The BIG Side

31/05/2022

Looking for new faces to feature. Comment your age, location, and a whole body picture (only if you’re comfortable)

23/07/2020

Who wants a comeback? 😉

23/06/2019

YAS TO THIS WONDERFUL LADY 💕✨

Breaking stereotypes and empowering more women! 🌸

Living my best plus size model life 🔥
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YOUR 👏🏻 GIRL 👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 260 LBS! I fully accept who I am and my body. There is no apology for this photo. I feel beautiful and sexy and I have the most amazing crew and girls around me in Turks supporting me. Love you !! Plus swim is coming next summer!
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My suit is the collection from - thank you so much for paving the way for curvy women around the world. Now... Someone sign me!!
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Photo by
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26/02/2019

Yaas queen!

“I had a boyfriend who told me I’d never succeed, never be nominated for a grammy, never have a hit & hoped I'd fail. I said to him someday, when we’re not together, you won’t be able to order a cup of coffee at the fu***ng deli without hearing or seeing me.” - Lady Gaga

EMPOWER YOURSELF. BE YOUR OWN CHEERLEADER. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

EMPOWERED WOMEN EMPOWER WOMEN.

17/02/2019

💙 let's all say this, as often as we can: Maganda ako, period.

Plus-size Filipinas open up about their struggles to overcome body-shaming, learning to embrace the figure they have, and deciding that they are beautiful. Period.

25/09/2018

03/03/2018

STEP UP WITH KHRYZZ
According to Moose of Step Up 3D “I dance because dance can change things. One move can set a generation FREE”. The same is applicable to our Plus Size feature this week - Kristine Joy ‘Khryzz’ Cañares – Pasague. For her, dancing is not just a hobby; it is her passion and her first love. She adds “It is my way of expressing my other self despite of experiencing a lot of rejections [from] some dance classes / groups because of [my] weight; it didn’t stop me [from showing] off my moves. Through dancing, I want to break down the stigma that dancing is made for thin people only.” Further, Khryzz created . Through this project, she can inspire a lot of women, men even, who feels limited in showing their talents because of their size. In Khryzz’ words – “I created to show off my talent in dancing; to show people that I am talented and capable of doing great things. With the help and support of my husband, I am able to pull-off some videos of me dancing (He’s the videographer, btw!). And with that project, people started to notice my talent! I even started a dance group in our office. Well, kami yung kinukuha to perform during opening ng Sports fest and other company activities. I also choreograph and I am so proud of it. Minsan nagugulat yung mga tuturuan ko nang sayaw pag nakikita na ako, kita sa mukha nila yung tanong na “Kaya ba talaga niyang sumayaw?” So I ensure na kapag nasa stage na ako at magpe-perform... it should be REMARKABLE!!!”

THE INEVITABLE CHANGE

Khryzz was not always on the big side, she used to be a 36-24-38 kinda gal! Thus, when she started to gain weight, it was a difficult struggle to live with. Everyone judged her and just assumed that she took herself for granted. Hurtful words were thrown at her but these words didn’t break her, instead, it made her stronger. “You cannot force other people to stop pulling you down or bullying you, but you can do something about yourself to conquer such. Looking back at those experiences hurt me so bad, but at the same time - fulfilling. Kasi natuto akong lumaban. Natuto akong tumayo sa sarili kong paa. Natuto akong mahalin yung mga bagay sa sarili ko na kinukutya ng iba. Natuto akong tumingin na lang sa mabuti kesa ituon ang panahon sa sama ng loob. Natuto akong maging matatag sa buhay. At higit sa lahat, natuto akong HUBUGIN ANG TALENTONG MERON AKO at MAGING ISANG MABUTING TAO!”

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

One of her challenges as a plus size woman and as a dancer is pre-mature rejection. “Pag may mga dance auditions, hindi pa nga ako nakakasayaw e reject na kaagad!” More, “Rejection is my greatest aphrodisiac – that’s my forever MANTRA! You pull me down? I’ll slap you with my greatness! The biggest challenge na kinaharap ko as plus size woman is yung ma-judge right away because of my physical appearance.” When asked about how she gets through these challenges – “ACCEPTANCE and SELF-LOVE muna then everything [else] will follow! From there, you will be able to spread love and positivity. Like sa nature ng work ko, I have to remain compose and positive at all time para mai-transfer ko yun sa mga taong nakakausap ko araw-araw. Yung kahit galit na galit na sila basta naka-ngiti ka na haharap sa kanila biglang mawawala yung negative emotion tapos willing na silang pakinggan yung explanations mo. ”

