She's a Model Student... Literally!

By: Mike Rivera
The LBCC Commuter
Video Editor/Writer

One night while hanging with her girlfriends, Tiffany Schmidt decided to snap some lingerie photos for a contest. Little did she know that would propel her to the Big Apple for a photoshoot.

22 year-old Schmidt, a top ten contender for “Star in a Bra 2012”, a contest held by Curvy Kate USA, that features ladies, with D-K cup size bra sizes. Curvy Kate, company launched its online campaign in the United Kingdom in 2009, dedicated to the women who have a bust size of  DD and up.

Danielle White, Schmidt’s close friend, was the one who decided that they should give the contest a chance, by snapping a couple photos. She also is featured in the “Star in a Bra 2012”. Together, they went on a trip of a lifetime to New York City, gaining both perspective and experience.

“Oh, I believe my confidence definitely jumped up after being in New York. Walking around in lingerie isn’t so bad either; it’s like wearing a sexy bathing suit,” said White.

Schmidt has travelled many places with her family, anywhere from Taiwan to Oklahoma. She ended up graduating from Grants Pass High School. After a year hiatus from OSU, Schmidt came to LBCC to work on her Associate’s in Literature. She now is working on her Bachelor’s in English: Literature at OSU, but is applying for nursing school.

“US women are not educated when it comes to bras, we automatically think that a D cup is huge, when in reality D is just middle of the road. We are also not told how bras are supposed to accurately fit, which can be a back pain culprit. I now look at friends and depending on what they are wearing could guess that they are wearing the wrong sized bra,” said Schmidt.

According to Hadley Malcolm, writer for the USA Today, the average bust size in the U.S. is 36DD. This average is not what is portrayed in the mainstream media, which companies like Curvy Kate are dedicated to change. For Schmidt, “Star in a Bra” wasn’t just an opportunity to model; it was an idea that she hopes other women will buy into.

“Before SIAB (Star in a Bra), I had a very minimum idea of what bra options were out there for bigger busted women. I pretty much assumed that anything Victoria Secret said and sold was bra law. Now, I see how wrong I was, not to mention my realization that I've been wrongly sized for years,” said Schmidt.

Schmidt, wanting to be part of this movement, says there are places around the Benton County that will cater to women with bigger bust sizes.

“This results in a recommended trip to Donna Bella. Its a great little shop in downtown Corvallis that will accurately size women as well as show them some UK bra options. Needless to say, I am very grateful for my SIAB experience and getting to be involved in what I hope is going to be a bra breakthrough in the US,” said Schmidt.