Imagine a world where we obsess about what we love about ourselves versus what we hate.

We fell in love with plus-size fashion, beauty and lifestyle influencer Tanesha Awasthi back when she went by Girl With Curves. Now the head of her own eponymous brand, Awasthi is known for her work in both the straight- and plus-size space as a stylist, model, consultant and creative director. She has been featured in the pages of Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Elle, among others. Recently, Awasthi took home the title of Top Lifestyle Blogger, courtesy of Forbes.com.

We highly suggest you tune into her YouTube channel (which boasts over 1.4 million followers) for a serious dose of outfit inspiration, easy-peasy beauty tutorials, styling tricks that will save your life and a glimpse into her life as a passionate multi-racial blogger, body positive activist, wife, mom and English Bulldog enthusiast. But before you do that, read on for some exclusive plus-size styling and shopping tips and tricks from the formidable fashionista.

theFashionSpot: What are your top tips for dressing curves?

Tanesha Awasthi: An amazing fit is key to looking and, most importantly, feeling your best, so pay close attention to fabric! Fabrics with a slight amount of stretch will conform to your curves, making clothes appear tailored. Lastly, find what you feel amazing in and go with it! Fashion isn’t always about wearing what’s flattering, it’s about wearing what you love with confidence.

tFS: Five pieces every plus-size woman should own? 

TA: Every plus-size woman should own:

1. A long-sleeve blouse (black or white) is a great layering piece, works for the office and after hours, pairs well with everything from jeans, skirts and slacks.
2. A tailored blazer (preferably in a stretch fabric!) you can throw on over a top and skirt or jeans and a tee adds instant sophistication and polish.
3. Dark-wash denim jeans in skinny or slim fit can easily be dressed up or down and the dark wash is appropriate for every day and casual Fridays at the office.
4. A classic camel trenchcoat is a year-round wardrobe staple that withstands trends and instantly adds a touch of sophistication to any look.
5. A fit and flare dress in black has a universally flattering silhouette and is the ultimate little black dress that works for any occasion.

tFS: One fashion piece you can’t live without?

TA: A great handbag, like a carryall tote or ladylike satchel, in black that goes with everything. And sunglasses! Handbags are the one item I splurge on because they instantly elevate an outfit, especially when mixing high and low. My accessories (handbag and sunglasses especially) are typically on the higher end, while my clothing is affordable to moderate.

tFS: Best style advice you’ve ever received?

TA: Listen to your inner voice — the rest is noise. Once you start wearing what you love based on how certain articles of clothing make you feel, the opinions of others don’t matter.

tFS: Any plus-size “rules” you think should be broken?

TA: I’m a firm believer in the fact that there are no rules in fashion! I think the biggest misconception is that plus-size women shouldn’t wear horizontal stripes, but there’s a way to make anything work for any body type — it’s all about proportion.

tFS: What advice do you have for women who struggle with body confidence?

TA: Confidence isn’t typically something the majority of women naturally possess, no matter what size we are, so I believe it must be learned and constantly practiced. Start admiring the things you like about yourself, whether it’s your eyes, the small of your back or even your delicate hands, and soon the like will become love and the things you loathe will quickly become insignificant. Imagine a world where we obsess about what we love about ourselves versus what we hate.

tFS: How important is fashion when it comes to feeling confident?

TA: As women, I think we associate how we feel inside with how we look on the outside, so fashion is super important! If I’m wearing something I feel great in, chances are I’m going to shine when I give that presentation or be more social at a networking function.

tFS: What should plus-size women keep in mind when shopping for clothes?

TA: Figure out what you love, whether it’s showing off a certain body part (or concealing certain areas), bold colors or neutrals, and have fun with fashion! Personal style is about wearing what you love, not what fashion rules or others say you should wear based on body type or size. If you start with the colors and silhouettes you love, the rest will come together from there.

tFS: What is your go-to look that always makes you look and feel your best?

TA: As a mom and person who’s generally always on the go, it’s important that my outfit functions well for me at any given moment! My uniform as of late is a pretty, flowy, longline blouse, skinny jeans and pointy-toe flats.

tFS: Who do you look to for style inspiration?

TA: I’m inspired by women who carry themselves with confidence and have major sex appeal without showing a lot of skin, while having their own unique style, like Audrey Hepburn, Olivia Palermo, Diane von Furstenberg.

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Whether you’re a true fashionista or not, chances are you’ve heard some of the biggest names in the fashion industry before from simply watching your favorite TV show or reading the news (because even the FLOTUS wears top designers these days!). What you may not have realized, though, is that many of the most influential designers — past and present — actually stem from Latin roots. And we’re talking the big dogs like Manolo Blahnik, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and then some. In case you need a little brushing up, check out the seven most influential Latin fashion designers ever.

