About
Denise Marie Bidot is a Miami‑born curve model who has turned fashion’s idea of beauty on its head. In 2014, she became the first plus‑size model to walk the runway for two straight‑size labels in the same New York Fashion Week, opening doors for fuller‑figured talent at brands such as Chromat. Her mantra‑driven movement “There Is No Wrong Way to Be a Woman,” plus her unretouched swimsuit shoots, have made her a recognizable voice for self‑love far beyond the catwalk.
Since that breakthrough, Bidot has fronted campaigns for Target, Lane Bryant, Levi’s, Macy’s, and more, while landing TV spots on Curvy Girls, HBO’s Habla Women, and Yahoo’s Mamá vs Mamá. In 2018, Univision tapped her as a judge on Nuestra Belleza Latina, cementing her reputation as a mentor and diversity advocate. Today, at 39, she juggles commercial work, speaking engagements, and a social‑media community that trusts her straight‑talk approach to body confidence.
Before Fame
Bidot grew up in a bilingual Puerto Rican–Kuwaiti household in Miami. Her mother, a former pageant queen, had shelved her own modeling dream after being told to slim down, a story that stayed with young Denise. By 12, she was in acting classes; at 18, she relocated to California, pursuing television roles.
Unable to escape size bias, she switched to makeup artistry—until a photographer suggested she try modeling herself. Trading brushes for the lens felt radical, yet agencies responded instantly. That leap from backstage to runway laid the groundwork for her history‑making NYFW moment a few years later.
Trivia
- Self‑funded viral campaign: In 2016, she produced the first “There Is No Wrong Way to Be a Woman” photo series, featuring women aged 18 to 65. The shoot went viral and was hailed by Time for celebrating every shape and background.
- Stretch‑mark milestone: A Lane Bryant ad, the same year, showed her stretch marks—left deliberately untouched—and spread globally within hours. She later appeared in the documentary Straight/Curve on size diversity.
- Screen comeback: In 2024, she added acting back to her résumé with a cameo in the indie short Tomorrow’s Waterfall: Talking in Your Sleep.
Family Life
Bidot’s anchor is her daughter, Joselyn (born 2008). The pair even shared the runway during New York Fashion Week 2019, underscoring Bidot’s belief that confidence begins at home.
She made headlines for an on‑and‑off relationship with rapper Lil Wayne that began in 2020. After several reconciliations, Bidot alleged in May 2025 that he ended the romance via text on Mother’s Day, evicted her and her daughter, and subjected her to abuse—claims Wayne has yet to address publicly.
Bidot now bases herself in New York, close to extended family, and often credits her mother for resilience and her father for a “global” outlook.
Associated With
Professionally, Bidot has modeled for Target, Old Navy, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Lane Bryant, and has shared prime‑time judging duties with Giselle Blondet, Jomari Goyso, and El Dasa on Nuestra Belleza Latina.
Within the body‑positivity movement, she is often mentioned alongside Ashley Graham, Paloma Elsesser, and Precious Lee—names Vogue cites as part of fashion’s curve vanguard. While her past with Lil Wayne keeps her in entertainment columns, Bidot insists her legacy is tied more to activism than romance.
