Costa Rica Entertainment – Criminologist Carolina Solano had never before entered a beauty pageant but her grandmother encouraged her to.
The 24-year-old walked the runway with ease and took the crown as the new Fashion XL girl, in a contest by Ekono. She will be the new image of the chain.
She recounts that just a few weeks ago she was shy and embarrassed. She had zero confidence and even felt ugly. The contest for plus sized girls deliberately focused on strengthening self esteem. The girls received talks and workshops about empowering themselves.
She now believes that regardless of weight or figure we can achieve anything we want. She feels she is a strong woman. She has a wonderful career as a criminologist and now another as a model. The contest was the best experience of her life, she says.
Carolina wants to empower other women with a message of acceptance. “You have to gain confidence,” she explains. She encourages other girls “to walk down the street with a good attitude.”