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Oh, churros! It takes superpowers to resist such sugary fried goodness. And don’t even get us started on frozen flavored margaritas, refried beans, dulce de leche, flan, fried plantains…we could go on and on. But for the sake of our arteries, we won’t. Instead, we present to you 16 dishes that give classic Latin fare a healthy makeover. That’s right, good-for-you churros are actually a thing! And for social media fiends, we’ve included some seriously Instagramable avocado options. Paleo? Sugar-free? Low-carb? Gluten-free? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

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We all have our fair share of social media favorites, whether it’s an awesome motivational fitness guru or a style blogger with impeccable taste in fashion. Our favorite social media stars to follow, however, are the Latinas who know everything there is to know about beauty. These makeup mavens can draw a cat eye with their eyes closed and contour to perfection like no other — and we can’t help but spend hours on end scrolling through their social media feeds. While we’re no makeup pros, picking up tips and getting endless amounts of inspiration via their social media platforms, from Instagram to YouTube, is something we look forward to daily. So whether you’re looking to see which makeup artist is the next big thing or just want to get real girl makeup advice, here are the Latina beauty gurus you need to follow.

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Denise Bidot is one of the most recognized faces in the modeling world right now and although she never envisioned this career path for herself, the 30-year-old beauty is embracing her moment in the spotlight and using it to empower others. Denise grew up in Miami with a Kuwaiti father and Puerto Rican mother and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 with dreams of becoming an actress. Along the way, the self-confident young woman didn’t compromise her beliefs for the sake of landing a role and little did she know that fate had different plans for her.

Denise’s backup plan of working as a makeup artist essentially led her to become a plus-size model just as a positive body image was becoming the topic of conversation thanks to social media. While she never planned on being a part of the fashion industry, she welcomed it with open arms and a positive attitude — and has never looked back. During her 10 years in the business, Denise has broken barriers, not just by walking the runways of New York Fashion Week and appearing in major campaigns for brands like Lane Bryant, Forever 21, Nordstrom and Levi’s, but by inspiring others to love themselves as they are.

Her confidence is infectious and her fearlessness is inspiring, so it comes as no surprise that the model would want to spread the word of self-love with a campaign of her own called “There is No Wrong Way to be a Woman.” It’s a phrase Denise has often talked about proudly and she’s using it to encourage others to live unapologetically, the way she has throughout her career. We caught up with Denise to talk all things body image, career and the #NoWrongWay movement.

Image: D Dipasupil/WireImage/Getty Images

theFashionSpot: How did you get your start in the modeling industry?

Denise Bidot: I started acting when I was 12. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry, but because I wasn’t petite or tall, there was never a thought in my mind that I would become a model. It’s kind of ironic because when I moved to L.A. when I was 18, I thought, “I have talent, I can do this” and I faced a harsh reality because I think the industry was in a different place. I wasn’t getting any acting jobs, not because of my [lack of] talent, but because of my size. I was very disappointed and I remember thinking to myself — because I watched my mom struggle with her weight — “I feel beautiful in my skin, why can’t I be accepted as I am?” I was kind of the rebel in that I didn’t change every time someone told me to lose 10 or 15 pounds. I said, “Nope! Take it or leave it.”

So, I got into makeup to work behind the scenes. I went to [beauty] school and was doing makeup for a plus-size model when I got scouted. The photographer asked me if I had ever thought about modeling and I thought it was a joke because I never even knew that industry existed. I thought to myself, “What? I can model at my size and people will accept that?” I’m short — I’m 5 feet 8 inches — I’m not a size zero, so when the opportunities started coming I was not only flattered, but I thought it was such an amazing chance to do something outside of the box. It’s been 10 years now.

tFS: Was it hard to fit into the industry’s idea of how a model should look?

DB: I think it was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I could stay at a size 12 or 14 and people would hire me for being confident and feeling good about myself, which was what I kind of struggled with throughout the acting process. I would ask, “Why do we need to put people in categories?” and “Why do we all have to look the same?” So when I was embraced for my individuality and who I was, it was freeing. It was an amazing opportunity that wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t meant to be, so I ran through that open door. I thought [modeling] was all about traveling and cute clothes — I never imagined it would turn into such a huge movement.

tFS: How has the modeling industry changed throughout your career?

DB: When I started, the industry was nowhere near where it is now. It wasn’t as cool, either — we wore moo moos and ugly clothes. Plus-size models didn’t really have a voice or have representation. We weren’t booking the big jobs — I came in at a moment when the [plus-size modeling] industry was around, but it was not big. I was able to walk at New York Fashion Week, be in front of Anna Wintour on several occasions. These are things that don’t just happen! Not just for plus-size models, but any model. So, it’s amazing to see this happen throughout the past 10 years. All of those opportunities and the fact that I had the chance to be a part of that change still baffles me. It’s crazy.

