From fat-shaming, body positivism & all body types inclusion to inner strength, positive thinking and making an impact
In one of our favourite interviews yet, we spoke to Laura Leonide Deiss about how she empowers women by boosting their self-esteem and discussed her career as an international plus size model who’s making a change in the fashion industry.
What made you want to move to Dubai and how long have you lived here?
I first visited Dubai in 2017 and my husband and I fell in love with the city and its energy and rhythm. We were living in Switzerland and although we loved our time there, the lifestyle and the opportunities were not as fun and promising as Dubai. We then decided to Move to Dubai in 2019 and we have been living our best life so far !
- What’s your job now?
I worked as a Marketing expert for 5 years and I used this move as an opportunity to reconnect with my inner-self and my dreams. I am now an international plus size model and I love what I do.
- Tell us how you got involved with modelling?
Born and raised in a small town in Switzerland, from a French-Spanish mom and a Mauritian dad, I was different from the other kids. From the color of my skin to my hair texture or thank’s to a precocious puberty, I always felt like I didn’t belong and wished I look like the other little girls at school.
Being the only different kid at school, I had to learn to love my uniqueness and my body at a very young age, by myself, or almost – I am lucky enough to have amazing parents who did a fantastic job at building my self-esteem and self-love and who showed me what unconditional love is.
In early 2000, social medias didn’t exist and it was therefore more difficult to find other women that looked like me or to relate to someone else’s life story.
In my teenage years, as I didn’t find a woman in the magazine or on TV who had the same body as me, I told myself I could be a little girl’s inspiration and role model’s someday. That’s how the idea of becoming a model was born. Then Tara Lynn and Ashley Graham began more and more popular and it gave me the confidence that anything was possible.
As the modelling industry in Switzerland is very small, I couldn’t start this career right away and had to wait to finish my studies first. I then worked for 5 years in marketing before following this dream. I invested a bit of money in a few photoshoots and then sent my polaroids and other pictures to a few agencies. I got positive feedbacks from them and chose the one who I knew could help me achieve my long-term goals.
- What’s it like being a model?
I have to admit, every day on set is all fun and joy. You get pampered by very talented Make-up artists and hairdressers, you get to wear beautiful designs and meet amazing creative human beings. I couldn’t be more grateful for these opportunities. But besides the fun and glitters, you have to hustle to find new opportunities, new partnerships, nothing comes easy.
Also, I really take this career as a way to change mentalities. A lot of things are changing, slowly, a lot of discussions are being initiated (like fatshaming, body positivism, all body types inclusion) which is already great but It’s not enough. Today, I know I am privileged for being a “small plus size”. Because with my size UK16/18, I still can find clothes when I go shopping in stores (and again, not in every store). But how about women who wear bigger sizes ? They are so marginalized and no-one should feel like they don’t belong, ever.
The fashion industry not only needs to create bigger sizes (size UK28 and above) but also needs to really adapt the dimensions and designs of their clothes to bigger bodies. How many times did I want to find a proper Mom jeans and ended up with a skinny jeans once worn ?
Regardless of a shopper’s size, a woman should be able to buy a piece of clothing that was designed to fit her – not tossed off as a plus-sized afterthoughts with dimensions that have run out of whack..
- What advice would you give to someone wanting to get involved in modelling industry?
Stop over-thinking and doubting, just do it. Work your pauses, your walk, invest a bit of money in a good photoshoot outside and in studio, and send your polaroids and pictures to several agencies.
Today more than ever the fashion industry are looking for all body types. Skinny, in-between, plus size, fitness figures, anyone can do it as long as you have that confidence and this little something.
Don’t let any filters, false beliefs make you think for a second that you can’t do it, that your body or face is not beautiful enough, that if you didn’t start modelling at 16 you have no chance, etc.
5 years prior getting signed, I sent my pictures to a lot of agencies. At that time, the market was not ready for me, for plus sizes. The brands/magazines were not interested and ready to showcase curvy models. It didn’t stop me from trying again 5 years later and it paid off. It is all about timing. Learn about your market, look at what other similar models are doing, know your timing. And DO IT.
- Career highlights?
All the opportunities I got so far were amazing and special, really. But if I had to choose one, I would say I am really proud to be the first plus size model to walk at the Dubai Fashion week – Fashion Forward in 2019 for the very talented designer REEMAMI. Reema Al Banna and I made a difference that day and I am so grateful for this.
- What are you most proud of?
To be honest, I am proud of the woman I am. Everything starts from within. Our actions, how we make a positive impact on this planet can only be based on who we are and our values. I am proud love is what drives me, I am proud of my family and I am proud I never stopped dreaming.
- Women empowerment – what are your thoughts on it?
Women empowerment is just my life purpose. I have so much love and respect for women. Women are magical human beings. We give life, we love unconditionally, we are sensitive and compassionate, our inner strength gives us the ability to weather life’s storms.
It took me a few years to understand what my life purpose was and it is to help women finding their own beauty standards, feeling beautiful and confident.
I am empowering women by boosting their self-esteem, through my career as a plus size woman, making a change in the fashion industry but also through my instagram account (@iamleonide) where I talk a lot about mindset and confidence.
Also, I am working on a few projects at the moment. First, my blog which will be online in July, where I will give my take and hopefully open discussions on a lot of topics such as beauty standards, confidence, plus size struggle etc. And secondly,
I am creating a women collective in the Middle East to show more inclusivity, diversity and more natural women images.
Favourite clothing stores?
Missguided, Zara, House of CB, Jacquemus, Fashionnova, Eloquii, and truly looking forward to see the new brand called 11honore, specially designed and thought for plus sizes women.
- Who inspires you?
Michelle Obama and Emma Watson. Both are brilliant, inspiring, wise, involved in so many causes, encourages sisterhood and live for a greater cause.
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell myself to get back up more quickly when I fall and to invest more time, at a young age, in personal development and personal growth. Only when you truly know who you are and your values can you find your purpose and profound happiness.