Actress, Model, Speaker and Advocate
Chenese Lewis is a sought after keynote speaker, expert commentator, and a positive body image and self esteem advocate. She is the current President of the Hollywood Chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Ambassador of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), and made history by being the first woman crowned Miss Plus America in 2003. Her unique story and prestigious career have been featured by countless media outlets such as Dr. Phil, The Insider, E! News , Extra and Figure Magazine. As a plus size model she has modeled for many companies including Torrid, Kmart, and served as the celebrity face for Sizeappeal.
As a keynote speaker she lectures at national workshops, seminars, and universities around the country including the University of California, Davis “Celebrate Your Body Week” and the commencement speaker at The Art Institute of California in Hollywood. Chenese’s unique perspective as a plus size woman and role model enables her to connect to real women across the country. It’s no wonder PLUS Model Magazine called her “A leader in the curvy revolution!”
As an actress her work on B.E.T’s hit show “Hell Date” showed her impeccable improvisational and comedic skills, which kept millions tuning in weekly. She also won rave reviews for her dramatic portrayal of Connie Williams, a larger than life professional baseball player in the NAACP Award winning play “The Girls of Summer” set in the 1940’s.
The Louisiana native is the Chief Creative Officer for Chenese Lewis Productions, LLC a media company established in 2007 based on the principal that you don’t have to be a size 0 to be beautiful. She is the creator and host of Hollywood NOW’s “Love Your Body Day” an annual event where women of all sizes come together to celebrate a day of self-acceptance to promote positive body image and PLUS Model Radio, the #1 podcast for plus size women. She also executive produced the 2008 Flawless Calendar, the very first of its kind, showcasing a wide variety of curvaceous models all different ethnicities, shapes and sizes with high fashion editorial images.
Chenese attributes her success by not conforming to society’s ideals of beauty but rather showing by example, that you can be beautiful and confident regardless of your size, Chenese Lewis is the epitome of the plus size woman.
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I missed the call, and I would like to listen to the replay. However, there is no player visible to start the replay. Could you please check that out?
Thank you very much.
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Sandy Reply:
October 27th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Ekaterin, what browser are you using please?
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Ekaterin Reply:
October 28th, 2010 at 2:24 am
Firefox latest update. However, the problem solved itself, or, whatever you changed solved it.
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Sandy Reply:
October 28th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Yes, got to love wordpress and its tendency to eat code! Glad you could listen in, I hope you enjoyed the call
Hi,
I loved listening to this call. Lots of great information. I have always been overweight and have been teased and bullied about my body most of my life. I exercise like mad to try and get to that so called ‘perfect’ body’ and i just can’t seem to get there. I have also recently been diagnosed with obcessive compulsive disorder when it comes to exercise. It is great to know that people can be ‘bigger’ and still have a happy and healthy life. I think its wonderful Chenese, that you are so comfortable with your body.
I now know that there is alot more to who i am, then numbers on the scale or my measurements. It doesn’t matter what they are.
Thank you so much, for sharing your story. It has shed alot of light for me about my own body. I will try to stop giving myself such a hard time about my body all the time.
Thank you very much,
Katie
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Chenese Reply:
October 29th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Hi Katie!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed listening to the call! I hope you find the strength to move on from seeking the ‘perfect’ body, because it doesnt exist! You are setting yourself up for failure! Learn to love the skin you are in and realise you are perfect with your imperfections!
XOXO
Chenese
http://www.cheneselewis.com Chenese
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Hi Chenese!
What a wonderful testimony of what happens when parents DO feed in positive self-image & self-worth even if one is a ‘cuddly-kid!’ All praise to your parents Chenese! What a fine example they are!
How great, too, that you have responded so well & embraced life so fully and so confidently. You are an inspiration to many in & through all that you are doing. I look forward to hearing more of you. I LOVE your passion! You GO GAL!
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Chenese Reply:
October 29th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Hi Aunty!
Yes, I am very blessed to have my parents and the upbringing I’ve had! Thank you for your support, it means a lot!
XOXO
http://www.cheneselewis.com
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AGAIN I am blown away. Chenese you have such a kind and wonderful and endearing and voice. Such an inspiration.
As a woman who lives with BED everyday i was very happy to hear you talking about this topic, I can’t afford the fee to become a member of BEDA however i am glad to know its there.
What can i say but thank you!
ANg
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Chenese Reply:
October 29th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Hi Ang!
Thank You! I appreciate your kind words and support! Yes, more people need to be aware of BED and know that you can overcome! BEDA is also on Facebook and Twitter
XOXO
Chenese
http://www.cheneselewis.com
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I’ve just listened on the replay. Chenese, you are an amazingly positive, vibrant, inspiring voice. Thank you for all the encouragement.
When you think about it, in many cultures, there’s more openess about body sizes and shapes. For example, in the Hamam (bathing houses) of the East, women were exposed to other naked bodies. They did not have to rely only on an “idealized” image of a perfect body.
I do believe its exacly a combination of movies-fashion-media that has created and exacerbated the body image crisis we are witnessing today.
So thanks again, Chenese, for just being there! for exemplifying and showing us what a wonderful life we can lead if we free ourselves of the tyranny of Myths.
Osnat
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