSTS!!
It can only get better from here. There are so many wonderful people out here making change and moving the industry and this is where they will be recognized!! Thanks to the team at the FFIAs for all the hard work and effort put into this. I cannot wait for next year.