-Denise Bidot

Denise Bidot broke barriers in the fashion world when she opened the Chromat SS15 Runway Show and walked for Serena William's HSN fashion line. As a plus model walking in two straight-sized shows, Denise even caught the eye of fashion figurehead Anna Wintour, who praised her presence on the runway.

As the face of Chromat Curve, an international Latina plus-size model, TV personality, mother, and all-around incredible woman, Denise is a visionary force to be reckoned with. She is constantly shattering traditional standards of beauty and seeks to change the way mainstream media presents beauty like a true #ChromatBABE.

Denise in the Underwire Bralette

 Denise is a beacon of inspiration for not only curvy Latina women around the world, but for women of all different shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Breaking boundaries and creating new spaces for herself and others of diverse backgrounds inspires Chromat to do the same. In her Q&A, Denise paid homage to the strong network of supportive women behind her helping her reach her goals. She understands the power of femininity and chooses to use it to strengthen her womanhood and her community. This is a woman in power, empowering other women to recognize and utilize their own power as well. Denise is still writing her legacy and we're honored to be a part of it.

 Denise in the Extended Bustier and Outlined Bottom

Photo by Christine Hahn 

I started modeling eight years ago, and when I began it was a very different industry than it is now. Back in the day, there wasn’t much room for trendy, plus-sized, Hispanic models. It was nonexistent. I remember when I was just starting out and they would only shoot me in muumuus and old lady clothes. I did not start out being a trailblazer but I guess it’s just from hard work and just really getting in touch with people who see that representation is necessary. It’s been awesome to be in the forefront of this change that's happening right now.

Photos by Christine Hahn 

It’s so funny because I worked with Christine Hahn many years ago at Forever 21; we actually did a photo shoot together. When I moved to New York, it was around the same time she had moved and it’s funny how when you get along with people, people want to work with you. I always admired Christine's talent and I always wanted to continue to work with her. When I moved to New York she introduced me to [Chromat Founder] Becca [McCharen] when Chromat was working on their SS15 collection. I think we just instantly clicked because we met on the same wavelength. Seeing their vision and them seeing yours. Becca is a genius, so collaborating with her wasn’t a hard thing to decide at all.

I’m not only a model, but I’m a consumer too, so I’m excited when things are changing and we get cool options for clothing. What Chromat is bringing to the table is just something that’s so different and something that people have anxiously been waiting for. Opening the Chromat show will forever be one of my favorite moments in my career.

It’s so important to work with people that inspire you and you inspire them. I feel really blessed in my career because I encounter those individuals who keep find ways to work and challenge each other mutually. 

 Opening & Closing the Chromat SS15 Formula 15 Runway Show

Left: Backstage at Chromat AW15 MINDFILES | Right: Backstage at Chromat SS15 Formula 15 | Photos by Tayler Smith 

I love a waist cincher. I love sexy lace and to be completely honest I am absolutely obsessed with Chromat. Everything about the long line bustiers or even the swimwear that you can wear as a body suit.

I don't think that people really understand that you can wear Chromat on a day to day basis!  I saw a bunch of lingerie on the Chromat instagram that I loved. Bustier with a sheer top on top. I’m constantly trying to find ways to wear that. 

The Extended Bustier and Android Pant

 That’s hard! JLO, Kate Winslet, Jessica Alba, and Drew Barrymore- that would almost complete my perfect girl group. It’s the perfect group of super smart and funny women. In my head, it’s a girl group slash play date.

Backstage at Chromat AW15 MINDFILES

What other creative ventures besides modeling and TV are you working on or want to explore? 

Well I’ve been out in LA for a few weeks and I’m trying to get the ball rolling on some acting projects. I think the next chapter in my career would to be in a film or a TV series. I feel like the opportunities are endless right now. It’s really a day and age where you can create your own content. I love that. I have a wonderful following of loyal people that have followed me from when I did HBO Latino 'Habla Women' [and then] I did a web series for Yahoo. Little by little, I’ve come full-circle back into acting, and that’s where I started, so I look forward to keeping the doors open and see what happens.

