Plus-Size Model Anansa Sims Talks Fashion, Body Image and Her Famous Mom, Beverly Johnson

The name may not ring a bell — yet — but the body will. Anansa Sims is one of eight plus-size models who posed naked for Glamour magazine’s November issue. But she’s not just a pretty face, or body. Sims, a former financial accountant, has as much brains as she does beauty. Oh, and her mother is legendary model Beverly Johnson, the first woman of color to grace the cover of American Vogue in 1974. Since her appearance in Glamour, Sims’ career has skyrocketed. In between meetings and shoots, she took the time to chat with BV about family, fame and fashion.

You look sexy and healthy and womanly in Glamour magazine. Was it difficult to get completely naked in a studio with all those people?
It wasn’t difficult for me because I felt so confident. I’m very happy with my body, and I knew what this picture in Glamour would mean to women all over the world. If being naked was what the world needed to wake up and see that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes then I wasn’t going to miss that experience for anything.

How did you make yourself feel comfortable and not super self-conscious?
I think when you’re happy in your own skin, you don’t feel self-conscious. I’ve accepted every curve on my body, and I’ve learned to love them. If you want someone else to love you, or something about you, it must start within.

The shoot definitely raises awareness about the fashion industry’s obsession with thinness. As an insider, do you think the industry is getting better or worse when it comes to this issue?
I feel the industry is getting a lot better. Slowly but surely, things are changing in the right direction. I’m proud to be a part of this much-needed movement. The average woman in America is a size 14, and those women need to be acknowledged and represented.
Is it equally stressful and competitive as a plus-size model as it would be for the standard model?
Absolutely. Just because we’re fuller figured doesn’t mean there’s no competition. Just look at the Glamour spread…there are so many beautiful models trying to land the same job, so it is exactly the same in that aspect. We’re just a little more bubbly, because we’re not hungry. Now that more designers are adding plus-size lines, we can certainly get more jobs.

Has being the daughter of an iconic model been a curse or a blessing for you so far?
It’s been a total blessing for me. My mother is my best friend, and she has experienced so much in this industry. Her guidance and advice has helped me so much. It’s because of her that I chose this career. But she also really wanted me to have the best education and to be self-sufficient, so I got my MBA, and I’ve worked in finance in the past.

In addition to breaking barriers and building self-esteem as a plus-size model, what other projects are you working on?
I’m currently working on a line of clothes with fashionable plus-size swimsuits and jeans. I’m also writing my first book about being the child of a celebrity and making the transition between hating my body to loving every inch!

What advice do you have for the women reading this blog?
My advice would be for people to realize that life is short, and today is the day to love yourself exactly the way God made you. Don’t wait until your 10 or 20 pounds smaller to love yourself or treat yourself. Start right now! Remember, being plus-size doesn’t mean being unhealthy or obese. The other models on the shoot and I take care of ourselves. We exercise, eat healthy and don’t abuse our bodies.