The University of North Carolina’s dance team didn’t realize who was amongst them as they danced for the basketball and football teams. They didn’t realized the buxom beauty that is Macey Long will soon be a part of a movement that will start to alter the way the public looks at beauty.

The North Carolina native was raised with a strong family foundation and sitting with Macey you could see in her eyes that her family is important to her and keeps her grounded. She graduated from UNC with a double major in Drama and Communications. Her passion is The Arts and she knew that was the path that she wanted to pursue.

After Macey graduated from UNC, three months later she did what anyone with a passion for the arts would do, she made her move to New York City. “I didn’t know anyone. I kind of was like this is where I needed to be and I’ll figure it out when I get there,” recalls Macey.

Macey worked in the food industry for the flexible hours and met various people that helped her move closer to her dreams. She did theater work and TV commercials but she found herself booking more plus size modeling work and generally leaned toward the modeling. “I love to perform, whether it is any kind of camera, whether still camera, TV or film; it’s what I love to do.”

Based on Macey’s bio she worked with Lane Bryant, The Gap, Piazza Sempione, American Eagle, Eileen Fisher, New York & Company, LL Bean, Dockers, appeared in Glamour, Redbook and walked for Saks Fifth Ave, Bloomingdales and Bergdorf Goodman. But after Dove launched their Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign that showcases people with healthy and normal body types, Playtex wasn’t too far behind them when they launched their campaign. Macey was blessed to have been given the opportunity to be chosen to represent Playtex. She has 2 national commercials in addition to print ads.

“I was so honored to be a part of the Playtex campaign because it’s a good word to get out there. It is OK if you are not a size zero, or ok if you gain weight here and there, just be healthy and happy with yourself. I know that I will never in a million years be like Gisele Bundchen. And I’m ok with that.

What was your perception of what you wanted to do when you got to New York?

Realistically I wanted to make a living performing. Whether on stage, TV or commercials I just want to perform. It’s tough because there is a lot of competition out there.

Talk to me about being a plus-sized model

The modeling world has it all wrong. When you talk about plus size modeling it starts at a size 8 which is very sad.

WOW! A size 8 is actually a good size and really not big at all. I thought plus size started at size 12.

Yes, I know, I feel it is very backwards and very sad, but unfortunately that is the way it is. However, you tend to get more work being a size 12-14. Even at my skinniest when I was on the dance team dancing 7 days a week non stop with no body fat on me I was a size 8. I just have curves like majority of American women do. The average size of a woman in the United States is a size 14. It has gotten better. But when an 8yr old girl picks up the cover of Vogue and Lindsay Lohan is on it and she is a size zero and on top of that airbrushed that little 8 yr old has no idea of what reality is. So it is an ongoing battle, but I definitely see it getting better. Dove and Playtex are helping to change this.

Just because I am not a size zero doesn’t mean I’m not happy or healthy. There are a lot of jobs that I lose because I’m too skinny and there are a lot of jobs that I lose because I’m too big. But you have to have a thick skin and be confident in yourself. You need to know that just because you are not right for that commercial or that part today doesn’t mean in a few days  that you book a huge campaign that you are perfect for. It’s all about being happy with you

Was there ever a point in your career where you were insecure because of your weight?

I’ve struggled my whole life with being the biggest person out of my group of friends. All my friends are smaller in height and weight and I always felt I was the biggest. But you kind of get to the point where you are happy with yourself and what God has given you. I have embraced my curves and my curves have gotten me a lot of jobs.

What are your relationships with other models? Is there a lot of hating and backstabbing going on?

Me personally, I feel the plus size world is a little bit different. Everyone knows each other.

Straight modeling World?

The straight modeling world usually consist of models that are 5’9 & above and usually are a size 0-2

I have been on go-sees with both plus size and straight models and the tension between the straight models is really really intense. But this is all from my observations. It’s a very small world and I see all of the same girls, and I love them. We are each very different in our own way and if I don’t get a part I have to accept that my friend was better for the part. I think the plus world is a little different. And I don’t know the Straight world but from my observation that I’ve seen it’s pretty tense. If I was to lose 60 pounds and cross over my competition will quadruple and in the plus world it is small

How do you feel about peoples perception of Plus Size modeling and stores like Lane Bryant or the Avenue that cater to larger sizes?

I think that designers are realizing that just because we are a little curvier we don’t want a potato sack around us. Forever 21, H&M & Old Navy all have a plus section now so it’s starting to become a trend. But I don’t think it should be another section. Just have the larger sizes lined up with the smaller sizes, I mean don’t section me off because I’m a little bit curvier. When I worked for Bergdorf Goodman, Eileen Fisher has beautiful clothes so it’s starting to come around. There is still discrimination from some designers that just do not want to design for bigger women. But we just need one big designer like a Calvin Klein or Prada, just one and they will all follow. But I believe its getting there. And I would love to be a part of that.

You have the model like Crystal Renn, probably the world’s famous plus size model right now. She’s been in Vogue and walked the runway for Chanel and even Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Even though you are doing a good job modeling are you trying to strive to get back to being on stage or even dancing?

I would love to get back into theater or do more commercials, but I am really enjoying modeling and that is where my interest is at the moment. And that is where I’m getting my “fix”

What are you currently working on right now?

I still have Playtex I’m working on and I just did a shoot for this designer for her new fall collection.

What are you doing in regard to sustaining your career?

I am building my reputation of being a good worker and easy to work with in addition to constantly networking to create more opportunities for myself

What is your advice to women breaking in?

The most important thing is to network and then know who you are and be true to yourself. Listen to your gut; don’t just fall into the pattern of trying to be a cookie cutter image.

Any last things you would like to say?

I want to be apart of something big. Something where people are being more accepting and erasing the idea of “plus” and not being discriminated against because I’m not a size 2. I’m a model!

You can check out Macey’s website www.maceylong.com to see more of her work.