As a child, Charnelle Paulse always dreamt of becoming a model. However, she soon realised that her body was not like the skinny models’ that she saw on magazine covers. She almost gave up on her dream. But today she is a successful plus-size model and a pioneer in the industry.
Charnelle Paulse is a leader in the plus-size industry. PHOTO: Supplied/Charnelle Paulse
As a child, Charnelle Paulse loved the exposure that dance and drama gave her. However, she had always dreamt of being a model. She would always page through Cosmopolitan or Heat Magazine and was intrigued by the make-up, the beauty and the fashion that was displayed on its pages.
But despite having a love and passion for both modelling and dance, her fifteen-year-old body began to change dramatically. She developed low-self-esteem issues once she had realised that her breasts were not as perky as the models’ on the covers and that her thighs were bigger than the other girls’ in dance.
Reflecting back, she says she did not feel good about herself. “I went on all of these fad diets and this resulted in me not liking the way I thought of myself.”
After matriculating in 2003, Charnelle abandoned the dream of becoming a model. Instead, she worked at a retail bank for a few years.
Humble Beginnings
Charnelle is a plus-size model, body activist and entrepreneur. She has appeared in various campaigns for well-known brands such as Donna Claire, Jet and Foschini, to name a few.
Regarded as a pioneer in the industry, last year she established one of the world’s first curve modelling schools, the Charnelle Paulse Curve School in Cape Town.
Charnelle wants to be the person that her younger self needed whilst growing up. “I want women of all walks of life, shapes, sizes and ethnicities to embrace their bodies and to celebrate it,” she says.
Born in 1985, Charnelle hails from Athlone in the Southern Suburbs. She describes her childhood as amazing, filled with laughter and memories. She says she comes from a loving home with parents who have always been supportive. As the second eldest of three sisters, she giggles and admits that her sisters accuse her of having middle child syndrome, something she strongly disagrees with.
“I was the goofy, creative kid in the family,” says Charnelle. She first started taking ballet lessons at the age of four, later moving onto gymnastics and then onto Contemporary, Modern, African dance and Hip Hop, in which she reached Western Province Colours, she says.
Her involvement in her local church has played a huge role throughout her life. She was very involved in youth activities at her church, taking part in spiritual dance and church dramas. Charnelle believes that this is what sparked her love for the arts and creativity.
“Dance was a form that I could express myself in. You are wearing [these] different outfits… you are expressing yourself through the lyrics and music,” she states.
The Charnelle Paulse Curve School was opened in 2019. PHOTO: Supplied/Charnelle Paulse
She met her now-husband at a youth function when she was fifteen years old. Charnelle laughs as she recalls their meeting and says that he was everything she wanted in a guy at that age. “He was the tall, dark and handsome guy with a really nice smile, and he was wearing Jordan’s [sneakers],” she says.
At the age of 23 years old, Charnelle married her childhood sweetheart, former Ajax Cape Town footballer, Nathan Paulse.
After her husband was offered a contract to play overseas, she resigned from her job at the bank and the couple relocated to Stockholm, Sweden. She explains that she gave up her career, because it was important for her to support her husband with his career.
When speaking about her husband, her eyes light up. He inspires and motivates her every day, she says. “He would wake up every morning and literally sweat blood and tears for something that he is passionate about. And therefore, every day, he is the illustration of what hard work crowned with success is,” states Charnelle.
The journey to self-love
Model Charnelle wants all women to love and accept their bodies. PHOTO: Supplied/Charnelle Paulse
After moving back to South Africa in 2012, she recalls paging through Elle Magazine and spotting a tiny section in the magazine advertising the up and coming plus-size industry. At the time, there were only three agencies mentioned in the article that catered for plus-size modelling.
After previously giving up on her dreams of becoming a model, with the support and encouragement of her husband, she realised that this was something she wanted to pursue. “I realised that by loving and accepting myself, I am setting myself free,” she says.
Her journey into modelling has been amazing, having featured in various local and international advertising campaigns to taking part in the African Fashion International Fashion week. But it has not been without its challenges or difficult times.
In the beginning, she would often question if it was the right decision, because of the constant rejection she faced after going to numerous castings before receiving her first yes.
According to Charnelle, the modelling industry is very cut-throat and cruel. “We (plus-size models) had to work a lot harder to break into the industry and we were constantly compared to skinnier models,” she says.
In addition, because the niche for plus-size models was so small, there was a lot of in-fighting and ugliness taking place within the industry, she says.
“There was a lot of ‘why you and not me’. And therefore, instead of helping one another, the women were constantly breaking one another down,” she states. However, she says that all of the good outweighs the bad.
She credits her faith in getting her through those difficult times, finding solace in prayer and reading her Bible. She does not believe that she would be where she is today, if she had not gone through those experiences. “It helped me develop character and I know that it is such a cliché, but it truly made me stronger,” says Charnelle.
Helping to empower women
At the Curve School, women are prepared for the modelling industry. PHOTO: Supplied/Charnelle Paulse
“At the school, we offer workshops that help train women by mentally and physically preparing them for the modelling industry. We offer advice on nutrition, fitness and offer dance classes,” says Charnelle.
She is passionate about fostering self-love, body positivity and empowering women so that they can not only reach their goals of being professional models, but also to be the best versions of themselves.
She proudly says that 10% of the school’s commission goes into another initiative that she is part of.
Apart from the school, Charnelle is involved in an NGO called the Dignity Campaign. This initiative focuses on self-esteem, identity, and goal development amongst girls between the ages of 10 and 18.
The campaign also provides facilitator training so that women can go back into their communities and run Dignity Days. Through this initiative, girls are taught about self-worth, the importance of good decision-making and how to find purpose in their lives.
This way they can help bring change wherever they are based. “We cannot reach everyone in the world. That is why we train as many people as we can so that through the skills they learn, they can help change someone else’s life,” she says.
Self-care and success
For Charnelle, in order to be successful, it is important to take care of one’s well-being. PHOTO: Supplied/Charnelle Paulse
Personal development is very important for Charnelle. She says that there is a lot of pressure and responsibility on her with regards to her business and career. Therefore it is important for her to cultivate a healthy mindset.
Charnelle’s philosophy is that you are who you surround yourself with. Similarly, you are what your thoughts are, she says, and what you think, is what you will feel.
“In order for me to be successful, it is important for me to be in the best shape mentally, spiritually and physically. It is not only a responsibility, but it is a priority,” she says.
*Please note: This interview was conducted before the nationwide lockdown regulations were implemented.