Conversations with Sommer Green

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sommer Green.

Sommer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve started my career as a plus-size model over a decade ago. I was approached by an agency that was looking to tap into the newly booming plus industry. I was completely caught off guard because I never saw myself as a model or even had interest in the fashion industry. I was an athlete and that’s all I ever thought about. I was so nervous but excited to try something new.

After my first test shoot, I fell in love and told myself I will give it my all the same as I did for sports. I studied past and current models, I interned with various fashion production and publicity companies to learn the ends and outs of the industry. My journey has been long and I look at it as more of a marathon. I started my career off with amazing blessings. I met some great people in the industry who helped guide me over the years. I actually booked my first gig with a large retailer, Torrid, the sister company to Hot Topic. I was a freelance model at the time and quickly gained other clients such as Igigi and walked the runway for the Black Business Expo. Sometimes bookings completely stopped I learned quickly to create opportunities for myself. I enjoy creating content and producing fashion shows. My bestie Meilee Marcella and I started True Curves and launched a comic book full of plus-size multi-cultural superheroes called True Sheroes. This helped reboot my modeling career. I have to walked in NY Fashion Week, Melbourne Fashion Week, Full Figured Fashion Week NY & LA, Plus Night Out NY just to name a few. A few years ago, I signed with IPM models who currently represent me still.

During my time learning the craft of modeling and the fashion industry, I became very interested in fashion show production. I had worked for a fashion PR company who represented a lot of clients for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. I was apart of a team that was majority black professionals in the fashion industry. I learned so much during this time but quickly realized the gap in the quality of shows and opportunity for plus-size fashion on the runway. I began to produce little shows and used the skills I had learned over the years interning and working for other fashion production companies. I had some great designers under my belt and wanted to share that experience within the plus community. So I began producing shows on my own. I would reach out to designers and let them know I will take care of everything I just need their pieces in the show. Eventually, I was able to put on my own shows during LA Fashion Week and it was amazing to see the plus community come together with something I built. You know the saying “if you build it they will come”, this rang so true.

Shortly after, I was able to use the connection I had made to co-produce Kurves for a Kidney. This benefit fundraiser was put on for one of our own in the plus community and was a star studded event. It is definitely one of my accomplishments I am most proud of. In 2018, I had to go on hiatus to become a caregiver for my husband who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer just five months after our wedding. This was the toughest time in my life. I think I functioned on autopilot for about a year. I was thankfully surrounded by an amazing support team. My family and his family really rallied behind us. I had friends and clients who checked in on us constantly even if it was just to see if I ate dinner or to come clean the house. I resigned my contract with IPM after my husband was back on his feet. It has been an amazing couple of years since. I have had the opportunity to work with some of my dream clients such as JC Penny’s, Kohls, Ashley Stewart, Hulu, Alo Yoga and more. The pandemic has slowed down the industry a lot but I used the time to build my next chapter and I will soon be launching my new personal care line called Body by Sommer. Somehow through everything, I am still able to work a 9-5 in my field of Occupational Safety & Health, continue to model, and now launch my own business. I can not say it has been easy yet I will say I have stamina to continue in the marathon.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not been easy for me. Life has definitely gotten in the way a few times. I was finishing up my degree in Occupational Safety and Health. I had just participated in the commencement ceremony during our honeymoon but had a couple of classes left to complete within the year. I also was laid off from my job when I returned from my honeymoon and thought modeling was going to be my means of income. But with my husband getting sick and being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer I really began to feel like the world was crashing in on me. I learned a lot from my husband’s strength. He never once asked why me so I didn’t either. We took each day one at a time and cherished each blessing we received no matter how small. I had lost consistent clients during that time as well as being laid off from my career job. Somethings were tough but it’s the way the industry is and I accepted that but somethings like with my husband and being laid off simultaneously felt like overkill but I never folded. Somehow we received what we needed when it was needed most not when we wanted it. I’ve never known the word quiet and I think that is mostly attributed to my parents and sports. My mom always says you get a 24-hour pity party after that get your butt up and move on.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a plus-size model. I do not shy away from the word plus size because I am proud of the industry and what I have contributed to the body positivity movement. As of late, I am more known for fit modeling and ecommerce but I have editorial and plenty of runway under my belt as well. I might be known for modeling and being in front of the camera but I have been doing art direction and fashion show production for years. It is a secret obsession of mine. I firmly believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind too. I have branched out into other ventures such as my new personal care line Body by Sommer that launches February 2021. This industry has shown me so much about myself. I feel as if I have grown as a stronger, independent individual due to my journey as a plus-size model. I have made friends with people who have dropped little gems of knowledge and shared with me tidbits that have molded me into who I am today. From modeling for major brands, walking the runway internationally, being featured in magazines and creating my own comic book, I have had an amazing journey. Sometimes I shock myself when I review my resume. I’m proud that I can be a positive role model for not just others in the industry but also for my beautiful stepdaughters.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think the strongest characteristic I have that are important to my success is my drive. I have never been a quitter and I also give 120% to everything I do. I have always been a big hearted optimistic person. I believe what you put out into the industry is what you get back in return. I live by this motto. I take pride in being known as professional and a caring person. I might not be everyone’s friend but they will most likely all agree that I am a professional in everything I do and genuinely care about others. These qualities keep you in the minds of clients and brands that want to work with you in the future. I am also a creative with team player qualities. These characteristics have helped me to build relationships and partnerships in the industry. I have recently been partnering with my good friend/ sister Celebrity Make-Up Artist Claudia Rivas on multiple conceptual projects that have led to some magazine placements. She and I have been creating together for the last couple of years. Its partnerships like this that will keep you relevant in the industry.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sommerboogie
• Other: True Sheroes Comic Book https://amzn.to/369nko5

Image Credits:
Photographer: Anastasiya Sazhina Make-up/Hair: Claudia Rivas