www.Raqui.com - Raqui on The Tyra Show

Raqui on The Tyra Show

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Raqui on The Tyra Show

Taping March 7th, 2008

Watch The Show

Friday, April 25th, 2008

Go to the Tyra Website for your local listing and viewing times.

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Trailer for the Tyra Show - Refresh if you want to view again

Getting Make Up Done for The Tyra Show

Watch the April 25th 2008 Episode of The Tyra Show

          The Tyra Show, It was an experience. When I saw an email in my mail box from a Tyra Show producer I was a bit wary. I wondered what kind of show would it be. I am quite picky about my appearances. Things haven't always gone the way it was supposed to and I didn't want to just be know as QUEEN RAQUI the 6'4 600lb squasher. Mind you I am not ashamed of my Queen Raqui work. But to the rest of the world it will be seen as a big joke. I want to be seen for everything I do. My writing, my size activist work, my online magazine, my poetry. I do so many things and I want to be seen as a whole not just some fat woman who sits on people.

     After talking to producers and be assured that they wanted me to be featured for my work with Queen Raqui and my LargeInCharge Magazine. I decided to take the plunge, this is national English television. This could open more doors for me and I would obviously get some attention. But most importantly will I get the right attention? Will LargeInCharge be mentioned? Will people want to know me as more than just the Fat woman who makes some extra cash sitting on people?

     With a little difficulty the show was set and I was going to be on a majority of the show. I was quite happy and proud that I was found this interesting. I was able to walk out on the Tyra Run Way and strut my stuff. I was loving the audience and it was a great feeling. I was actually a surprise to fellow guest who made an appearance before, on the Tyra Show. Her name is Gem and she started squashing her husband (Eddie) in private and they both enjoyed it. She said I am her inspiration, that because or me she is able to be squash her husband, and also be proud of herself. Gem is a follower of LargeInCharge (My online magazine for Size Acceptance and Empowerment) and she said that it has helped her realize her beauty. I was so touched, while yes I am told often how important my online magazine is, to hear it on National Television was an experience I felt deeply. Even when the woman who was the complete opposite of me (Yael - A VERY SMALL VERY SLIM 88 pound) woman tried to bash me from the audience and say I was fat and unhealthy. I had a come back for her. My favorite part is a something I say very often. "I AM FIVE TIMES MORE HUMAN, I DESERVE FIVE TIMES THE RESPECT!" Because in truth if my Humanity could be counted in pounds I was literally Five times her size!

     After the show aired I had mixed feelings. I was of course featured mostly for my Queen Raqui work but I was supposed to be able to mention my online magazine www.LargeInCharge.com I was repeatedly told by producers to say the name of both my sites. While yes I was aired as saying I am a size activist, and the fact that I had an online magazine was mentioned through out the show. I felt a bit hurt and dismayed that they cut out when I said the URL of my site. I also noticed that in the Special Thanks section, www.LargeInCharge.com was not displayed when I was told it would. Other women who came on the show (Ms. Stacie, Mercedes, Trina) also have sites and no mention of their sites were on the show. ( I have had the confirmation of at least one other women that her site was said in taping but not on the show). It leaves my mind to wander over other Tyra Shows I have seen in the past. I remember one especially because a Ex Pimp who had a stable of High Class Call Girls was on a show not so long ago. And while his site was bleeped many a time until he cooperated with the show. At the end his new website which is a dating website was mentioned. My heart hardened a bit thinking about that, if an EX PIMP got his new Dating Website URL mentioned on the Tyra Show, why couldn't they mention www.LargeInCharge.com . LargeInCharge is a FREE ONLINE MAGAZINE it empowers women and men to live their lives. It has helped thousands of people over the years. Is my LargeInCharge site not as worthy as an EX PIMPS dating site? *SIGH*

     Still I believe I was shown for who I am and all the Ladies were showcased in a positive light. I was a bit down about not meeting Tyra Banks herself. While yes I can imagine she is quite the busy woman, and after a long day of taping shows she must have wanted to just run to her dressing room, and get ready to go home. I wish I could have met her and said hello, even take a picture with her. She asked me questions during the show, and shook our hands during the closing of the show then she left promptly, I don't blame her. But I wish she would have had a bit of time to greet us. I really would have liked to tell her that her work with teen girls and body image is really an important one that I appreciate. That I hope she continues to have Plus Sized people on her shows and giving us some kind of voice. Though I wonder what the voice will be. That if she ever needed a big woman to speak to large framed girls I would be happy to help. To let her know that yes I am more than Queen Raqui and I am here to show the world that large women are doing big things and I don't mean just with our bodies.

     It left me with a bitter sweet feeling and while I can understand why she probably didn't have time. A small part of me wonders if it was just because we were not important enough guests. I am sure if we were music artists or actors, much more time would have been taken. While we are not famous according to the rest of the world. In the BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) Community in our own world we are similar to the Brittany Spears of Hollywood. We are known and everyone knows our names. It makes me wonder and I guess I might never really know why we couldn't say Hello to Tyra. We may not be the most important people in the world to some. But we are people. I cant say we were treated badly in fact things went well. Over all I have to say I am ok with this experience but still feeling a little bitter.

Raqui

Pictures @ The Tyra Studio

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