Interview with Toccara

QSM: Well hello Ms. Fabulous Toccara. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview. You truly embody what Queen Size Magazine is all about. I just want to start by saying that I think you should have won America’s Next Top Model. But whatever (with attitude). Lol..

Toccara: Thank you. I am honored to be part of such a powerful magazine. And thank you. I too thought I should have won America’s Next Top Model (lol) But all seriousness I’m glad the top three were myself, Eva, and Yaya, three strong young black women.

QSM: Since I have seen you on everything from the covers of Next Level Magazine to KING Magazine. Featured in Ebony and Essence Magazine. TV shows, movies and the list goes on. I would love to know how it feels grow into the powerhouse that Toccara is now.

Toccara:  It feels like a dream. Never in a million years would I believe the life that I am living today. I am so glad that I can show the world the strength and sexiness that plus size women have.

QSM: I don’t know if you know it or not, but you represent the Big and Beautiful Nation and you absolutely deserve it. Is there anything that you have not done yet that you would like to in the near future?

Toccara:  Thank You. At this point in my career, I feel like I have accomplished everything I ever wanted to do from being on the cover of magazines, to doing movies, TV shows, and hosting national TV shows such as BET’s 106 and park. But you know what they say the sky is the limit.

QSM: You got that right. You have done so much in your career; what did you want to be before you got into modeling? I could see you as a teacher.   

Toccara:  Honestly being a model was always my dream. I never had a backup plan because in my eyes that was me already expecting to fail and that was not an opinion. Me a teacher? I guess that could have been a possibility because I love children.

QSM: Being a Queen sized woman with confidence through the roof, is there something that happened in your childhood that attributes to your strengths as an adult? 

Toccara:  With bullying being so common in our society today as a bigger child and teen I too was made fun of by the “skinny” or “average” girls. I remember coming home crying daily and my mother would always tell me how beautiful I was and how true beauty was having a great attitude and strong confidence. Once I hit college that fabulousness just kicked in.

QSM: Queen size women don’t have it too easy in today’s society. What advice would you give to the Queen sized women who are trying to navigate their way through Hollywood?

Toccara:  First you must believe in yourself, your talent and your craft. Queen size women have made it a long way from me to Monique to Queen Latifah to one of the most powerful and influential women, Miss Oprah Winfrey.

QSM: I know we try to stay true to who we are but we have to bend a little in order to move ahead what is a tell tale sign that we are bending to much? In relationships and our careers.

Toccara:  I would have to say bending to the point where you’re losing yourself. In a relationship going out of the “normal” to please your mate is cool but once you start losing who you are as a person is bending too much. And as far as in your career doing things that are not part of your character such as sleeping your way ahead well that’s bending too much (literally) lol

QSM:  LOL… Girl, let’s talk about it!!! Lol

How difficult was it for you to get through Celebrity Fit Club in front of millions of people? Was there ever a point off camera that you wanted to quit?

Toccara:  Celebrity Fit Club was extremely difficult because we would be shooting and working out for three days out the week and the other four I would fly between New York and LA working doing red carpets, after parties etc which left no room to work out so by the time I got back to fit club I either lost no weight or very little. 

QSM: AHH, the things we don’t see behind the scenes. So is that what inspired you to put out the workout video?

Toccara: It was something I have always wanted to do. Once I left America’s Next Top Model I lost about 25 pounds and plus size women would always ask me how I did it so I decide to do something to help them get healthier so I got with a trainer who designed the video and we put it out.

QSM: Outside of the limelight what do you see yourself doing or being in 20 years? Any kids in there somewhere? Marriage? Do tell…

Toccara: 20 years from now I will still be fabulous (lol) Hopefully married with two or three kids, with a plus size talent agency, living a happy and healthy life.

QSM: Tell me about the men in your life. What did you learn from them as far as what to expect and accept from a man?

Toccara: I have great man in my life but what I have learned from my mother is expect nothing from no one because no one, man or woman, owe you anything. As far as relationship all I wanted from a male is love and respect.

QSM: Is it easier or harder to find a good man in comparison to before you were "Toccara"?

Toccara: My personal life has not changed much. Like most women I still have moments when I can’t seem to understand men lol.

QSM: Tell me about it. (lol) Speaking of men…. Girl, what was it like being with all those men in the Ultimate Merger? I was hatin’ on you something terrible. How on earth did you not take all of them? WHEW!!!

Toccara: Girl at first I felt like I died and when to heaven but as time went by they became less “juicy” lol but I definitely agreed to do the show hoping to find romance.

QSM: Is the saying true? More money more problems. As you gained fame and fortune did you have to break yourself away from people that didn’t quite have your best interest at heart? Were there some lessons that you had to learn the hard way?

Toccara: I don’t know I still don’t think I have reach my peak yet as far as fame and fortune goes but I guess I’m part of the lucky few because I still have the same people around me before all of this. Everyone still treat me the same. Of course we all have the few family members who always got their hands out that’s nothing new.

QSM: LOL. Is there one person that you have not worked with you but would love to?

Toccara: Umm I would love to do a movie with Denzel lol

QSM: Girl, pass him on to me when you are done with him ok… lol Queen Toccara, we gracefully salute and congratulate you on all of your accomplishments thus far. There is a young lady reading this; in closing, what would you like to say to her?

Toccara: Always dream big because you never know what life have in store for you. Never give up on your dreams no matter what obstacles life may bring you.

QSM: Again, we truly thank you for joining the Queen Size Magazine family and we wish you continued success.

Toccara: Thank you and shot-out to my boy Al Boogs one of the most talented and hardest working man in the music industry. Thank you baby boy!!!