How she felt when she was picked to be part of the weekly feature, read her creativity below:

Sampu – Sampung beses akong tumili para lang mawala yung kabog sa dibdib ko!
Siyam – Siyam na mensahe ang ipinadala ko sa Papa ko para lamang siguradong matatanggap niya ang magandang balita na ito!
Walo – Walong tao ang unang naka-aLam sa swerteng natanggap ko!
Pito – Pitong taon akong sinuwerte sa pag-ibig tapos isang JACKPOT pa para dito!
Anim – Anim na Segundong huminto ang mundo ko dahil sa balitang hatid mo Ms. Carol.
Lima – Limang beses kong binasang muli ang mensahe niyo.
Apat – Apat na araw na lang kabado na ako, dahil mi isang damit ay wala pa ako!
Tatlo – Tatlong lalaki ang pag aalayan ko ng mga litratong ibibigay niyo: Ang Tatay ko, Ang Asawa ko at ang Kapatid ko!
Dalawa – Dalawa na ang pamilya ko.. SILA at KAYO!!! 
Isa – ISANG DATING PANGARAP pero dahil sa TBS at sa inyo ... naging TOTOO!!!

KRISTINE JOY ‘KHRYZZ’ CAÑARES is a proud Cebuana but currently living in Caloocan City. She is 30 years old and happily married for 7 years. She is currently employed as a Compensation and Benefits Supervisor (Human Resources).

01/03/2018

Absolutely! 😍😍

🙌🙌🙌

23/02/2018

Hi everyone! We've been so busy the last couple of months but I hope you've been enjoying the few snippets of content that we've been sharing in between issues. I know, I know, excuses aren't gonna cut it - but, but, but - I hope this latest ish we've posted more than makes up for our MIA months!



Okay, so February. AKA the LOVE month, AKA the dreaded month for some single people who don't have a date on Valentine's Day. I must admit I've been there, I've felt unappreciated on this dreaded (non) holiday. I used to blame the way I looked most of the time - felt I wasn't pretty enough to be asked out on a date. It took some real growing up to realize that I gotta feel some real, deep love for myself - warts and all (per the popular parlance) - before I even start looking for someone to be with! And it feels amazing, liberating, and uplifting to realize this one important detail.


So maybe we gotta talk about the least talked about kind of love during the love month - SELF-LOVE. As usual, we rounded up the TBS ladies to share their thoughts - and weighed in on the concept of self love, and how they sometimes find (the lack of) love and acceptance for the plus size community. Read on, and enjoy this months' special for February. Don't forget to Like, Share and feel free to comment your own take on self-love!

Cheers,


Caroline


Special thanks to NXC Studio, and to Ranel Bojos for some of our ladies' hairstyles.

23/02/2018

Hi everyone! We've been so busy the last couple of months but I hope you've been enjoying the few snippets of content that we've been sharing in between issues. I know, I know, excuses aren't gonna cut it - but, but, but - I hope this latest ish we've posted more than makes up for our MIA months!

Okay, so February. AKA the LOVE month, AKA the dreaded month for some single people who don't have a date on Valentine's Day. I must admit I've been there, I've felt unappreciated on this dreaded (non) holiday. I used to blame the way I looked most of the time - felt I wasn't pretty enough to be asked out on a date. It took some real growing up to realize that I gotta feel some real, deep love for myself - warts and all (per the popular parlance) - before I even start looking for someone to be with! And it feels amazing, liberating, and uplifting to realize this one important detail.

So maybe we gotta talk about the least talked about kind of love during the love month - SELF-LOVE. As usual, we rounded up the TBS ladies to share their thoughts - and weighed in on the concept of self love, and how they sometimes find (the lack of) love and acceptance for the plus size community. Read on, and enjoy this months' special for February. Don't forget to Like, Share and feel free to comment your own take on self-love!

Cheers,

Caroline

Special thanks to NXC Studio, and to Ranel Bojos for some of our ladies' hairstyles.

Link to the Feb ish:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=421493814946845&id=136965156733047

11/01/2018

After all, self-love is the best kind of love. 😍😍😍

Give yourself the big treat, cos you super-deserve it.