Image: JP Yim/Getty Images for Chromat

tFS: Do you think social media has played a part in the way people view models of different sizes and races?

DB: Social media has played a huge part in it. When I started, it was the days of Myspace — models didn’t really have a voice then. Social media has allowed everyone to have a voice and have conversations with brands about who they want to see represented. It’s made a huge difference in how clients book models and what we all learn to accept. It’s been wonderful to see the change. We’ve been allowed to be ourselves, be confident and speak our mind through social media and brands are paying attention.

tFS: What’s your take on diversity in the fashion industry?

DB: I think diversity is finally being embraced, but there is still so much room to grow. We have the Latinas, the white girls and the black girls, but I would love to see even more diversity. I want to see everyone from all over the world represented, old or young and just how they are. Whether that means freckles or a gap-tooth smile — just all of those things that make you, you. We’re just touching the tip of the iceberg and I hope people keep pushing for more.

My friend Jillian Mercado just did a Target commercial and I’m so proud of her because she’s in a wheelchair, signed with IMG and she’s such a good person. What she’s doing and what she represents is something that has never happened before and it’s awesome to see her succeed like that. It’s groundbreaking and it’s so important that we continue that progression.

tFS: You were the first plus-size model to be cast for New York Fashion Week. Do you think models should stop being categorized based on size?

DB: Being able to walk at New York Fashion Week and do something that has never been done before, to be Latina and Middle Eastern, it’s not something that’s just because of my size. I try to tell people that we can’t exclude one thing or the other and that’s why my motto, “There is no wrong way to be a woman,” is so true for me.

tFS: What does that mantra mean to you?

DB: For me, it’s not about saying, “You’re size 14, you’re curvy and you have an hourglass body and that’s what makes you beautiful,” because then you end up alienating a whole different type of girl who may not be curvy. Everyone’s different and we need to allow women to be individuals. It’s important to show something different for the younger generation, who is looking at magazines and thinking they’re supposed to look a certain way — because when you sprinkle in a little bit of everything, you end up with something so powerful.

Image: @denisebidot

tFS: Tell us more about the movement you want to push forward based on this mantra.

DB: For so long I’ve said, “There is no wrong way to be a woman,” and I finally decided to make it a movement beyond just saying it. I want to create scholarships, a lane where women can be embraced for being themselves. I launched it at the Puerto Rican Day Parade and it felt like the perfect culmination of everything I’ve worked toward. I’m Latina, I’m Middle Eastern, I’m the face of diversity and the generation that’s mixed and for so long wasn’t told that they fit in. So, here I am and I’m proud of that and where I come from and I want to make sure other women know that they can be beautiful at any size and age, no matter where they come from.

I invited 10 women from different walks of life to be a part of the class of 2016. The youngest of the group was 18 and the oldest was 65. It was so empowering because I got to produce the shoot myself. This isn’t something sponsored or something someone told me to do; I worked hard for this, I funded it and I am proud of it. I’m so happy to put something out there that’s very unapologetic. The women are so beautiful and the whole shoot felt so right, like something I would want to see in magazines. Sometimes you just have to lead by example. I just want to be the person this group can turn to at any point for support because I know what it’s like.

tFS: What does the movement have in store for the future?

DB: I plan on doing this every year and I want to start a scholarship fund where women can support each other because that’s also important. We [women] make the rules and if we compete constantly, we lose the whole point of progression and moving forward. We’re in such a beautiful place as women that I want to further the movement and keep the conversation alive.

tFS: You’re such a positive role model for young women. Who inspires you?

DB: My mom. So many of her struggles were so personal to me and I learned from her mistakes. I love the fact that she allowed me to go through those struggles with her as a single parent, like wanting to lose weight and yo-yo dieting. And she also allowed me to see the beauty in not caring, but no matter what, she always loved me so dearly. I learned through that and I love her to pieces — she is forever my inspiration.

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Elegance, strength and grace are all key elements of fashion that seem to transcend both time and trends. The influence of Latin style on modern fashion exemplifies this perfectly. Spotted both on and off the runway, in real and “reel” life, Latin influence is deep, rich, colorful and even flavorful in the way it captures a certain spirit synonymous with, say, São Paulo or Mexico City.

At the heart of every look is a true understanding of Latin culture at its core. More than just a pop of bright color or a hint of texture, these looks embrace the heritage itself. Take a peek at some of the inspiring ways Latin culture has influenced how we dress today.

Images: Imaxtree

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