Leanna Carter known to most as “Nikki,” has been modeling since a young girl with the Barbizon School of Modeling. As an adult she realized there was something she was missing therefore began to pursue her dreams of modeling. After shooting with local photographers and becoming affiliated with other local plus models, she was invited to attend a plus model casting in Atlanta, GA for Theary Sim creative designer for Youtheary Khmer and booking agent for Plus 10. That was the day her life would forever change, she began to grow as a model landing jobs she never imagined.
Named Plus 10’s most successful model in 2012 therefore becoming the face of the Youtheary Khmer collection for two consecutive seasons. After the attending Full Figured Fashion week in 2012, she promised herself to set goals to network as much as possible to hopeful become more acquainted with heavy hitters in the plus size industry.
Little did she know upon her return home that hot summer Sunday afternoon the events that were about to take place. She had been invited to Las Vegas, NV to model at the Neighbourhood Awards for Steve Harvey’s women’s line sold exclusively in K & G stores. While backstage in Las Vegas, nerves ranging and palms sweating she realized she was the largest model in the entire show noticing Steve Harvey’s head designer arguing about the fit of the clothing on the models selected for the show, she became worried. It was in that moment she found the courage to face her fear of self doubt when Mr. Harvey’s head designer whispered in her ear, “that is the way the clothes suppose to fit, full and to the T.”
Through her modeling career she has been awarded opportunities in fashion, glamour, body-part, commercial print modeling and most recently fit modeling. Currently employed by Belk Department store company as a fit model, she enjoys assisting in the planning of upcoming fashions for today’s trendy woman.
Nikki has joined the nationwide movement to be healthy therefore promoting size healthy not skinny. She loves modeling and being an example to the young women of her Native American tribe that you do not have to neglect your morals to be successful in the modeling industry. Despite the odds she has faced she still believes everyone should follow their dreams no matter how far fetched they maybe. In the future, Nikki plans take on the adventure of creating summer workshops for young girls in her area focusing on self-esteem and self love. She hopes to continue to push outside of her comfort zone in the upcoming year. People ask her how do you do it and her reply is simple “invest in yourself.”
Check out our Q&A with this inspirational model!