Arizona lawmaker becomes the first model in state legislature with plus-size clothing brand campaign
Arizona State Rep. Alma Hernandez, at just 26 years old, is the youngest lawmaker of the Arizona House and the youngest woman ever elected to the chamber. On top of that, when she won her seat in the 2018 midterm elections. she became the first Mexican-American Jewish woman to serve.
Now, the Democrat representing District 3 in Tucson is one of seven women featured in a national campaign for plus-size clothing brand Eloquii, which likely makes her the only person in the legislature who is also a fashion model.
Hernandez's pictures and videos have already been shared on the company's social media and throughout subways cars in New York City.
"Growing up, I never really saw a lot of women who looked like me or had my body modeling for anything," told AZCentral.com. However, she almost missed out on the empowering opportunity.
Hernandez, who received a message on Instagram asking her to apply for the campaign, assumed it was a scam.
After a follow up from the company and a discussion with her sister and her brother (Rep. Daniel Hernandez, D-Tucson), she joined other women, including those who work in law enforcement, television production, engineering and nursing, to model for the brand.
The #ModelThat campaign hopes to send "the message that it's about who you are, how you feel and how you change your corner of the world," CEO Mariah Chase told Forbes.
Meet Alma, state legislator, Arizona ? How do you #MODELTHAT? “In my world of politics, you need to be bold, strong and courageous tackling every challenge thrown your way. Confidence is key...to feel confident you need to be confident with yourself.” pic.twitter.com/ORTWaFhP0h
— ELOQUII (@ELOQUII) May 15, 2019
"The #MODELTHAT campaign has shown me that anything and everything is possible and you should never be ashamed of who you are,” Hernandez wrote on Instagram. “I am so honored to be a brand ambassador for a national clothing campaign that represents me and the millions of women who are not a size 0.”
Eloquii features clothing in sizes 14 and larger and has stores in Washington, D.C., Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Miami and New York City.
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