Meet The Adult Film Star Not In American Apparel's "Demographic"
LatestAn American Apparel showroom rep recently informed erotic performer April Flores that plus-size shoppers are not the company’s “demographic.” Hm, interesting! Now April is talking to us about body image, confidence, and, naturally, shopping.
First: Obviously readers were intrigued by your experience with an American Apparel showroom rep, who told you that the company wasn’t into making plus-sizes — because that’s not their “demographic.” Do you want to expand on that?
We started conceptualizing the idea of creating a [plus-size] clothing line about three years ago. We finally had a complete logo design and we had started looking for T-shirts to use for the line. We had an appointment to look at sizes and clothing samples [at American Apparel]. I became frustrated that the largest size T-shirt they carried was 2x — which ran small. I was frustrated when the rep told me that the men’s t-shirts came in larger sizes. I thought it was ridiculous that the only choice I would have with their brand would be to use men’s t-shirts. I was truly shocked at the rep’s disdain when she told us that plus sizes are not their demographic.
Where do you like to shop?
I like shopping at vintage stores, PinUpGirlClothing.com, H&M, Victoria’s Secret and finding pieces at random stores. I prefer my clothes to be on the tighter side, so I mainly purchase from stores that carry items that are made from stretchy fabric. It takes a little more time to find clothes that are stylish and flattering, but once you know what fabrics and cuts work best for you, it’s fine. Last time I went shopping I told my husband that I was so glad I wasn’t skinny because then I would have too many options and would be in the stores forever.
What’s your clothing line all about?
The idea for the clothing line came about after receiving numerous emails from other women asking me where I shop for lingerie and clothing. I always answered them elaborating on my preference for stretchy fabric, but was never able to recommend a specific brand or store. It is pretty hard to find cute, stylish clothing that fits well. I see that there is a huge “demographic” that is being ignored so I would like to provide stylish choices for women who are fashionable and have a body type similar to my own.
You seem to ooze confidence in your photographs. Were you always so sure of yourself?
I was not always so sure of myself. My confidence is something I worked hard on and have built over time.
I used to think that being thin equated being happy.
I was always larger than most of my classmates. The word used to describe me back then was chunky. When I was growing up I wanted nothing more than to be thin. I would see the other girls in my P.E. class and how their thighs didn’t touch, and I envied that. I used to stand with my legs just far enough apart so that my inner thighs wouldn’t touch like theirs. All of my teens and early 20s were spent believing that my life would be thousand times easier and that I would be happier if I was skinny. Then in my early 20s I lost a lot of weight and became a thin person. But I realized that life is the same no matter how fat or skinny you are. I was in a very unhappy place in my life, and I realized that if I wanted to be happy I needed choose to be happy in my mind. Once I understood that, everything changed and my confidence grew.
I now know that confidence and being a happy, positive person plays a more important role in attraction than body size alone. My main motivation for doing erotic work is to make the statement that fat women can express their sexuality and be sexual beings. I am challenge the norms of what is considered beautiful and sexy. I want people to examine their own ideas of what they consider appealing. For many people beauty does not just come in a size 0.
In the Bizarre article, the writer states that your “boobs and belly look creamy and lush and exotic next to the tanorexic stick clones staring dead-eyed from other magazines.” Is that how you think of yourself? How do you see yourself as a model?
I think I am a good model. I have always enjoyed being in front of the camera and have been posing for professional photographers, artist and directors for 10 years now. I truly enjoy it. When I work with an artist, my ultimate goal is to fulfill and become their vision. The final outcome is what is most important, so I do the best that I can to contribute in my own way. I see myself as bowl of fruit or a piece of clay — a subject doing my part to give the artist freedom to create. I like the history and culture of art and come from a creative family. It feels nice to participate in the making of art.