Chenese Lewis Productions, LLC is One of the Top 500 Small Businesses Recognized for High Customer Engagement Rates in Email Marketing.

VerticalResponse, Inc. a leading provider of self-service email marketing, online survey and direct mail solutions for small businesses, today announced Chenese Lewis Productions, LLC as one of the winners in their new customer awards program, the Vertical Response 500. This awards program highlights the top 500 small business customers that have maintained very high email engagement rates—as demonstrated by their average email open rates and click through rates. To qualify for the awards, customers had to have sent at least four email campaigns in the first quarter of 2010, and mailed to a list size of between 100-500 opt-in subscribers.

“VerticalResponse 500 award honorees such as Chenese Lewis Productions, LLC are using email marketing successfully to grow their businesses, and like VerticalResponse they know the importance of creating engaging emails that provide true value to recipients,” said Janine Popick, CEO of VerticalResponse. “The open and click through rates of their email campaigns are a testament to their excellence in growing their small business.”

VerticalResponse 500 Awards: Criteria
The team of marketing experts at VerticalResponse identified the top 500 small businesses, based on email marketing performance and engagement in the first quarter of 2010. The following criteria was used to determine the VerticalResponse 500 winners:

- Open rates: average above 20%
- Click through rates: average above 4%
- Size of email send: average between 100-500 emails per email
- Number of emails sent: at least four email campaigns

Complete List of 2010 Q2 Winners: http://www.verticalresponse.com/vr500/winners-2010-q2/

Girl Scouts of the USA enlisted four models from Wilhelmina Curve to celebrate The Changing Face of Fashion. A set of videos exploring self esteem and personal empowerment from the perspectives of plus size models Lizzie Miller, Anansa Sims, Leona Palmer and Julie Henderson, The Changing Face of Fashion was directed and shot by lifestyle and beauty photographer Cathrine Westergaard. As a part of a new initiative at Girl Scouts to address the image of girls in the media, The Changing Face of Fashion is supported by findings from The Girl Scout Research Institute.

Beauty Redefined: Girls and Body Image Survey (2010), a nationwide survey which included more than 1,000 girls ages 13 to 17, shows many girls consider the body image sold by the fashion industry unrealistic, creating an unattainable model of beauty. Nearly 90 percent of those surveyed say the fashion industry (89 percent) and/or the media (88 percent) place a lot of pressure on them to be thin. However, despite the criticism of this industry, 3 out of 4 girls say that fashion is “really important” to them.

“The fashion industry remains a powerful influence on girls and the way they view themselves and their bodies,” said Kimberlee Salmond, Senior Researcher at the Girl Scout Research Institute. “Teenage girls take cues about how they should look from models they see in fashion magazines and on TV and it is something that they struggle to reconcile with when they look at themselves in the mirror.”

The health implications of the preoccupation with unrealistic images are serious. Nearly one in three girls say they have starved themselves or refused to eat in an effort to lose weight. In addition, more than a third (37 percent) say they know someone their age who has been diagnosed with an eating disorder.

Girl Scouts of the USA and the Dove Self-Esteem Fund have partnered to offer self-esteem programming for girls nationwide and will be focusing their core leadership program to address the issues of body image in the media in relation to self-esteem. In addition to program initiatives, Girl Scouts of the USA has been instrumental in the introduction of The Healthy Media for Youth Act (H.R. 4925) to Congress, by two congresswomen, Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). This bill will work to promote healthy images of women in the media through a grant program that will support youth empowerment groups, media literacy programs, and further research into the effects of the media on women and girls.

For more information on The Changing Face of Fashion, go to: www.girlscouts.org/itsyourstory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chevese Turner
Chevese.turner@bedaonline.com
(410)570-9577

Plus Size Beauty Queen Becomes Spokesperson for Binge Eating Disorder Association

Plus Size Beauty Queen, Chenese Lewis Joins BEDA’s Mission to Promote Positive Body Image and Awareness of Binge Eating Disorder

(Severna Park, MD) July 27, 2010 -The Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) announced today that Chenese Lewis has become an official ambassador, joining the effort to increase awareness around unrealistic “body-perfect” ideals, binge eating disorder and several associated conditions, including compulsive and emotional eating, and food addiction. Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States affecting 3.5% of females and 2% of males. One in every 35 U.S. adults has the disorder and its prevalence amongst those seeking weight loss treatments, including bariatric surgery is up to 50%.

Chenese Lewis is a positive body image and self esteem advocate who made history by being the first woman crowned Miss Plus America in 2003. She is the current president of the Hollywood chapter of the National Organization for Women and creator of Hollywood NOW’s “Love Your Body Day”, an annual event where women of all sizes come together to promote positive body image. 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 is the host of PLUS Model Radio, the #1 podcast for plus size women. Her unique story and prestigious career have been featured by countless media outlets such as Dr. Phil, The Insider, and Figure Magazine.

