Is a plus size Pennsylvania model, who was recently among the winners of Torrid's 2009 House of Dreams Model Search. The Puerto Rican beauty sat down with Simply Latino! to share her inspiration and advice.
Simply Latino!: What would you tell other Latinas who are struggling with their weight and are trying to make it as a model?
Natalie Monet: I would tell other Latinas to first off, Love themselves and accept that this is the way God made them. Latinas are naturally curvy, it's just the way we are. There's nothing we can change. So what you can't change accept and flaunt it! And guys love the confidence we ooze.
When you accept yourself then you have the confidence to become a model. Whether your straight size or plus.
SL: Is there anyone who has inspired you to continue modeling?
NM: Crystal Renn is a definite influence. She always was. She's a frontier in every which way, and she inspired me to first start modeling and still does.
However my friend Mandy Firenes, she's a fellow plus size model that is a rising star and she is so knowledgeable about the industry and is a gorgeous girl. She inspires me to keep going. She has done things that I aspire to do and she as well wants to push the limit in the industry as well.
SL: What have you learned throughout this whole process?
NM I've learned not to believe the hype. Not everything that glitters is gold. If you think that this is easy and you can be a top model in no time, your dead wrong. It's taken me three going on four years to get where I have gotten now, and I'm still not done. I'm still not where I want to be.
SL: What are your plans for the future?
NM: My plans are to do what I'm doing now just on a bigger and grander scale. I'm always surprised to get messages from girls who want to model or have issues to deal with and they come to me. I'm honored but at the same time why me!? I'm no one special. Ha ha But what I want to do is happening and that to motivate young girls and to pass on self love and confidence in yourself. I also wouldn't mind getting back into acting.
