We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elisha Marchan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elisha , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I believe since I was in elementary school. I wanted to be on Disney channel, and I wanted to be on Nickelodeon. Being in front of the camera I knew I had the voice and the personality for it. Sitting at home with my moms and my grandmother watching television talk shows like Ricki Lake, Sally, Oprah, hell even Jerry Springer sparked my interest of wanting to grab the microphone. What seven year old you knew was excited for the BET awards, the VMA’s, and the Oscars? Sure, I was excited for the show. But honestly it was the red carpet looks that I was looking for. To see the corespondents meeting and asking all the hot celebrities “what were they wearing?”, and “how they feeling?” Who wouldn’t want a a career like this?

Elisha , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a international plus-model and entertainment correspondent. I started modeling around 2014 with a small boutique called Love your Lonjas and it kind of just took off from there. During covid I started the video podcast showcasing intimate one on one interviews with models, artist, designers, creatives, and etc via Instagram live. I mainly most proud of my video podcast called “SheIsPluSizeBeauty Sundays.” I am now planning and establishing season 3 of the video podcast this October. So stay tuned! Ive elevated from instagram now to a well lite local studio in California. As well I have been progressing with my modeling. I have walked for Milan Fashion Week and this up and coming October I will be walking for African Fashion Week in London. My main focus as the moment is finding a new modeling agency that can expose and land me more major beauty and commercial campaigns. My goal as a model/correspondent is to showcase my plus-size beauty letting the world know I am under 5’9 and I can model excel as if I am. And you don’t have to be!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

They think modeling is easy and that the only goal is to just remain pretty and take pictures. When now in the era of 2023 thats not case. If you are not signed to an agency you are competing with hundreds of other girls. Social media, building your own having a personality, having your own aesthetic brand plays a lot now. It takes discipline, staying active in the gym, investing in your craft, and loads of networking. If you are booked, working constantly you will miss out on other personal priorities. Being a creative is coming up with your own content, and creating a schedule, and staying committed to hitting your deadlines and goals. As well as remaining the mental capacity of the no’s. and you may not fit the “whats in” type of black look in the modeling industry. The frustration of having to always change your look, which become very tedious yet a little expensive. Stay consisted and never letting that stop or deter your ability of stay determine. Being a model/creative is hard work. No matter how fabulous or easy the picture may look. Every job has their tedious moments.

People don’t understand how hard it is being a regular black girl in the modeling industry that is not bi-racial, and under 5’9. It can become challenging and discouraging at some point. But I never let it stop me because I know there are girls and women who need to see me. Who needs to see their representation in the industry. I preach this all the time SheIsPlusSizeBeauty represents all sizes, race, creed, religion, and etc for plus size women. And non creatives struggle to actual see and understand that at times because they like to put all plus-size models in this one categorical box when it pertains be a plus-size model.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to be an entertainment correspondent for E! entertainment television or have my own syndicated video podcast show. What drives me is seeing the red carpet events. Watching people interview celebrities and so many influential people converse on topic such as their clothes, or new work they are working on. It’s exciting to be apart of conversation and flow of the culture., and planning for my next season for my show. I get a lot of great feedback when I have people check out the show. Thats what really drives me. I feel like I will bring the flavor and laughter back to the red carpets. Everyone be so boring and so bland now.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sheisplussizebeauty.com
• Instagram: sheisplussizebeauty
• Facebook: Poohnana Garcon
• Twitter: Plussizepooh
• Youtube: Sheisplussizebeauty
• Other: TikTok: PlussizePooh

Image Credits
Photographer: Emily Castillo @is_emily19 Dress: Rene Dieu @ReneDieu Photographer: Ronald Williams @Photo_by_ron_g Dress: Swak Designs @SwakDesign Photographer: UnInCorporated Studios @UnInCorporatedStudios Top/Jeans: Good American @GoodAmerican Heels: Just Fab @JustFabOnline Photographer: @EarlyMorningLightStudio Dress: @UrTuMuch Shoes: @JustFabOnline Top/Pants: Gia IRL @GiaIRL The Plus Bus @ThePlusBus Heels: Just Fab @JustFabOnline Dress: LatisteByAmy / The Plus Bus @ThePlusBus @LatisteByAmy Bag: Dooney And Bourke @DooneyandBourke Shoe: Just Fab @JustFabOnline