PRESENTING THE ROYAL COURT FOR MS. FULL-FIGURED U.S.A. PAGEANT’S 2023 - NEW YORK DIVISION
Anyone who has ever said “if you been to one Ms. Full-Figured U.S.A. Pageant, you’ve been to them all” LIED! I have attended many, and each one is just as unique as the next; but all gives an amazing experience. Mother’s Day weekend, I had the pleasure of not only attending the Ms. Full-Figured U.S.A. New York Pageant, but I also had the privilege of judging as well. I can never say it enough, all of the delegates that compete are Queens in my eyes, whether they walk away with a crown or not. All of the ladies deserve to win in my opinion. They all put tucked in their nerves, came out and gave 100% of themselves.
The New York division’s director is Ciuela Suella—a name so nice you have to say it twice! Ciuela is an International Model and formerly Ms. Full-Figured USA Plus. Ciuela is on a mission to create curvy empresses with an empire state of mind. Prior to her position as director, she worked as an international model, working with some of the fashion industry's biggest names, including the Virginia Cathey Collection, Thomas Lavone, Her Game 2, Circle of Sister, and more. Ciuela has been featured in the Caribbean Plus Fashion Show in Trinidad in Tobago and has been published in multiple magazines, such as BB Plus magazine, Fashion Avenue News, Full Blossom, Elegance & Focus, and Photography Plus, among others. Her television credits include Good Day New York, Dr. Oz and The Chew just name a few. However, her journey wasn't always a glamorous one.
Growing up in the foster care system, Ciuela developed a host of emotional scars and traumas that deeply impacted her mental health and her ability to show up for herself in the world. She constantly felt like she wasn't good enough, lacking the confidence and self-love it took to ever imagine getting in front of a camera or on stage. Luckily, Ms. Theresa of Ms. Full-Figured USA Pageant gave her the courage to believe in herself and to see her true beauty.
“My 2012 pageant win would not have been possible without Theresa Randolph’s kindness and encouragement. For me, the modeling industry continues to be a source of body positivity, self-love, and support. Today, I celebrate my curvy body and show the world just how beautiful we all are. Thanks to Ms. Full Figured U.S.A, I am the sexy, sassy, and confident Ciuela Suella.”
Demiris L. White - Ms. Full-Figured U.S.A NY PLUS
Native New Yorker born and raised in The Bronx NY. The daughter of a schoolteacher for over 37 years instilled the importance of education, hard work and dedication. Her motto was to reach beyond the stars and into the universe. Ms. White educational journey started in the Bronx where she would be in talent shows and dance competition throughout the five boroughs. Ms. White defied the limit's places on her as a child with learning delays and went off to graduate college with her Bachelor's Degree in the summer of 2017. Since then, Ms. White has worked for Esperanza Center with adults with developmental disabilities and landed herself a position with the top leading trauma hospital in the south Bronx for gunshot and stab wounds. In the height of the pandemic Ms. White would need an outlet, strolling through her Instagram feed she would stumble across an ad for Ms. Full Figured Competition with no prior experience after one conversation with the CEO and founder Ms. Theresa Randolph her pageantry journey began. In 2021 although she didn't win the competition, she walked away a renewed woman.
Fast forward to 2023 where Ms. White would compete again in the New York division. While a contestant her platform: Gun Violence Awareness and prevention with the mission to seek and save lives of our youth is her primary goal.
In her earlier years Ms. White would face tragedy when her childhood best friend was killed at 16 years old.
During her re-entry into pageantry Ms. White has worked with many organizations to keep children safe and advocate for funding, after school programs and outlets for children to release stress and decompress.
On May 13th 2023 Ms. White was crowned Ms. Full Figured USA Plus New York 2023.
Nyasia Felder - Ms. Full-Figured New York
Nyasia Felder is the current Ms. Full-Figured USA New York 2023. A journey that she says has been 31 years in the making! Nyasia is a native of Uniondale Long Island, New York, and growing up she’d always looked to entertain the people around her. As she I grew older, she adapted that as a career goal for herself. Attending Nassau community college she sought after her degree in Music Education and later on explored The Music Industry for herself, adapting the stage name that she now goes by Nyasia Darling. On this particular journey, unfortunately, she had to realize and overcome the societal pressures of what beauty is, and now that she has the privilege of holding the title Ms. Full-Figured USA New York 2023, she finds it such a great Honor to be celebrated for being exactly who she is.
“I vow to be a voice for full figured women everywhere and let them know that they have the power to shine. Sometimes you just have to turn the light on.”
Dr. Erica D. Taylor - Ms. Exquisite Full-Figured U.S.A New York
Dr. Erica D. Taylor has been an Assistant Principal for 15 years at a Middle School on Long Island and an educator for 23 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Long Island University C.W. Post, Master of Science in Special Education from Adelphi University, and a Master of Arts in School Administration from The College of Saint Rose. Dr. Taylor received her Doctorate in Educational Administration, Supervision, and Instructional Leadership from St. John’s University. Her dissertation focused on “The Impact of Teacher Expectation on the Academic Achievement of Hispanic Female Students.” She has mentored many young educators and children along her journey. As an advocate for children and a “Servant Leader”, she has learned the power of PRAYER and GRIT. Dr. Taylor believes that it is better to give than to receive. She has a passion for growing people and is truly “In Service of Children”.
Her message to every young woman is to believe in the power of YET and GLO (Girls Loving Ourselves).
all images shot by Photos by PDrew