“BEDA’s members are struggling with humiliation and embarrassment around their weight or are dangerously restricting food intake after bingeing in order to maintain a weight they deem suitable. BEDA is creating a community to support recovery and acceptance in a manner that is safe, builds self-esteem and tears down the walls of shame” states Chevese Turner, BEDA founder and chief executive officer. “

The Association is also taking the issue of “weight-bias” head on. With an increasing focus on the overweight and obese, it is well documented that weight-related bullying and discrimination is on the rise. According to studies done by Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, individuals who experience weight-bias (i.e bullying, teasing, and discrimination) are more likely to turn to food for comfort rather than diet. “This is critical information as a link has been made between the internalization of weight stigmatization and binge eating” Turner states. “Fortunately, the message that Ms. Lewis promotes of self esteem, loving your body, and promoting a broader definition of beauty is exactly the kind of role model our members need and we are thrilled to have her on board.”

Ms. Lewis will participate in the BEDA 2011 National Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, March 31-April 2, 2011, at the Firesky Resort and Spa. BEDA’s conference will provide professionals who treat binge eating disorder and its associated conditions with the opportunity to network, expand their knowledge base and augment their treatment repertoire. It will also provide a track for individuals with binge eating disorder, compulsive and emotional eating, and food addiction. This track will welcome families and friends, and will promote BEDA’s efforts to build a community for those seeking recovery and support.

Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) is a national organization focusing on the need to increase prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for binge eating disorder. BEDA is committed to facilitating awareness, high quality of care, and recovery for those who live and those who work with binge eating disorder through outreach and support, education, and resources. For more information visit www.bedaonline.com.

To learn more about Chenese Lewis visit www.cheneselewis.com

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Plus Model Magazine Announces Exciting Changes, US Television Appearance And The Magazine’s Direction For The Remaining Of 2010

New York, NY – July 24, 2010 – PLUS Model Magazine, the premier virtual magazine celebrating the plus size industry, welcomes Marie Denee – The Curvy Fashionista, to the “PLUS” family. After completing her studies, Marie set out to share with all the Curvy. Confident. Chic. Fashionistas she could reach, that “we CAN don the latest and greatest of trends, fashions, and styles that are made with US in mind!”

Since the launch of The Curvy Fashionista, Marie Denee has interviewed some of the industry’s leading designers, models, and pioneers as well as championed the latest fashion trends, entertainment news, and body image issues within the plus community.

Most recently Marie was chosen as one of 31 bloggers to take part in Society Stylist’s “Little Black Dress Experiment” Tours America. For more information visit www.societystylist.com.

As PLUS Model Magazine’s Fashion and Style Editor, Marie will be working closely with our newly appointed Executive Fashion Editor, Reah Norman, on providing the latest Fashion Trends for our PLUS readers. The emergence of talented fashion designers over the last five years will also be featured by our talented duo.

Reah Norman has been part of the PLUS Model Magazine family for a number of years and an integral part of its success. As the magazine continues to grow, so has our need for one person to lead PLUS in a very “Fashion Forward “ direction. As the Executive Fashion Editor, Reah will bring her expertise to all aspects of the magazine.

Our August Issue is due to be “live” on the first and will feature one of Los Angeles most sought after models, Denise Bidot. This hot Latina will “knock your socks” off in this sexy and denim inspired feature photographed by the very talented, Inez Lewis.

Bringing it back to NYC will be photographer Stanley Debas as he partners with celebrity stylist Spry Lee Scott for our September Issue. Featuring the beautiful, Sarah Flack, the Fashion Issue will feature trends inspired by your curves!

Lucaspictures will bring our third annual SHAPE issue, which is set to push the envelope to the limit for PLUS as we bring Australia’s, City Chic, to the NY shores. Brazilian super model Fluvia Lacerda makes her third appearance on our cover and will show her fans more than ever why we all love her curves.

We have some more exciting news coming very soon about our latest television appearance, here in the US. Please join our blog at www.plus-model-mag.com to receive the news first.

Are you excited? We certainly are!

