Kelsey Arif was crowned the winner of the plus-size-tall model competition sponsored by Evans in January. Her prize included £500 worth of Evans vouchers and a trip to Las Vegas! Here she shares how she felt about winning the competition.
1. How did it feel to win the Plus-Size-Tall model competition sponsored by Evans?
It felt amazing and to be honest it still does! It was very surreal when my name was called out as the winner and even though my family weren’t there with me, all the girls from the competition were lovely and I was lucky enough to have them to celebrate with!
It’s great that a big brand like Evans supported such a wonderful event because I feel all of us beautiful curvy women need the support from companies like Evans to make the point that the fashion industry needs to change as our curves are here to stay!
2. What items did you buy with your £500 worth of Evans vouchers that you won as a prize?
The first thing I purchased was the Camel Aztec Print Top, which I saw on the site and fell in love with! I teamed with a leather jacket for a stylish look.
I also bought a beautiful Fiorelli Satchel which looks amazing with anything; I’ve practically worn it out already! I have now spotted the Rust Charm Satchel Bag which is a similar and I have my eye on that now!
I adore the fitted indigo and black jeggings so I ended up buying a few pairs of each, as the fit is second to none! I also bought an amazing black printed t-shirt which I wear with jeggings and bow detail low wedges.
Surrendering to the flat shoe phenomenon I also bought the stylish soft tan brogues which are so comfy. And being the savvy shopper I am, I cleverly saved some of the winnings so I can now look forward to updating my summer wardrobe!
3. What was the highlight of your trip to Las Vegas?
The main highlight was going on an informal photo shoot which was so much fun! It was really exciting and I got so much one-to-one advice and tips from the experts which was really useful.
4. What were the best sights you saw?
I went to the top of the Vegas Eiffel Tower, which was scary but the views were stunning! I went walking a lot as well and was able to go into all the hotels, which are absolutely incredible. I visited The Venetian, the shopping malls and Caesars Palace where the film The Hangover was filmed!
5. Did you meet anyone that inspired you?
I met so many influential people while I was there which meant so much to me. Just to name a few; Lizzie Miller, the plus size supermodel and a lady who is a real legend, Catherine Schuller! There are loads of beautiful women who inspire me but I don’t want to be them, I want to be me!

6. Who is your favourite plus sized model?
Without a doubt, Crystal Renn, before I even knew who she was I remember seeing her photos in my local Evans shop and thinking she was gorgeous! I do think there are a lot more stunning women but I could go on forever!
7. Do you plan to pursue your career as a model?
Absolutely! There’s no uncertainty that being a size 20/22 will make it harder for me but I know I have the confidence, motivation and determination to make a change in the industry! I know more and more brands are using the occasional plus size women in their shows or shoots but the women they use are still only a size 14, rarely over a 16 and I believe this shouldn’t be the case as beauty can come in a size 0 or a size 32, so why have barriers of size?
I’ve realised it’s going to be hard learning the basics of modelling and gaining experience as there are hardly any castings for girls of my size so even though I’m busy with university and work, any free time I get I now spend working on my portfolio, watching runway and catwalks, studying and practicing poses and camera and body angles so I can hopefully teach myself! I just hope there will be more representation of sizes in fashion soon!
Did you know that up to 85% of women wear the wrong bra size? Are you aware that one in three women are unsure about their correct shoe size? Sometimes asking for help getting measured can be embarrassing but evans is here to help.
We have created informative ‘how-to fit’ videos to help you buy bras and shoes with more ease.
Watch the videos from the comfort of your own home and recreate what the models do. It could help boost your bust and will definitely boost your mood as you’ll end up feeling comfortable and in control.
And talking of uplifting things, learning your correct bra size will mean you have an excuse to splash out on some lovely lingerie. One of the most beautiful bras this season is the underwired black lace bra with cream stitch embellishment and bow detail and it’s only £16. For a real boost you could go for padded bras and a two pack peach and cream padded bra set with satin strip embellishment is a bargain at £28. However, evans also has some stunning everyday underwear like the ivory and pink soft cotton bras – just £16 for a pack of two, which works out at £8 each!
After you’ve focussed your attention on the footwear fitting video, why not treat your feet to some beautiful new ballerina flats? The chiffon bow detail will make any outfit look prettier. Or try the denim cuff sandals for a modern twist on last season’s gladiator sandals. Heels will be easier to wear if you have the correct size and the white sling back wedges are just £25.

