Cover Model Hosts Mall Store Opening

This week's opening of the Ashley Stewart Store at will feature a fashion show as part of a three-day celebration of plus-sized women. The show, hosted by Cover Model Search winner Venessa De La Rosa, will be on Saturday but festivities will be held from Aug. 10 through 12.

De La Rosa will be appearing in Douglasville fresh off of this summer’s Full Figured Fashion Week runway in New York. The “Face of Full Figured Fashion Week 2012” will host the grand opening festivities, which will include:

• Aug. 10, 6 to 9 p.m. – Divas Night Out with free personal consultations on hair, makeup, and nails
• Aug. 11, 2 p.m. – Fall Fashion Show hosted by the “Face of New York’s 2012 Full Figured Fashion Week,” Venessa De La Rosa
• Aug. 12, 11 a.m. – Afternoon Tea Party where everyone dressed in white receives free fashion styling tips

All events are free and open to the public.

De La Rosa was born in Ft. Lewis, Washington and now lives in Atlanta. Her father served in the military and after graduating high school, Venessa decided to follow in her father's footsteps serving in the U.S. Army for four years.

Today she lives back in Georgia and said she's excited to be partnering with Ashley Stewart for her first store grand opening.

"I've been in several Ashley Stewart fashion shows but it's very exciting to be in my first grand opening and share our fashion show with the Douglasville community," she said. "A lot of behind the scenes work went into this showing for our Fall collection, with preparing the clothes, hair and makeup.

"You'll be able to see models that you don't get to see everyday," she said, "not the thin models you see only on TV. These clothes look great on any woman of any size and shape and you'll look great in them."

The Ashley Stewart brand boasts of having a strong national following among curvy women who like their clothes trendy, bold, comfortable, and flattering. One fan recently posted on Facebook: “I L.O.V.E. Ashley Stewart; I can always go in and find something to my liking and the quality of the clothing is superb,” according to a press release.

Ashley Stewart stores are known for affordably-priced merchandise which is made with quality materials, expertly finished with dazzling embellishments, says the release.

“This brand raises the bar for plus-sized designs that sizzle with flair and fit,” says Kathy Clair, Ashley Stewart vice president of marketing. “The new store in Douglasville has all the adornments of a destination boutique.  Whether in-store or online, we look forward to helping area shoppers express their inner spirit with confidence in high value, fashion-forward clothes.”

The flagship Ashley Stewart store opened in Harlem, NY, in 1999. With more than 100 stores across the country, the stores offer savvy designs, personal fit and style guidance, the release says.

Ashley Stewart caters to curvy women with a complete line of runway-inspired clothing and lingerie in sizes 12-26, complemented by coordinating accessories and shoes. For more information on the Ashley Stewart brand, go to www.ashleystewart.com.