10/01/2018

This you gotta do sweethearts. We are all beautiful in our own unique ways. Follow us

04/01/2018

📸Aii Orias

09/12/2017

Hi! How fast time flies! We are now at the last month of the year and pretty soon we'll be bidding 2017 adieu. We here at The Big Side want to cap off this year with what else? A holiday shoot!

This time around, we've tapped into the modeling chops of three curvy-licious ladies. And to make this holiday shoot more special, we collaborated with Brands 4 Lease Plus, Jana Silao and Ranel of Petals Perfection.

This holiday look we've come up with leans a lot towards soft, romantic textures, with dresses that are comfy without sacrificing style.

It took a village to get these beautiful snaps, and should any of the looks interest you - just holler at our wonderful people right here:

https://www.facebook.com/B4LeasePlus/
https://www.facebook.com/petalsperfectionbouquet/
https://www.facebook.com/jana.silao.wow

(And if you want to follow the trying hard photographer, see my work at carolinebiggirlbigworld.blogspot.com or
piggybear_carol on IG. Lol)

Cheers!
C.

08/12/2017

Photos: Carol
Text: Khris
MUA: Jay
Styling Team: Chez and Lor
Blouse on 2nd photo courtesy of Curves+ Fashion
Follow us: thebigsideph on Instagram

A CATERER TO WATCH
As cliché as it sounds, we can all agree that the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. This is indeed proven by our TBS feature for the week, Jenzen Esguerra. At a very young age, she was already exposed in the kitchen. Jenzen was trained since she was 4 years old hence it doesn’t come as a surprise that her friends adore her creativity and resourcefulness in the kitchen. “It makes me happy knowing that I cook something special especially if it is for my family and my friends. Lakas makawala ng stress and ng pagod every time naapreciate nila yung dishes na luto ko. Yung sa bawat words na “sarap”, “yummy” and “pop na Pop” eh tumataba yung puso ko.” She grew up in a family where food is a language of love. “Every time may handaan at okasyon kami, kami ang nagtutulungan sa pagluluto; I remember when my Lolo is still alive and my daddy, together with his siblings, were still young and strong, never kami nagpacater sa labas, and always na inaabangan sa lugar namin kapag kami ang may pahandaan dahil siguradong special at masasarap ang luto.” Jenzen aspires to have her own catering business someday; it is her dream to make a living through her passion. Because for Jenzen, “food is life!”

WHEN TBS MET JENZEN
When Jenzen was picked to be a part of the weekly features, she was overwhelmed and very grateful. “Upon reading the message of confirmation from Ms. Mary Kath Jane, I am overjoyed, I thank God for the answered prayer. God knows my heart’s desire to be part of the Big Side; I love the idea that I can be an encouragement and a channel of inspiration to others.” Further, “...it was really a moment [of] a lifetime for me --- to give it a try, to give myself the confidence, and satisfaction, to feel and embrace the beauty in me.” She added.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL
Reaching this level of self-love and confidence was not exactly a walk in the park for Jenzen. Similar to most plus size women, the struggle of acceptance was difficult. The biggest challenge she faced was the time when she just let the harsh words and judgements get the best of her. “...when I allowed others to look down on me, to the point that I pitied and look down at myself too. That I felt rejected even when I don’t even try in the first place. How ironic that I belittle myself because I am big. I felt that I am not likeable and admirable, I rejected the idea that someone might like me for who I am.” With her tremendous faith and trust in God, plus the never ending support of her family at home, her brothers and sisters in Christ, and her friends, she did not lurk in the dark for too long. She soon realized that instead of getting approval from the world, she would rather focus on getting it from God. The experience made her closer to Him.

FINAL WORDS
“Love, respect and acceptance starts within ourselves, you cannot expect others to love, respect and accept you for who you are if you can’t give it to yourself. How other people see and treats you is just a mere reflection on how you see and treat yourself. As long as you trust yourself and you trust the people who love you, all things are possible. God created you the best as He can, you are His perfect creation so never belittle yourself. Fighting!”

Jenzen Esguerra Pantaleon is from Marilao, Bulacan and is currently working as a Management and Internal Audit Analyst II.

05/12/2017

Let's welcome this first week of December with the beautiful Jay! She looks stunning with or without makeup!

28/11/2017

Why not begin today with a big smile? Today's hump day! We are featuring our for this week - Caroline. Have a great Wednesday!

