{"id":109555,"date":"2018-09-06T13:34:57","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T17:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=109555"},"modified":"2018-09-07T09:50:37","modified_gmt":"2018-09-07T13:50:37","slug":"denise-bidot-is-more-than-a-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/denise-bidot-is-more-than-a-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Denise Bidot is More Than a Model"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nPhoto by Nick Finochio<\/small>
\nIn 2018, models are never just models. They\u2019re brand ambassadors, on-camera stars, or can inspire with something as simple as an Instagram post – the perfect summation for model Denise Bidot<\/a>. The 32-year-old didn\u2019t always imagine walking the runway \u2014 acting and a brief stint learning makeup were both dreams in her early 20s \u2014 but when a photographer asked her if she had ever thought about modeling, as Bidot put it, \u201cI saw a cracked door and I ran through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bidot has modeled for major brands but is perhaps best known for her work at Becca McCharen-Tran\u2019s innovative swim and athletic label, Chromat<\/a>, declaring \u201cDenise will always be one of our most iconic #ChromatBABES. She\u2019s so natural and powerful on the catwalk and in front of the camera.\u201d Bidot also hosts Cosmopolitan.com’s<\/a> video series \u201cThe Beauty Lounge,\u201d founded the \u201cNo Wrong Way\u201d movement, which celebrates individuals as they are, and is one of the faces of Olay’s<\/a> #FaceAnything<\/a> that’s all about being a \u201ccampaign for confidence\u201d. We spoke with the multi-hyphenate about her favorite models in the business, what she really thinks of NYFW castings, and how it all began.<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Austen Tosone
\nEdited by Irene Ojo-Felix<\/p>\n

How did you start modeling?<\/strong>
\nI grew up in Miami and my mom was a beauty pageant queen and always taking glamour shots of me. When I was 18, I moved to L.A. to pursue acting but was told to lose weight or drop my accent. So I ended up in makeup school and one day when I was on set a photographer asked me if I\u2019d ever thought about modeling and I laughed, not understanding the plus-size market. She bugged me for about a month to do a shoot with her, which I thought would only live in my makeup portfolio indefinitely. But then she showed the photos to some people who wanted to know who the model was.<\/p>\n

I saw you open Chromat’s FW18 show this past February and you killed it. How did you first meet Becca and how was this past fashion week for you?<\/strong>
\nChromat to me is so beyond just a brand that I work for, they\u2019re like family. The first show I walked in for them was in September 2014. I was introduced to Becca a few months before the show because she needed a fit model for the plus-size range she wanted to launch, Chromat Curve. As she was developing the line she asked me to walk in the show and I also ended up opening. I couldn\u2019t believe she had that much faith in me. The show got insane press, but she didn’t do it for PR she did it because that’s what she saw as beautiful and because of that, I will have her back until the end of the world. <\/p>\n

…we\u2019re not asking to be included one time. We\u2019re asking for a long-term goal of inclusivity with the power and success that comes from that. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Who are your favorite models? <\/strong>
\nCrystal Renn<\/a>, we don’t give her enough kudos. She would do all of these amazing poses, like Coco Rocha<\/a>, who is like Posing 101. And Heidi Klum<\/a> \u2014 she\u2019s a model and personality and I love how she runs her career. <\/p>\n

Why do you think brands are reluctant to cast plus-size models?<\/strong>
\nI think about this always because we’re not asking to be included one time. We’re asking for a long-term goal of inclusivity with the power and success that comes from that. It’s not as though other brands are seeing the Chromat’s and Siriano’s of this world and thinking, “oh it didn’t work for them.” It’s working. It’s working really well. So what we need is to keep pushing the boundaries and keep hoping that these designers get it. It’s not a trend and it’s not a PR stunt, it’s the future. <\/p>\n

For so many years curvy girls were limited with access to high fashion. If I saw a blogger wearing an outfit that I thought was fire and I wanted to shop for it I couldn’t even find it past a size 10 most times. It’s frustrating because I’m working my ass off and I want to represent myself in a way that I can’t. And it’s like why wouldn’t you want my coins and dollars? And if that’s just me, imagine how many other women are feeling the same way. <\/p>\n

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Major thank you to @olay and to every single beautiful soul who I had the pleasure of working with on this incredibly moving campaign. Let\u2019s keep going! Together we can #FaceAnything \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 @madonnabadger @mattearle89 @emgem430 @allysonhickey @shibonleigh @amen_ta_that @milckmusic @elyse.fox @jillianmercado @heykayadams @pieraluisa @mamacaxx @alyraisman @iisuperwomanii @swimsuit_issue @celiaettinger @__shreena @nmdelarosa @felicityingram @annacofone @celestepix<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Denise Bidot<\/a> (@denisebidot) on