By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
For the third season of her "full figured beauty pageant," super-sized superwoman Mo'Nique is taking her plus-sized protégées to the City of Light.
'Mo'Nique's F.A.T. Chance: Paris' will officially kick off with multi-city casting calls in Los Angeles (April 14), Chicago (April 19) and Dallas (April 21).
Official casting details here.
The Oprah Winfrey-co-founded network has also given viewers the chance to be a season three contestants with the launch of its online contest 'America Votes' earlier this month.
Following the national casting calls, five finalists will be flown to the City of Light where the comedic icon will lead them through a new series of boot camp trials that will test their character and challenge their own ideas of beauty. Culminating in a runway fashion show, the contestants will compete for the title of Miss F.A.T. (Fabulous And Thick) and a $50,000 cash prize in front of a panel of expert judges, all while ushering in a new era of models to the Paris catwalk.
A one-hour casting special will air on the Oxygen Network on July 21, followed by the July 28 two-hour special, which will redefine beauty in the world's fashion capital.
"We're excited to partner with Mo'Nique once again," Oxygen's President of Programming and Marketing Debby Beece said. "She is such a trailblazer and truly unafraid to do the unexpected, which makes her completely on-brand for us. Filming this third special in Paris, a city always in the foreground for fashion and glamour, is such a unique idea. It will make the show's message of self-acceptance resonate even more strongly with our audience and her fans."
Mo'Nique, legally known as Monique Imes Hicks, serves as creator, host, and executive producer of 'F.A.T. Chance.'
Next week, she will serve as an etiquette overlord on VH1's 'Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School.'
Comments: (41)
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By: vernon on 4/11/2007 6:19PM
This really has nothing to do with the subject but I could'nt get through anywhere else. Today I saw 3 carloads of plainclothes cops jump out and harass a group of elderly women sitting on a bench that the city put there. Granted they were waiting for the number to come out but they were like 65, 70 years old. At the same time, not more than 30 feet away kids are selling crack 90 miles an hour. Are they stuck on stupid or what? Please give your opinon.
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By: Dimples on 4/12/2007 8:55AM
I am proud of Mo'Nique for doing her thang and representing for the big women especially of color! ;)
To Vernon: I think it is very disrespectful to their elders and these kids should be ashamed of their actions. I think that these kids parents should be more involved with them and hands-on! Police have seen to have forgotten what they work for and what they're supposed to be doing. Like I said, there is a lot of blind justice in the U.S. and it's not only doing with the conspiracy in all of the cities police departments but with the judicial system in general. Innocent black men are missing out on bonding with their kids for crimes they didn't commit. I saw this on a show called Independent Lens: RACE TO EXECUTION on PBS. We all as black people know what's going on more than anyone else because we're on the outside looking in.
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By: Shaneika on 4/12/2007 9:06AM
OK NOW DIMPLES IS THAT UR NAME WHO SAID THESE KIDS WERE BLACK COME ON NOW GET IT RIGHT AND STOP PUTTING BLACK PEOPLE DOWN.
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By: vernon on 4/12/2007 10:18AM
To Shaneika : I'm sorry to say that the kids were black. But black, white or blue they need help.And so does the police. Dimples, thankyou for your response.
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By: CumonNow on 4/12/2007 10:41AM
isnt this story about monique taking the big women to france. stay focused people!!!
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By: Stephanie on 4/12/2007 10:52AM
I am glad Mo'nique is doing this again because it is time for society to realize that sexy does not just mean thin!
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By: NCQUEEN2BE on 4/12/2007 11:32AM
This is fabulous. I am glad Monique is doing her thing and not ashame. She is helping women (not just plus size) embrace who they are and love themselves. One question though, why in the article do they refer to her as super size? She is truly in my standards and to many others not that big compared to what most big women call big. She can't wear no more than probably a size 26/28 or even smaller. It's sad how society has transformed our minds to tell us what is beautiful. She still has the baddest legs i have ever seen on a PHAT women! You go girl!
