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Fit, Fierce & Favoloso: Toccara Jones in Vogue Italia
By Janine Posted on July 15, 2008 - 4:10pm
I will admit, I'm not a huge Vogue reader. I know, I should love it, as I claim to be all about fashion. While Carrie Bradshaw said she would sometimes buy Vogue instead of food ("It fed me more"), I myself have always been partial to Nylon or Jane. So when Vogue Italia's Black Issue came out this month I wasn't first in live to dive into into its instantly-iconic pages... That is, until I realized it included a full spread with Miss Toccara Jones.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, and named after an Avon perfume, Toccara has come a long way. She was the eighth contestant told to "pack her bags and return home" on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. More famous than last cycle's winner Whitney Thompson, Toccara probably should have been the show's first plus-sized winner, but has been doing very well for herself even without the title. She has appeared freaking out but ultimately getting into fabulous shape on Celebrity Fit Club and is a correspondent for BET's The Black Carpet.
Some have said that Toccara's Vogue spread looks cheap and trashy, but I think it's a good example of model perception. A skinny model in the same poseswhile inside a car trunk or half-naked and hunched over are more often taken seriously as fashion, whereas a larger woman in the same body positions are considered in poor taste. I suspect this has to do with Playboy, Vivid, and other mainstream pornography establishing curvier bodies as strictly sex symbols.
Personally, I could go with or without this much boobage, but I think Toccara looks fierce regardless. Let's be honest - a lot of weight is not something that looks good on most women, but Toccara rocks it. She's one of the ANTM plus-sized models who actually fits the definition of a 'full-figured model'. As seen on Celebrity Fit Club, Toccara has a healthy love for food but is also willing to work hard at being strong and fit.
Toccara auditioning for Top Model
How do you feel about Tocarra and her recent Vogue Italia spread?
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you are so sad!
I love Tocarra. She has come a long way and I'm proud of her. Although Vogue can be a tad boring with hardly anything to read, I usually just buy it for the outfits anyway, but only when I'm feeling rich lol. I can't afford to spend that much money just for pics.
I see your point, but I think there always has to be standards to be a model. I generally don't like plus-sized models, but Toccara is clearly built out of muscle. You have to look good in the clothes you're modeling and that takes work, whether it's sustaining off nothing but cigs and Diet Coke or hitting the gym everyday at 6am.
You know what I'd love to see but still don't? Plus-sized models that aren't your basic hourglass figure. Big hips don't always come with big busty boobs or tiny waistlines - sometimes all you get is a spare tire to match them hips.
I don't like Vogue either. Never have, never will, and I really tried. If I have to chose any of the traditional fashion magazines, I'll go with Harper's Bazaar.
Now, we've seen that pose with lots of smaller and skinnier models. They weren't considered obscene because once they put their hands up, you couldn't see their breasts at all. Nobody's hands, except maybe the Incredible Hulk's, is going to be able to cover all of Toccara's breasts. Breasts are overly sexualized in the U.S. To see a woman comfortably showing so much breast is uncomfortable to a lot of folks, and anything remotely considered excessively sexual is going to be called vulgar.
She is definitely Tits McGee but you are definitely right about model perception. Oh and also...I secretly hate Vogue...so don't worry about it. I go for Nylon, Harpers Bazarre, etc. Vogue can be so boring sometimes.
whoa, boobage, indeed.
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