I feel like there’s a lot of things, you’re talking to a dreamer! I want to be the first plus-sized Bond girl! I'd also love to do Dancing With the Stars. I'm going to keep working for it! 

My mother has been the utmost influence to me. I’m the only child and she's a single mother. My whole life it was just me and her against the world, so I feel like I've been able to teach her some things through my career. Growing up with me, she always struggled with her weight and most of her life I don't think she ever really felt like she was perfect in her skin because she's from a generation of women who equated beauty to being thin. I’m really thankful that we’re at a place right now where we talk to each other, not just as mother-daughter, but as friends. It’s our bond. We share the experiences she’s had and the experiences that I've had and how she became comfortable with her size. It’s a learning process. Of course my daughter inspires me every day but my grandmother, she’s my biggest fan. She’s always rooted for me even before anyone realized that all of this was going to happen. She always said "Este es tu momento" or "This is your moment." My grandmother always fueled my fire and for that I’m eternally grateful. The women you surround yourself with are so important. My agent and my publicist, now my manager. So many strong independent women who are surrounding me at all times and keeping me focused-- I couldn’t ask for anything better. 

Denise at the Chromat AW15 MINDFILES Runway Show 

I started modeling just a few years before she was born and modeled all the way through my pregnancy. A month later, I was back out there working. I feel like once I had her, it gave me more motivation and more reason and drive to really go for this on a different level than I had before. Before, it was like playing dress-up, but now its so much bigger both of us: it's changing the generation she's growing up with so she doesn’t have to deal with bullying or any of that. I take her to shoots with me, she travels with me and I take her to my agencies to meet the teams I work with and other models. I’ve tried really hard to make sure she’s aware how much work goes into the hair and makeup–that it’s a production. That's a concept that most people aren't exposed to from an early age. She totally understands what's going on because sometimes I'll come home and she'll say to me, 

 “Mommy you don’t need those lashes, you’re beautiful the way you are.” I’m like “Holy crap! You’re six years old and you understand that already.” Everything else, the hair curling and extensions, none of that matters. 

What's beautiful is when you strip all of the makeup and extensions down, you're just you. Like when we're just eating dinner and playing games together, that's when I feel the most beautiful. I feel my most beautiful when she's just laying on my arm and I love that I’m able to show her that so early. 

 

It’s funny because when I started, when I moved to LA for acting, I heard a lot of "If you lost fifteen pounds, you’d be perfect.” But I wasn’t looking to compromise who I was, so I went into makeup because I loved art.  When you’re just open to things and you’re positive about your outlook and work hard and treat people with respect, great things just sort of happen. I didn’t set out to do this and once I was able to be in this position, of course I took it and I ran with it. I've always been trying to share my story and my message.

I figure as long as you keep a positive outlook there won’t be anything that will break you down. You just have to be very sure of who you are and keep pushing for those dreams. If you are given a dream it’s because you are able to achieve it.

A lot of people have thought  “Oh you dream really big” because I walked in New York Fashion Week in front of Anna Wintour. Those weren’t even goals I thought were attainable, so now I’m like okay, there’s nothing I can’t do! If I can dream it, I can do it. Other people need to understand it’s a matter of hard work, persistence, and patience. 

 

 

I’d tell myself it’s all going to be alright and not take everything in life so seriously, because everything will work out. I also think I’d tell myself to stop thinking I'm so awkward, because we treat ourselves harder than anyone else. I remember, I would be so crucial and harsh on decisions I made that don't really even matter now. As you get older you realize you just are, and you just have to live. You don't want to waste today thinking about tomorrow, just live today as it is. 

Denise in the Extended Bustier Curve shot by Christine Hahn

Shop Denise's favorite Chromat Curve pieces

See more of Denise Bidot's work here.

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