HMC Magazine was excited to talk with Emme, the world's most famous plus-size model. She is the definition of Hot to us! Proving that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, her confidence and commitment to helping women with body-image issues make her inner siren shine through!

Emme was selected (twice) as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" by People Magazine, featured as one of the "Most Important Women in America" and one of the "Most Fascinating Women of the Year." in Ladies Home Journal, named Glamour magazine’s "Woman of the Year,” Emme inspires us!

This trend-setting supermodel, television host and best-selling author earned an athletic scholarship to Syracuse University, where she earned a degree in Communications. Since recognized for her significant contribution to women's athletics and the sport of rowing, Emme was even invited to the US Olympic Team trials.

She began her television career as a TV reporter in Arizona. After a time, she decided that though she liked working in television, she had had enough of news.

Upon returning to New York, a friend told her about plus-size modeling. At size 12 –14, Emme decided to explore her options. She says, “It felt so strange to walk in to a modeling agency and not be a size 2 or 4.” The agency signed her on the spot, and she started working immediately.

After six months, she caught the attention of the prestigious Ford modeling agency and signed with them. “They wanted me to be a size 14. I gained weight healthily, and kept training in the gym.” Her popularity was instantaneous. Emme recalls, “It was very exciting. I traveled all over the world. And, with my media background, I worked 300 days a year.”

When hired as a spokes-model by Revlon, in 1994, she became the first ever full-figured model to sign with a cosmetics company. Emme says that was a signal to her that something bigger was going on in society. She observed recognition of “more diversified women of beauty, all over the world.”

Emme’s career soon skyrocketed. E! hired her to host “Fashion Emergency,” she wrote three books, worked with the Today Show and became the only full-figured woman to have a doll sculpted in her likeness.

With her success, Emme felt a responsibility. “After working through my own personal issues, I became aware of other women’s problems with body image and self-esteem. Once I started listening to models, of all sizes, I realized how brutal women are on themselves.”

Emme raises awareness and funds toward treating eating and body image disorders. She was the first model to speak to these issues before a congressional sub-committee in Washington, D.C. and is the Chair Ambassador of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

She lectures at prestigious universities (including Yale and Harvard) as well as middle and high schools around the country about body image and self-esteem. She says, “I want to train women on body image and self esteem through my lecures. I don’t think there are enough people to play a part in this.”

Finding time to pursue her community service activities, continue her career and be a mother and wife can be challenging. She explains, “I work to balance making the past, present and future a better place. But, I also have to be able to make enough money to do the non-profit work.”

The arrival of her daughter Toby, in 2001, gave Emme even more motivation to be active in helping young women. “I am thinking about how I can leave an imprint for her. I want her to say ‘Wow, Mom, that’s impressive work.’” Emme wants to pave the way for her and her friends to never feel bad about their bodies.

She is currently working on a Children’s book called “What Are You Hungry For?” and is preparing to pen a series of books for teens dealing with body image and self-esteem. Still interested in television, she “prays for a morning show” so that she will be able to pick up her daughter from school in the afternoons.

Emme defines a Hot Mom as “a woman who understands her own boundaries. She is not afraid to say ‘No’ and is able to say ‘Yes’ with full gusto. A Hot Mom carves out a place for herself as well as for time with friends, and she cares for her family and herself.”

Family is number one in her world. She says, “I know when to sacrifice. My ‘star’ may not be as huge but I have such a brilliant universe at home.”