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By: JO ANN on 4/27/2007 11:11PM
I AM SO PROUD OF MO'NIQUE. SHE HAS DONE FOR F.A.T. WOMEN WHAT OTHERS TRIED BUT ONLY TOOK IT SO FAR. SELF ESTEEM IS LIFTED, LIVES ARE ENHANCED AND DREAMS HAVE BEEN FUL-
FILLED. I KNOW THAT IF ANYONE CAN RUN A CHARM SCHOOL FOR THE "LADIES THAT LOVED FLAVOR-FLAV" (LOOSELY USED TERM), ITS MO'NIQUE. I WATCHED HER SPECIAL, "I COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR CELLMATE." MO-MO I CRIED WITH YOU. WE EMBRACE YOU LIKE PART OF OUR FAMILY. ITS JUST ME AND MY DAUGHTER. I GIVE HER TOUGH LOVE, AND ITS SPELLED OUT "DON'T PLAY WITH ME...I AM NOT THE ONE!"I KNOW A LOT OF MOMS FEEL WE COULD BE SISTERS. THE ADVICE YOU GAVE TO WOMEN ON THE PATTI LABELLE SHOW. RE:HOW YOU TREAT YOUR EX'S WIFE...WILL DETERMINE HOW SHE TREATS YOUR CHILD. AMEN. I HAVE TRIED TO SHARE THAT FOR YEARS WHY I BEFRIENDED MY EX'S WIFE AND CHILD. WE PRAY TOGETHER, WHEN I'M IN TOWN WE BREAK BREAD. AT GRADUATION WE TOOK A FAMILY PORTRAIT. MO'NIQUE GAVE ME THE ASSURANCE THAT I DID IT RIGHT. I LOVE YOU LIKE A SISTER! I SUPPORT YOU EVERY WAY WE CAN. YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY....
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By: JO ANN on 4/12/2007 12:27PM
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CONFIRMATION?
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By: JO ANN on 4/12/2007 12:44PM
MO'NIQUE IS A SHEORO IN OUR HOUSE. SHE HAS TAKEN PRIDE TO A WHOLE -NOTHER PLATEAU. SHE HAS TAUGHT WOMEN TO LOVE THEMSELVES BY REPLACING ENVY WITH SELF LOVE, DISTASTEFUL ATTIRE WITH SEXY FLATTERING SUITS AND DRESSES. RIDICULOUS HAIRDOS WITH FACE FRAMING LOCKS THAT BECOME WOMEN AND RADIATE THEIR PERSONALITIES. THE WHOLE PACKAGE IS TRANSFORMED TO CLASS FROM WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN FOR TRASH. MO'NIQUE'S SPECIAL, I COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR CELL MATE WAS SO REAL. I CRIED WITH YOU,. HOW MANY OTHERS WILL MAKE THAT MOVE. YOU ARE TRUE TO YOUR CRAFT AND WORTHY OF HONOR. I WISH I COULD BE ON YOUR TEAM. WE THINK THE SAME AS SO MANY OTHER MOMS OUT HERE. WE GO UNNOTICED AS SUCESSFUL WOMEN, INVISIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY. BUT BABY YOU GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO STAND UP AND MAKE SOME NOISE. I WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I RAISED A DRUG FREE, CRIME FREE SCHOLAR. I USED TOUGH LOVE, SOME OF YOUR VERY OWN TECHNIQUES. THEY WORK. DONT FORGET THE PATTI LABELLE SHOW ADVICE TO TREAT YOUR EX'S WIFE RIGHT. SHE WILL TREAT YOUR BABY HOW YOU TREAT HER. AFTER GRADUATION I WATCHED THAT EPISODE, AND REALIZED MY BONDING WITH MY EX'S NEW FAMILY WAS THE BEST THING I COULD HAVE DONE FOR MY CHILD. WE RAISED HER TOGETHER. WHEN I NEEDED TO SAY DONT MAKE ME CALL YOUR DADDY..... I CALLED HIS WIFE FIRST, RAN IT BY HER, SHE SAID, OH NO, WE GOT THIS, PUT HER ON. WE PRAY TOGETHER, BREAK BREAD WHEN I AM IN TOWN. GRADUATION, WE TOOK FAMILY PORTRAITS. MO'NIQUE CONFIRMED MY ACTIONS. THANKS. I LOVE YOU LIKE A SISTER.
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