Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamila Tarisai.
Jamila, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Iconic Bride Magazine is a labor of love… Self-Love. It was birthed out of a need for size-inclusion in the bridal fashion industry and bridal media. After working in the bridal industry as a bridal stylist at David’s Bridal as well as a hair and makeup artist I noticed a trend in bridal media. High fashion bridal designers had nothing to offer a bride over a size 10 without price gouging and national bridal media had a size-inclusive issue maybe once a year. What that means is that the everyday bride/woman had no content to inspire them. If I’m a size 12 I couldn’t buy a sample at a trunk show! A trunk show is where designers bring sample gowns to sale at a fraction of the cost. Those samples are 0-4’s! This was an outrage for the average American woman who’s a size 14-16.
At the moment I had a light bulb turn on! We need the representation of ALL women in bridal media! Thus, Iconic Bride was born. Iconic Bride is the first nation size-inclusive bridal magazine!
Has it been a smooth road?
This road has been slow and steady. We got support right off the bat. However, it takes money and consistent content to keep this afloat. Our first issue dropped August 10th, 2020, and our second Jan 25th, 2020. As we were preparing for our launch party and the cover shoot for our summer issue COVID-19 showed its ugly face and put a halt to our momentum. Once things opened up a bit, we were able to do a quick cover shoot with some AMAZING vendors and friends. I have to say… It’s a blessing for me to have people who love you and your vision. These super-talented people gave a part of themselves at no cost. I know that God is on my side because I take no credit in who gives and who he brings into my circles. I just follow His steps. Our 3rd issue will be dropping in late August 2020 and we are ECSTATIC!
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Iconic Bride Magazine story. Tell us more about the business.
Iconic Bride is the sister to Beauty II Behold and they are under the parent company Jamila Tarisai LLC. Beauty II Behold is a Luxury Hair and Makeup event company. These two entities work together to build an ultimate bridal portfolio. I am most proud of being consistent in creating relative content. Beauty, Fashion, and media go hand in hand in this industry. It just made sense to create something were all of my gifts as a creative will be used to it greatest potential. I’ve always been an artist, writer, editor, and stylist. What sets us apart is that I’m always looking for an edge when it comes to showcasing the curvy body. We will push the envelope every issue to showcase curvy bodies in high fashion looks. We will break that size ceiling. They will hear us, they will dress us, they will design for us!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Curvy Bodies have always been the trend. No matter what the societal standards were. the next 5-10 years will prove that clothes are made to accent our bodies not to tell our bodies what’s right or wrong. Curvy is sexy, fashionable, and guess what lovable!
In no way am I promoting obesity or and an unhealthy lifestyle. What I am promoting is radical self-acceptance. With that perspective, I create and present to the world. Self-Confident people chose love. It’s love that creates change in self. It’s that narrative that will change the world!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iconicbridemagazine.com
- Email: submissions@iconicbridemagazine
- Instagram: @iconic.bride
- Facebook: Iconic Bride Magazine
- Twitter: @iconic_bride
Image Credit:
Photographers: Andre Brown Photography, Michelle Davina Photography, Ashley Nicole Photography, Christina Jones Photo
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