All you need now is a tape measure. Check out our lingerie size guide and footwear size guide and happy measuring!

Evans model Toccara Jones was invited to one of the most star-studded music events of the year, The Grammys, and the stunning star wore one of the coolest red carpet outfits we’ve ever seen.
Toccara, who was a finalist on America’s Next Top Model, flaunted her trademark curves in a grey jersey dress. It fitted her shape so well she could have got away with wearing it on it’s own. The colour was divine!
However, Toccara is a woman who does things to the max so she added extra sparkle with her choice of accessories. The high heels add extra inches to her legs, which made her calves look slimmer. This is very important if you’re going for a party dress instead of a maxi dress.
If you want to draw attention to your face then a statement necklace has the effect of lifting people’s eyes upwards and a matching cuff shows that you’ve made an effort to look a million dollars.
However, you don’t need to spend a fortune to look as good as Toccara as you can find a similarly stunning outfit at evans. The black and mink drape dress is just £45 and it’s just £4 for a pack of three 15 denier tights to show off your legs in style.
The peep toe canvas booties for £39.50 are a perfect colour match to the dress and have studs on the heel for extra drama. We think Toccaro would approve!
Finish with a knotted cuff for £10 and a beautifully bold Nomad bead necklace to look like a model, whatever your budget

If you’re stocking up your spring wardrobe then there’s one item that’s a must-have: the maxi dress.
A maxi dress can be layered up to protect you against spring showers but a bright, breezy maxi dress in a gorgeous floaty fabric will keep you cool when the sunshine breaks through the clouds.
You can wear a maxi dress with flat shoes or this season’s chic gladiator and ankle cuff sandals to make the most of the fresh spring days and add heels for the night as we wave goodbye to the winter blues and celebrate the fact that summer is almost here.
The hardest thing about getting a new maxi dress is choosing just one from the fantastic selection of new styles on sale at evans.
Whatever type of woman you are there will be a dress designed for you and a way of styling it up to the max, here are some of our favourite options:
(1) Action Women
If you have a busy schedule then you need a dress that suits all sorts of occasions. A black maxi dress can take you from day to night and will last you all season as it looks completely different when worn with different accessories. A classic way to wear the black maxi dress is with a denim jacket to draw attention to your top half. It will make you look slimmer as it falls just above the waist and you can wear it with comfy block court heels to elongate your shape. With a bright red necklace and ear-ring set to match the shoes it looks like you’ve made an effort but it’s not too formal meaning you can wear it on the school run as well as to drinks soirees and spring social occasions.
(2) Trend Concious Fashion Lovers
Animal print is fiercely on-trend this spring so if you’re aiming for an up to date, fashion forward look then you need an animal print maxi dress. To make this look extra wild, wear it with a grey leather snakeskin jacket that is belted at the waist to hug your curves. A pair of grey slouch boots will keep your feet looking fabulous while you feel fit to stay out all day and all night. Every time you pass a mirror you’ll want to roar with pride at how fabulous you look.

(3) Party Princesses
The most glamorous maxi dress this season is the black embellished maxi dress to make you the belle of any ball. The embellishment around the bust draws attention to your top half and you can add some extra sparkle with some gorgeous facet ear-rings and bangles that will shine in the Spring sunlight. This high glamour look requires a show-stopping shoe like the stud and strap platform shoe. You can even glam up your handbag with a Sodamix studded bag.