Hard working African American plus size entrepreneur Jamila Choyce is the owner of Choyce International Plus Size Model Management, which is the first licensed and bonded agency geared toward plus size talent in California. But her reach extends far beyond the sunshine state and the United States as a whole.
In 2010, after she was laid off as an elementary school teacher, Jamila embarked upon the world of acting and eventually plus size modeling. Standing tall at 5’ 9” (and rocking a size 16), she clearly did not fit into Hollywood’s stereotypical scope of beauty. Although she had landed a few commercials, court TV shows and pilots, her acting headshots were the key opening the door to her new career.
After being signed with three talent agents and driving from Northern to Southern California, she wanted much more. She felt the same frustration and anguish of other plus size talent. In 2011, the door of plus size modeling was open when she submitted her information to a talent agency for plus size models. After writing an informative column for a plus size publication and starting her own talk show, she took advantage of ‘interview opportunities’ of plus size designers and models. As a talented plus size model, she was very active making television and radio appearances—as well as producing, styling, and designing for live fashion shows. One of the most noted feathers in her proverbial cap and introduction to national television exposure was on the Queen Latifah Show in New York.
In 2016, two of her key branding products and were simultaneously formulated.
is an international 24/7 live streaming broadcast entity. is a casting website geared towards plus size talent. Call it luck, God’s blessings abounding or perfect timing, both of these entities have done well since their inception and continue to be highly utilized, sought after vehicles making her proud to have launched them both.
Jamila wears many hats and wears each of them well. As a journalist, she has published over 300 articles about plus size fashions, domestic violence, worldwide celebrity interviews, including Canada, Africa, and the Caribbean. In 2017, Choyce has been appointed as editor-in-chief for Courbee’ Revolucion’ magazine (it means ‘curvy revolution’ in Italian), which showcases and celebrates women with curvy bodies from all over the world. In addition, she is writing the ‘Plus Size Model Survive Guide’ and has designed a collection of African inspired garments using Ankara fabrics. In April, she received her talent agent’s licensed from the state of California.
“The plus size market is growing immensely. In 2016, the plus-size market grew six percent with sales reaching $21.4 billion. The average woman in America is a size 14 (plus sizes are typically between sizes 14 and 34). However, in the fashion industry plus size starts at a size 8 and up—yet retailers barely cater to this crucial demographic. If roughly 60% of the population is considered overweight, for argument’s sake, let’s say half of that number is women. So, of the estimated 310 million people in the United States, we can extrapolate that roughly 93 million are female shoppers in the double-digit size range,” said Choyce.
An interest in ‘all things plus size’ has gained serious traction and picked up on all levels. In order to help meet these demands, Jomila Choyce is launching a national (and international) plus size model call.
For more details, visit and .
