#47 – Body Embraced – interview with Jennifer Barreto-Leyva
Jennifer Barreto-Leyva
Jennifer Barreto Leyva is the first Latina plus model worldwide, a lawyer and Journalist, and the first Latina size activist worldwide, specialized in Aspectism. She has been dedicated since 1997 to the tireless journey of showing that being plus size and not achieving the ideal measurements of 36-24-36 is not a requirement for being a beautiful and successful woman.
Jen -as her fans call her- is the first Latina who participated in the Miss Universe Plus Size, the only one winning so far, not only by the judges vote but the popular vote too. She is the first Latina to be cover in Vogue Curvy. Jennifer is also Editor in Chief of Belleza XL, the first and only Magazine in history of media dedicated to plus size people in Spanish. She is also host and producer of the pioneer plus size segment of TV in Spanish worldwide.
Her work has been celebrated and highlighted for Franza Sozanni Vogue Editor and Cristina Saralegui, best known as the Latina Oprah. Jen is the first Latina nominee to the Plus Size Awards as best plus size model, defined by the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian as “The perfect plus sized woman”, for Cosmopolitan Magazine as one of the six Latinas that are re-shaping the concept of beauty and for Noticias 24 Journal by one of the top influencers worldwide, named as well by Upsocl as one of the 17 Latina plus models re-shaping the concept of beauty.
Jennifer is a spokesperson and ambassador against bullying. She is the host and producer of the very first radio show worldwide for plus size people and founder of Latino Plus Size Fashion Week. She was also the model who challenged bachata singer Romeo Santos in 2015 to work together on a video clip and starred in a documentary at National Geographic. She is the very first Latina plus model signed on an agency. Jennifer is the Latina that changes the fashion once and for all to all Latinas worldwide.
Recently named for Ravishly Magazine as one of the 14 Latina fashionistas you must follow, she was also considered for Marie Claire magazine as the woman inspiring all Latinas. She has been the only plus size Latina that belongs to Vogue Magazine staff. She introduced body positive movement 25 years ago.
