Laura Wells is taking the Australian plus size world by storm, working for M-Line, Maggie-T, and was recently featured by The Daily Telegraph doing a Lizzie Miller inspired shoot.

1.  How did you get into plus modeling? Was it always something you were drawn too?
A few years ago I was travelling with my sister, who is a straight size model, in NY. She was meeting agents and I was approached by numerous people interested in using me as a plus size model.  At the time I wasn’t completely comfortable with my body and decline the offers. When I returned to Sydney a few months on, I approached by BGM Models, the premier plus size agency in Sydney and was signed and working within an couple of weeks.

Modeling was something I just fell into. I was studying two degrees at University at the time, one in Science and the other in Law and started modeling part-time. It has only been in the last year or so that I have decided to make a career out of modeling, now that I have finished the degrees.

2.  Since you’re based in Australia, you must do a lot of traveling.  What’s your go to traveling outfit for those long trips?  What is your favorite destination?
Currently majority of my work resides in Australia, travelling between Sydney and Melbourne, however I have worked in Germany and have just been signed with an agent in Germany and the UK, so am planning on travelling for work a lot more next year.

Although not much for work, I have travelled overseas numerous times and the necessities I couldn’t possibly leave home without would include a comfy pair of jeans, one of my many dresses from the Zara basics collection, my old brown boots that are the most comfortable boots ever, my IPod, and a makeup kit!   As for my favorite destination it is so hard to choose. All the countries in Europe are so unique although I did love Croatia the coast is stunning, and I love travelling to the United States, the Northeast is great in wintertime.

3.  Do you have a memorable photo shoot? Crazy outfits? Difficult poses??
I just recently shot an article for Australian Cosmopolitan magazine titled ‘who models date’, with my boyfriend, Al. We had an awesome time on set. It was a really relaxed and fun photo shoot and it was great for my boyfriend to experience the other side of the camera and be able to appreciate how difficult a shoot can actually be.

Lots of shoots require different poses but one in particular that was somewhat difficult was shooting for the packaging of a brand of panty hose (stockings), ‘Razzamattaz’.  I was contorted into a yoga-like position so the shot would fit the packaging. My legs went dead and I had to crawl to the dressing room for my next outfit. Oh the joys of the industry, but as they say, pain is gain!

4.  What is your favorite clothing brand?  And which brand do you wish would do a plus size line?
I love Zara. We don’t have Zara in Australia so whenever I am in the USA or Europe you can usually find me there. The Zara basics brand have some great figure flattering garments and it is a real shame that they don’t have a plus size line because it would fantastic on the plus size woman.  I can sometimes squeeze myself into their largest size so I always go in too look but usually the biggest sizes have been sold, although sometimes it seems that they never had the biggest size in the first place!

5.  Whose idea was it to re-create the Lizzie Miller pose? How did you find baring it all for The Daily Telegraph?
The idea for the recreation of the infamous Lizzie Miller pose was collaboration between my agent, BGM Models and Australia’s largest newspaper circulation, The Daily Telegraph. The Lizzie Miller pose made world headlines and also created a large stir within the Australian modeling industry and we felt it was only natural to show Australia that we have beautiful plus size models working here too.

I thought the shoot was great, it was a spur of the moment shoot, so it was completely natural and was a lot of fun.  Because I am comfortable with the shape and size of my body I didn’t feel insecure, I was very confident and I think that definitely came across within the shoot and within the video that we filmed supplementary to the shoot. When the shoot went to print it was definitely an exhilarating feeling, I had enormous amounts of positive feedback on both the shoot and the video, which in turn pushed me to a new height of self-confidence as well. It’s a great feeling to know that the general public are so supportive and want to see more plus size girls.

6.  What are the campaigns you are currently working on?  Which campaigns are you dreaming about doing in the future?
I have a number of campaigns that I am currently working for in Australia, these include Rio underwear; a formal wear company named Flirt by MrK; plus size clothing lines called Mline and Maggie T, a plus size denim label named Embody Denim and swimwear company Betty diamond. I am currently working for Australia’s biggest department store, Myer, for their summer catalogue, and another chain department store Big W, for their ‘plus size’ clothing labels. I also do a lot of editorial work for Cosmo and Madison magazines and a number of other Australian magazines.

I would love to do a campaign one day for ‘Guess’, I think their shoots are absolutely gorgeous and it would be unreal to see a plus size woman in their campaigns. I would think all my Christmases had come at once if I could shoot with Valentino. The gowns are divine and I believe would look absolutely stunning on a curvy hourglass figure. A beauty shoot for Chanel makeup would be on the list of campaigns to shoot as well, the timeless elegance of Chanel is beautiful.

7.  What advice would you give other aspiring plus size models?
I believe that to be a successful plus size model you really need to love yourself and be extremely confident in your body. Most women, including the straight size models have something they dislike about their bodies, but you really have to overcome this in order to become a positive ambassador for the plus size industry. Always be yourself because you are going to be the most comfortable this way and embrace the fact that society want to see a woman with real curves. It really helps to know your body shape well and dress to flatter your figure, accentuating your best features, but most of all be confident and proud of who you are and what you represent; majority of the world’s women.