Shepherd’s Bush Plus-Size Model is a Star in a Bra
Danielle Nash reaches the last ten of the Curvy Kate competition
24-year-old Danielle Nash has reached the finals of a competition to be the next face and body of Curvy Kate a lingerie range for plus-size women.
The law student from Shepherd’s Bush has always wanted to be a professional model but recognises that up until recently there hasn’t been enough acceptance of naturally curvy girls in the industry
She said, “There are plus size supermodels empowering the industry, such as Tess Holiday, Ashley Graham, Olivia Campbell, I want to help lead the movement that plus size is here to stay. I want, when you think of professional models, who helped women become more confident with their reflection in the mirror, I want you to think of Danielle Ashley. The Star in a Bra competition could not be a more perfect platform, to model for Curvy Kate and Bridge Modelling agency, who promote body confidence and are brands that represent women like me.”
Her father was a theatre manager, travelling the world, always on tour he made many friends. At his wake she was advised by an actor to lose two stone if she wanted to have a career in the profession. It was the first time in her life she had ever been made to feel uncomfortable with her body as she led a healthy active life participating in ballet ad tennis. She says that times have changed since that day eleven years ago and, even though the fashion industry was even more shallow than the acting profession, the competition has helped to rebuild her confidence.
She trained at John Robert Powers Acting school for 3 years in theatre and television and went to Summer schemes at the Lyric Theatre, where she also performed. She joined the drama after school club and I got an A* for drama at GCSE. Danielle said, “If I wanted to pursue acting I put myself in a pretty good position to do just that despite the advice which tarnished a great part of my confidence.”
She attributes her success to her mum who she describes as ‘the strongest, kindest most determined woman I know’. She came to London quite young at quite a controversial time for black people and women. She worked hard, had a successful career in theatre acting as well as featuring ‘Carry On Girls’. She is now a college teacher.
You can vote for Danielle in the competition. Voting is open until 23 August with the results to be announced on 25 August. The winner will feature in Curvy Kate’s AW17 catalogue.
August 8, 2016