About PLUS Model Magazine:
PLUS Model Magazine, the premiere virtual magazine celebrating the plus size fashion, beauty, arts and plus size modeling industries, inspires YOU to thrive in your curves, crave contemporary fashion and design your life on your own terms, sans apologies.PLUS Model Magazine brings aspiring and professional plus size models the information and resources needed to have a successful plus size modeling career. And for fashion conscious women with curves, we also report on the best beauty tips as well as plus size clothing companies and designers styling for today’s modern plus size women.

www.plusmodelmag.com
www.plus-model-mag.com
www.facebook.com/plusmodelmag
www.plusmodelradio.com
www.twitter.com/plusmodelmag
www.myspace.com/plusmodelmagazine.com

Tionna T. Smalls from VH1′s “What Chilli Wants,” to Headline Meeting in the Ladies Room: Let’s Talk About Sex, Love and Relationships Co-Ed Panel in August 

New York, NY, 07/16/2010: Over a million viewers watched Brooklyn born author and relationship expert, Tionna T. Smalls play matchmaker for eight weeks to musical trio TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas on VH1′s hit reality show, “What Chilli Wants.” Now it’s time to find out what New Yorkers want when it relates to love, as Tionna is set to headline an interactive panel discussion that is strictly for grown folks!

 Hosted by Harlem’s own pastry chef, Danielle Moore of Annie Mae’s Cheesecakes & Moore and produced by Blissful Elegance Events, this first co-ed Meeting in the Ladies Room: Let’s Talk About Sex, Love and Relationships event will take place on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 7 PM at Avents Loft, 15 W 28^th Street, Suite 10B, New York, NY.

 Sharing her relationship expertise and open minded approach to finding love, Tionna Smalls will be joined by a diverse group of panelist who will educate, stimulate and reevaluate all people think they know about love, sex and relationships. Other panelists include poet, author and motivational speaker,Keith K.L. Belvin, MS Edu; Ms. New York Plus America 2010, Tiffany Braxton-Belvin; Radio personality, blogger and activist, Lynx Garcia ; Sex specialist LNP, Tanisha Jacobs; erotic toys and pleasure expert, The Professor; and Author and Hip-Hop artist, Super Nova Slom.

 And while guests mentally satisfy in their love, sex and relationship appetites, Annie Mae’s Cheesecakes & Moore will serve up their infamous cheesecake shots. Guests will also be able to enjoy signature cocktail drinks and for those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, Izze Sparkling Juice will be on hand to wet their palettes with an amazing variations of their products. For those who want to take what they learned to go, Pearls of Black will have all their personal pleasure items on sale for purchase.

Tickets are $30.00 for singles and $50.00 for couples. Advanced tickets to this one of a kind event can be purchased by logging on to: http://ltaspart2.eventbrite.com/?ref=esfb. Tickets will be $50.00 at the door. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Divabetic, diabetes outreach for women.

 For more information or press inquiries, please contact: Renee D. Jennings: reneejennings@rmediagroup.com

About Blissful Elegance Events: Meeting in the Ladies Room Series
Blissful Elegance Events, founded by Ms. Denise Best is proud to introduce the newest addition to the Blissful Elegance roster: Meeting in the Ladies Room; a series of savvy events that are produced for and by women! The goal of Meeting in the Ladies Room (MITLR) is to foster sisterhood between the ladies that attend. These empowering, inspiring, and entertaining events give women an opportunity to network and share experiences. For more information on the Meeting in the Ladies Room series, please visit: http://www.mitlr.info/.

 About Tionna T. Smalls
Tionna Smalls calls herself a relationship expert today, but it did not come easily. After ending a six-year relationship, Tionna began her career by re-evaluating her past mistakes and triumphs. She used the closure that came with her relationship as inspiration in writing the book titled, “Girl, Get Your Mind Right!” It was from here that her career unexpectedly took an upward turn. Tionna began simply with a letter written in the third person to the editors of Gawker.com, a popular New York City-based blog, in hopes of them promoting her book. After a few postings, a letter from one of the editors asking for advice changed her relationship with the site from fan to columnist.

Her column, Ask Tionna received over 20,000 unique views daily during its run on Gawker.com With her tell-it-like-it-is attitude, and catchphrases such as “catbag,” Ask Tionna became one of the sites most visited sections, receiving over 100 comments a day. Reaching Internet celebrity status, Tionna’s book saw a rapid increase in sales and her blog maintained a steady fan base of daily viewers. Tionna then went on to pursue developmental opportunities with television networks, host her own Internet Radio Show “Talk Dat Ish” on BlogTalkRadio and was quoted in various publications including The New York Post. Her pursuit also led to freelance writing opportunities with other websites such as Global Grind and Radar Magazine Online. Although Tionna’s schedule had become somewhat overwhelming, she was still able to remain heavily active in her community, serving as an advocate for at-risk youth within her neighborhood.

