We recently connected with Maria Giddings and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maria thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

From the moment I came into this world I felt like I was on display. It was like second nature for me to be presentable from family functions to national events. Needless to say, every time I was on display I was doing right. I was in a principal office a time or two. However I had to handle every moment the best I could with Grace. As a little girl I loved to dress and pose. So when the opportunity came about for me to be a model it was only fitting for me to transition into a grown woman who can say they get paid to be a designer’s custom artwork. It used to be the most surprising thing for people to understand that I was a successful Model who happens to be Plus Size. I wasn’t the first of my kind but I like to believe that I helped keep the movement going strong and that movement is “Appreciate Your Beauty.” The uniqueness about me is I am ME and no one could be that. After modeling for so long I expanded my resume to now include Plus Size Lingerie under Butterfly Kisses by Nicole G. Through every pose and disposition in my life there has been obstacles. There have been beautiful moments as well. All in all it was a journey meant for me because I get to share my love for beauty with others and help them in their journey to love their beauty.

Maria , 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?

My name is Maria Giddings, better known as Nicole G in the plus size modeling industry. I am biracial (Black and Hispanic) and fluent in Spanish and English. Currently, I am signed with a Modeling Agency out of Houston, TX. Now I live in Allen, TX but learned my way in life from West Dallas, TX. From Dallas talent shows to being featured in Pulse Magazine, and Fashion Trendz Magazine December 2020 Christmas edition. This whole journey has been exhilarating and constantly changing! I love it! I always try to make people understand the “make up” of me as a model having the height and measurements of 5’2, 215lbs, 36DDD, 43 waists, and 50 hips, I began to be known in an amazing class of “Curvy Queens” which we have kept the demand for our sizes in many major projects. I am able to model and be a part of projects designed for curvy women. My plan to become a well-known model was a successful mission but eventually I wanted to do more for assisting women in appreciating their bodies. First, though, I fell for my next role which was taking a pose (modeling)to a voice, pose, and motions (acting). I began to act and star in a few local mini-series productions. I do not think weight or statue should stop a person’s dream. I have always embraced the beauty I possess and always stayed humble. I continue to be a part of projects and photoshoots that will enhance and promote authenticity. I am now at a point where I want to be more as a visionary rather than the vision. I want to help all ladies to look beyond their eye sight to create the actual vision. You Define Your Size! No one could believe I could do lingerie projects but I had many lingerie companies wanting to use me. All women can be sexy no matter their size. . I always believed that your confidence and your energy is what sets the tone for your beauty. You have to accept your beauty and love your beauty. My first mission to do so is my latest project Butterfly Kisses by Nicole G which is my plus size lingerie clothing line. . I look forward to making an impact on the modeling community.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Let’s start the story by explaining I never thought in a million years I would be in position to be successful on social media with my business. I just wanted a networking tool to get projects from all over but obviously my idea expanded as I started planning. I took the time to set goals and give myself time to feel success. I had to make my social media platform Let’s start the story by explaining I never thought in a million years I would be in position to be successful on social media with my business. I just wanted a networking tool to get projects from all over but obviously my idea expanded as I started planning. I took the time to set goals and give myself time to feel success. I had to make my social media platform my internship. It’s not an upfront paying gig but if I want it to pay off then I will had to work at it. I had to analyze who my target market would be for my audience as well as my advertisers. You can’t always monopolize the market. Choose your targets and aim for them. You will get others along the way from different markets however your brand and suppliers will be based around a specific group. There is nothing wrong with collaborating with other platforms. In the beginning I studied other platforms to see where I fit to promote. Key point. Promote! Promote! Promote! Selling yourself is imperative. If you can’t sell yourself then who will want to buy? All in all I stayed true to what my goal was at every step and I stayed engaging with others. As long as you stay consistent with your audience, you will see your market grow. The Golden Rule for any business advice given is “You must understand that success doesn’t come without failure.”

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There are many times in my life where I had to stay strong and hold to the course that was given to me but there is always that moment where you see your lowest and your highest all at once. When I lost my grandparents was one of the most difficult occurrences in my life. I was young and in the 80s being biracial and thick came automatically with bullying. However, it never phased me because the reassurance to my beauty inside and out was given on the daily by my grandparents. Not saying my parents didn’t love me because they loved me a lot. If I can joke a bit, their love was that “You are here because of me so I have to keep you” type of love. Lol My grandparents had a choice to be involved in my life as much as they were. They didn’t have to but they wanted to be there for me. When they died, I began to give in to all the pressures from bullies. Their words hurt more than they ever did before. I was looking for comfort from the negative noise but they were gone. I felt unlike the Princess they raised. I couldn’t see my way out of this loss until one day I woke up on the right side of the bed. My grandfather was in a dream and he spoke to me saying, “Mija, you will always be my Princess and one day a Queen. Your world is on your plate. Eat it up!” It felt good seeing his image again but I didn’t understand all he meant. At school I went through the day and I got through the morning without much going on. Lunch was almost over without conflict until one of my bullies figured this was the right moment to prove his popularity and make me feel less. He began to crack jokes and go on and on about how surprised he was that I could cross the border at my size without them catching me. Everyone laughed. He noticed the cookie on my plate and began to tell me all the reasons on why I shouldn’t eat that cookie. As I surveyed the room I wanted to cry but then I remembered my grandfather’s words to “Eat It” so I took his advice. I picked up that big cookie and stuffed it in my mouth! Everyone looked around surprised at that point. So much so that the boy was like, “What are you doing?” I told him, “I am eating it up.” The kids didn’t understand but I did. That day I took a look at the kingdom full of jesters and decided to make them entertain me. I ate up my bullies that day and never starved for support again. I knew my grandparents were forever with me. To this day they have never left me. I could have given into the pressure but we all know the pressure sustained on this journey will reveal the most Amazing Diamond.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/giddingsnunez?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giddingsnunez

Image Credits
Shaunte Nikole