24/11/2017

Prod Team:

Photos/Text: Carol
Makeup: Jay
Clothes: Model's own/ Curves+
Styling: Loren + Chezka

"Growing up is a huge struggle for me."
"I’ve always been fat."
"People often judged me and say mean words because of my weight."
"I don’t feel pretty."
"Bigger people like me are shamed."

Pretty sure there are at least two things above that you've heard from someone on the heavier side. Or if you're curvy (like us!), you must have said this way too more than a few times.

Ush, as she is fondly called, often thought this way when was younger. She recalled, "Majority of my life was spent being overweight. Being a kid all I can remember thinking was I’m too fat to be pretty and these thoughts carried on through my teens and early twenties. I have encountered a lot of challenges - being judged by others and treated differently because of my appearance. when I was a teenager, people started saying, "You need to lose weight. It will be harder when you get older to find your partner”. Being a fat kid, caused me to developed the ability to overlook how bad people treated me, during that time, I want people to like me."

Thankfully, for social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, she found solace. For Ush, "women who have for so long felt ignored by mainstream fashion are finally able to have a voice. It is finally telling us to wear our flaws cause that what makes us unique and truly beautiful."

And believe us Ush, when we say that you are indeed a beauty! Cheers to our curves! -C.

21/11/2017

Her beauty is so captivating it's so hard to choose just one photo of her -- meet our girl Andie! Good morning!

14/11/2017

She wears a dress but drives a badass truck - she's girly, yet she's also tough. Who says you can't be both? Take a look at our girl, Lheney!

14/11/2017

More reason to celebrate body diversity!☺️☺️ Congratulations! 👏👏👏We are so proud of you😍😍

A Filipina showed that pinay beauty has indeed international class and quality, even in the plus size beauty pageant.

11/11/2017

'You don't encourage people to take care of their body by telling them to hate it." - Laci Green

10/11/2017

Photos and Text by Carol | Special thanks to: Jay | Lor | Chez | Khris

Sometimes browsing idly does wonders - such is the case for The Big Side's weekend story feature, Lalaine Grio.

"Last year when I stumbled upon my FB friend's photoshoot for The Big Side. I got curious and checked the FB page of TBS; clicked Like and the rest was history. It was new to me because it was my first time seeing an online magazine dedicated to plus size women," she recalls.

She continues to briefly narrate her journey to self-acceptance:

"I would lie to myself if I said I was confident with my looks. A lot of people complimented me for my looks yet I felt it was insincere. I thought they were making fun of me by complimenting the way I look. It didn't help that my mom even told me to lose weight so I could get a suitor.

I felt I was being overlooked by people because of my looks. I tried drinking slimming pills when I was 14 years old because I was really desperate to lose weight. I was desperate for attention. I always thought that being pretty means a slender body, hairless arms and legs, fair skin, straight hair - just like a Barbie doll.

I had so much insecurities, it consumed the life out of me. This seemingly endless self pity only ended a couple of years ago, when I realized the only validation I needed was from myself."

And boy are we glad to know that you've overcome a lot of struggles your way, and we hope that the photos the TBS folks took of you reflected that newly found confidence! -C.

Stay tuned for more TBS readers' stories.

Interested to be featured? Submit your details and a bit of your background at [email protected] and put WEEKEND FEATURE on the subject heading. Looking forward to hearing from you!

09/11/2017

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=627316844058766&id=336943349762785

Hello our wonderful TBS readers, wondering how you can crank up your look in time for the holidays? Worry no more, here's an event to get your styling and makeup on point! Learn more about it here:

Can you be fashionably plus size and beautiful? We say ''Yes!" But you need the make up skills and styling know how to bring out that beauty. Come join our Make Up and Styling Workshop for Plus Size Women with Jana Silao on November 25, 2017, 12:00 - 5:00 PM. Learn more here: bit.ly/plussizeMUS

07/11/2017

Good morning folks! Brightening up your morning with our LJ! Follow us at Instagram: thebigsideph

04/11/2017

The world needs more of you kuya! 😍😍

31/10/2017

Designer, makeup artist, model - and the list goes on. Our is the multitalented Hazel Fuentespina!

28/10/2017

Oh yes! Love the skin you're in!

26/10/2017

Word.

26/10/2017

Do everything for the love of yourself, not because thats what the society tells you to do. Those numbers on the scale? It wont measure your worth. Wont measure your value. 😉

To those who's been struggling, I hope just losing weight will not be your life's purpose. You can do far more greater things than that. 😉☺️