In April of 2009, VH1 approached Tionna with an opportunity to turn years of hard work and past heartache into a position as relationship expert to Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas. In Chilli’s new series, “What Chilli Wants,” Tionna will guide Chilli on her journey to find true love in her life post-girl band TLC. With Tionna’s no-nonsense attitude and experience giving relationship advice to tens of thousands, she is sure to help Chilli find a man. What Chilli Wants was a hit for Vh1; receiving over 1.3 million viewers per episode. In June 2010, Tionna also received a book deal from Harper Collins Publishers. Her new book, Girl, Get Your Mind Right! The Tell-It-Like-It-Is Advice Your Love Life Has Been Missing will debut in December 2010.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

5th Annual Hollywood NOW Love Your Body Day Announces Whitney Thompson as 2010 Celebrity Host

The Hollywood Chapter of the National Organization for Women kicks off Love Your Body celebration October 22^nd through October 24^th

Los Angeles, CA (July 8, 2010) - Hollywood NOW, the local chapter of the 44-year-old national organization working to bring women and men into full equality, has announced Whitney Thompson as the 2010 celebrity host of Hollywood NOW’s Love Your Body Day.

Produced by Chenese Lewis Productions, LLC and co-sponsored by the city of West Hollywood, Love Your Body Day is an annual event where women of all sizes come together to celebrate a day of self-acceptance to promote positive body image. The celebration has expanded to a weekend full of events, which includes a launch party, festival, comedy show, and body image panel discussion. The Love Your Body community celebration will unfold October 22-24, 2010 in West Hollywood.

Whitney Thompson will host the festival which will take place Saturday, October 23^rd at West Hollywood Park Auditorium from 12-4 pm. Admission is free and open to the community. West Hollywood Auditorium is located at 647 N. San Vicente in West Hollywood. The festival will include performances by various singers, actors, dancers, and spoken word artists. The pinnacle of the festivities is the “real women” fashion show where models will be flaunting the styles of various plus-size designers and retailers.

For complete schedule of events or to get involved visit the event website at www.loveyourbodyday.com

About Whitney Thompson

Whitney Thompson is the first-ever full figured model to win America’s Next Top Model and a 2010 ambassador for the National Eating Disorder Association. Since winning the reality competition she has landed major campaigns with Forever 21, Saks Fifth Avenue, Torrid, and Converse. She is also an entrepreneur and has launched her own jewelry and candle line called Supermodel. Whitney is currently signed with Wilhelmina Models.

About Hollywood NOW

Hollywood NOW is a local chapter of the National Organization for Women. The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. NOW has 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since its founding in 1966, NOW’s goal has been to take action to bring about equality for all women. NOW works to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women; end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice in our society.

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www.loveyourbodyday.com

www.hollywood-now.org

 Top New York City Plus-Size Model Agency Celebrates Curves

Plus Size Models Sizzle in this Year's Hottest Carmen Marc Valvo 2010 Swimsuit Collection. Relaunching IPM Model Management 10/20 Division.

NEW YORK, June 17 /PRNewswire/ — IPM Model Management, Inc., a premier plus-size agency located in the heart of one of the world’s leading fashion capitals, is rewriting the rules for the plus-size modeling industry.

IPM Model Management is working on its re-launch to demonstrate its commitment to plus models. Currently, the agency represents an impressive group of models from all backgrounds and ethnicities, including two models from the popular reality television show, America’s Next Top Model.

The agency pairs models with fashion industry leaders like Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Elena Miro, Lane Bryant, House of Dereon and Ashley Stewart. It also works with magazines such as O Magazine, Essence and Glamour, to name a few.

“IPM Model Management  is my go-to choice agency when I’m looking for beautiful professional, true-to-size, curvy models,” says Raquel Boler, booking editor at Essence magazine.

IPM models have appeared in campaigns and shoot for Redcats, Ali, Junonia, Torrid, Baby Phat, Ashley Stewart, Slim Fast, Vanity Fair, and has worked with dozens of other high-profile clients.

This dynamic plus-size modeling agency has also landed talent contracts in films such as Bewitched, I Am Legend, Knowing and American Gangster. Television appearances are numerous and include: All My Children, The Today show, The View , Good Morning America, Ugly Betty, Mercy, Lipstick Jungle, Sex and the City and more.

“When my clients request plus-size models, IPM is my agency of choice,” says Chantelle Fraser of New York’s Flawless Event Staffing and Casting. “It’s the best specialty agency in New York.”

The agency continues to seek fresh faces for its spring and summer roster.

About IPM Model Management

For more than 20 years, Fallon Sinclair has worked in the fashion industry. Prior to founding IPM Model Management in 2001, she began modeling on the local circuit as a plus-sized runway model where a successful career was launched. She signed on with the legendary Elite Model Agency in Chicago and also went on to create and direct the plus size division at Ikon Model Management.

IPM Model Management provides top, plus-size models to the fashion and entertainment industries. It’s committed to maintaining a reputation that is synonymous with style and fashion through its innovative approach to talent acquisition and to focusing on long-term partnerships that are beneficial to both talent and clients. The company also maintains offices in Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles.