Emme became the first famous “plus-sized” model in the ‘90s, but the blond beauty says she resents that label.
“I think the word ‘plus-sized’ is really a derogatory term for anyone that just happens to have a curve,” Emme told Billy Bush and guest co-host Holly Robinson Peete on Friday’s Access Hollywood Live.
“‘Full figured’ [is better] perhaps,” she added. “Or just ‘a woman.’ There’s such beautiful women that represent 62 million women out there. And I wish that they were [given] more opportunities.”
Emme has been fairly fortunate when it comes to discrimination in the industry, though the model did experience one ugly incident which nearly caused her to quit.
“I did work on a job where a photographer, a very top photographer – I almost left the business because of him. He just looked at me and said, ‘I’m not shooting this fatty,’” she said. “My agent begged me to stay and I just said, ‘My gosh.’
“But thank goodness I stayed in, because if you give up, then you don’t make a point,” she added.
Emme didn’t initially aspire to be a model – she was more interested in sports and TV.
“I thought being a model was froufrou. I was a jock and an athlete from Syracuse University and I wanted to be an anchor,” she said. “I wanted to be a host like Johnny Carson. Honest to God, that’s exactly what I wanted to do.”
These days, Emme is busy raising her 11-year-old daughter, who is already nearly 5’ 8” and wears size 11 shoes. Despite her statuesque height for her age, Emme said she will not allow her daughter stroll the catwalk.
“There’s no way she’s going to get into modeling. No, really — no way! I really want her to have a childhood,” Emme explained. “Her father and I really believe in that. She is an incredible actor and she has been involved with school plays, taking leads, being [an] understudy. And she understands all the parts when I go through lines with her.
“She really wants to act, so it’s gonna take some time. She’s in classes,” she continued. “I’m keeping the reins tight, but I feel that she’s going to be coming out soon. But it’s slow, and I really know that if you get in too early, it could be pretty damaging. So, you want to give a child their childhood.”
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