Why Big Brother’s Jessica Milagros Might Look Familiar

From Oprah Magazine

• Big Brother's season 21 lineup was unveiled last week, with 16 contestants competing this summer.

• One of the faces that may look familiar is Jessica Milagros, a plus-size model who has advocated for more body diversity in the fashion industry.

The wait is over! Big Brother season 21 kicks off during a two-night premiere on CBS on Tuesday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET. And the full contestant lineup was unveiled last week, revealing the 16 new hopefuls that will be competing for the big prize this summer.

Though naturally most of the contestants are unknowns, one face that may look familiar is Chicago-born model Jessica Milagros. Here are a few key facts to know about her as you watch.

As a plus-size model, Jessica Milagros has made waves in the fashion industry.

Milagros was not exactly plucked from obscurity by Big Brother. In fact, she'd already established a successful career as a plus-size model before she ever considered entering the show. Last year, she teamed with JCPenney as a brand ambassador, and spoke out about the urgent need for more body diversity in the fashion industry.

“I’m all about size diversity, and I think it’s evident that from what you see in the mainstream media, that you’re not seeing a lot of diversity," she told AOL. "You’re seeing a change, and that’s great, but there’s still so much of the same body type. And so I personally am here to help women just see something different than your average 5’11 runway model."

She went on to point out that she herself, as a size 16-18, represents "the average woman" in America, and yet she struggles to see herself represented in media and fashion spreads. "If I don’t see enough of me around when I’m shooting and when I’m working with these brands, then how is someone bigger than me going to feel?" she questioned. "I keep on fighting for size diversity, for inclusion, because I think thats important. I think little girls want to see that, and it should be their normal that there’s not just one standard of beauty." Heck! Yes!

Her Big Brother strategy is to be genuine.

Milagros has a deceptively simple–and admirable–strategy for surviving the Big Brother house. "I just believe in being myself and genuinely getting to know the housemates," she said in her official CBS bio. "I’m someone who observes actions and can be fun but laid back. I know from experience that if you ask someone about themselves and show true interest they tend to confide in you." Hard to argue with that!

Milagros just ran a half marathon.

Just in case there's anybody out there still laboring under the false impression that you can't be both plus-size and healthy, Milagros is a true athlete and just ran a half-marathon–at Disney World, no less!

In a sweet post-race Instagram message, she thanked her friends who ran by her side, and went on to write, "Finally, thank you to this marvelous thing I call my body, I’m so grateful to have a strong, thick vessel to support me through this type of a challenge, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do whatever you put your mind to, even if it’s something crazy like a #marathon"

In a more recent Instagran post, Milagros opened up about her passion for fitness while promoting Nike's new plus-size mannequin. "Speaking as a #size18 model and plus size woman who goes to spin classes, hot yoga sessions and ran a marathon in February, I’m ecstatic and #proud that @nike unveiled their plus size mannequin," she wrote. "This is encouraging for women who struggle to feel welcome in spaces that idealize only one form of fit and has me hopeful to seeing good supportive athletic wear and a positive representation of plus size women in mainstream media. Yes, we run, lounge and workout."

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