NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A Northwell Health senior executive assistant is being recognized for her other career. Tawana Blassingame runs the monthly online publication: queensizemagazine.com. It was a traditional magazine for a decade until switching to a free digital version.
Her work with plus-sized men and women got the attention of the White House, as Blassingame was awarded a lifetime achievement award from President Biden.
“I was a little conflicted. Lifetime achievement? I’m so young. But, It was exciting,” Blassingame admitted to Patch. “I’m a little modest when it comes to the work that I do.”
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It was UN junior ambassador Reba Renee Perry-Ufele, who presented the award to Blassingame earlier this month in Queens, after getting approval from the White House.
Perry-Ufele also handed her a Power of Dream award from actor Danny Glover.
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“That was a surprise,” Blassingame said.
Queen Size Magazine gives Blassingame a platform to highlight new fashions. She works with her VP Philip Drew, who also received the honors.
“It provides an opportunity for the public to know who we are and that there are so many resources,” she said.
But Blassingame doesn’t just sit in her home office in St. Albans typing away.
“We travel state-to-state doing photo shoots and giving talks on plus-size fashion,” she said.
They also run the Full Figured Industry Awards that started four years ago.
“We honor these people who are putting in the work in the plus-size industry,” Blassingame said.
Awards are given in categories that include models, designers and photographers.
Blassingame’s magazine also employs remote writers in other states as a niche for plus-sized fashion and lifestyle.
“It’s a billion-dollar industry — why don’t we hear more about it?” she said.
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