PLUS MODEL MAGAZINE August 2015 Denim Issue | Page 102

get to know
the

cover models
By Madeline Jones

christina mendez
How long have you been modeling?
I entered the world of plus size modeling in 2006. But I modeled briefly in high school.

How did you get started as a model?
I always loved the world of fashion and while in high school, my Spanish teacher created a Fashion
Committee where he taught us how to work a runway. The experience was like “love at first sight”.
We did various fashion shows and photo shoots but nothing that I envisioned doing because my
body type did not resemble the models in the media or in magazines.

I later attended college and had a son who was diagnosed with severe Autism at two years old so my
love for modeling was put on the back burner for many years. I dedicated all my time to researching
Autism and finding ways to help my son better get better. As a young mother, all the stress and
sleepless nights took a toll on my spirit, personality and appearance. But it was totally worth it. My
son is now a teenager, who speaks multiple languages, can communicate via sign language and is
friendly and outgoing. He achieved many of the things they said he wouldn’t. After experiencing the
blessing of seeing my child blend in with the world, I was able to reflect on myself and collect a few
things I left in the back burner… modeling was one of the things I decided to explore again. I saw
a casting online for a runway show, booked it and the rest is history.