Evolution of Beauty Defined: From Sarah Baartman to Billions featuring Gwen DeVoe

Women’s fashion has consistently changed and evolved over the decades, from celebrating the hourglass curves of the 1950s to embracing the petite frame of British waif Twiggy a decade later. As decades passed, the fashion industry redefined the “ideal woman” as a “glamazon” in the 1980s ... only to shrink her down into a rail-thin gamine in the grunge era of the 1990s. In this day and age, women are defying the extremities of the status quo by embracing feminine figures of all shapes and sizes. Standing out among recent examples, the reality competition series Project Runway admirably celebrated body diversity in its 16th season by introducing plus-size models into the mix. Motivational speaker and former model Gwen Devoe has embraced the fuller-figured trend by opening an exclusive academy for training plus-size models. Creator of Full Figure Fashion Week, Devoe challenges body-shaming and beauty stereotypes in the upcoming DreamWeek event “The Evolution of Beauty Defined: From Sarah Baartman to Billions.” In addition to shedding light on Baartman and how her objectification in 19th-century freak shows attributed to today’s beauty stereotypes, Devoe’s presentation features mannequins dressed in stylish looks made for full-figured women and a panel discussion between industry professionals.