The Northwest To Host Its 2nd Annual Competition For Full Figured ...

Contact: press@nwplusamerica.com or 206.596.1115

Seattle, WA. January 23, 2013 ?Latasha Raines carries many titles; 2010 Miss Plus America, plus size model, motivational speaker, community service advocate, single mother and now Executive Director of the Northwest Plus America Pageant. Northwest Plus America is the pageant that provides opportunities for women and teens as-is, with the emphasis on confidence building, community service and realistic body image.? The pageant event is Presidents Day Weekend, February 15-17, 2013, in Vancouver, WA.? This is the 2nd year the northwest has hosted a pageant for this unique demographic. Raines started by launching the pageant in Washington State where she successfully produced the Washington Plus America pageant in February 2012. Interest spread, causing her to expand to Oregon State forming the Northwest Plus America Pageant which will yield state winners from both Oregon and Washington States from the 30 contestants. Winners will receive a generous sponsored prize package, all entry fees paid for national competition and more.

Northwest Plus America is an official state preliminary to the national Miss Plus America Pageant.? The Northwest Plus America program believes that beauty and potential come in many sizes, and is enhanced by improving our communities through volunteerism. Last year?s event drew national attention and was featured on MTV Networks last Fall.

Executive director, Latasha Raines, explains that the pageant does not encourage or promote an unhealthy lifestyle.? The pageant represents 60% of American women who are a size 12 and up, and the majority of them are clinically healthy. ?As a toned, fit college basketball player I wore plus sizes? says Latasha.?? She further states, ?the term plus was created by the fashion industry, just like petite or tall. My contestants vary in size and like any other group of individuals reflect different places of health. My job is to provide opportunities and the environment to grow confidence.? Simply stated, this system exists to level the playing field in pageantry for fuller figures.

Latasha lost both her father (49) and brother (29) recently to an undetected heart disease, both where consider the picture of health, and not required to participate in standard cardiac testing that may have prevented their deaths. Unfortunately, both passed in their sleep within months of each other.? For this reason, the Northwest Plus America Pageant has partnered with the Puget Sound American Heart Association Go Red for Women Program. She wants to give back to the American Heart Association to increase heart health awareness and to decrease heart-related deaths.? Along with fundraising, each woman crowned will act as an ambassador and volunteer during their one year reign.

The pageant has four divisions: Mrs. (married by February 1, 2013 and age 20+), Ms. (ages 30+ no age cap-can be married, widowed or divorced); Miss (ages 18-29 can be married, widowed or divorced) and Teen (ages 13-17 have never been married or pregnant).?? The Mrs./Ms/Miss division size requirement is women?s size 14 and up. The teen division size requirement is junior size 12 and up.

The Event weekend will consist of four days of events, kicking off with the Red Carpet Fashion Show event to benefit Go Red for Women on Friday, February 15, 2013. Ending with the main competition where the new Oregon and Washington State representatives will be crowned. The event will also bring in reality TV star Rosie Mercado of Las Vegas, NV and Full Figured Fashion Week Creator, Gwen DeVoe of New York. For a complete schedule of events visit the official event website: www.nwplusamerica.com

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The Northwest Plus America pageant is Oregon and Washington?s only pageant exclusively for America?s female majority, the full figured woman. To connect with Northwest Plus America, please contact us at press@nwplusamerica.com or 206.596.1115.? For Details on each state please visit www.orplusamerica.com for Oregon or www.waplusamerica.com for Washington.

Source: http://www.plus-model-mag.com/2013/01/the-northwest-to-host-its-2nd-annual-competition-for-full-figured-women/

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