Christina Mendez

Early and personal life

The daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Mendez was born on March 13, 1981 and raised in New York City. She is an alum of both Manhattan's Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities and Morris Brown College in Atlanta.

As the granddaughter of merengue artist Joseíto Mateo, Mendez has had exposure with the entertainment business from an early age. When her career was starting to launch off, Mendez soon discovered she was pregnant and later put her career aspirations on hold. She gave birth to her only son, Damian and at the age of 2, her son was diagnosed with autism. Dedicating herself to her son's development and welfare, she placed her aspirations on hold for several years, however, in 2006 she resumed her career. In 2011, she gave birth to a daughter, Cailey.

Modeling career

Mendez has appeared in past issues of Glamour, Latina, Cosmopolitan, People en Español, Essence, Cosmopolitan, Shape, The Source and many others. She has also become one of the first full-size Latina models to have served as a featured model for such clothing line brands as Baby Phat, Apple Bottoms, Sofia Vergara, Maggy London, Qristyl Fraizer Designs, Ashley Stewart, Rocawear, PZI Jeans, and Dereon.

With the public finally shining a positive spotlight on curvaceous beauty, Christina has been fortunate to be added to countless “curvy beauty” lists including: Centric "Curvy Style" - Curvy Models Who Are Slaying The Fashion Game --, MSN Living --, Zimbio.com, ODDEE -10 Incredibly Hot Women over a Size 10, StyleBistro'- The Most Beautiful Plus Size Models .—joining fellow successful plus models: Ashley Graham, Crystal Renn, Whitney Thompson, and Kate Dillon. In 2009, FoxNews.com, the internet subsidiary of Fox News named Mendez one of the most notable top plus-size models in the industry, while The Source declared her as one of the most influential Latinas in the fall of 2009.

Christina is one of the few plus-size models to historically walk in New York Fashion Week (2016, 2014, 2013) integrated with straight-sized models, proving to critics that the beauty of fashion is for everyone and should be celebrated through body positivity. In 2016, Mendez was industry selected as "Model of The Year" by Full Figured Fashion Week.

Television appearances

Mendez was one of four models featured in BET’s one-hour television special “Rip the Runway Model Search 2008”. This behind the scenes, model search show followed Mendez through auditions, makeovers and a day in the life. Mendez opened the "plus size" segment of the 2008 special and later walked every year after.

Also seen on nationwide shows such as Telemundo's ¡Qué Noche! con Angélica y Raúl --, The Rachael Ray Show, The Today Show, Univision's Noticias al Despertar and Good Morning America.

Charitable work

She has served on the national board for Hispanic Support Organizations. Her work for the group includes organizing a scholarship gala for New York area students, working with Habitat for Humanity and the Dress for Success Campaign. She was also a member of political advocacy group Women Barack! The Vote.

Christina has lent her support and voice to a charity which hits close to home- Autism Speaks. When Christina received the diagnosis of her son having autism when he was just 2 years old. Christina helps spread the word of Autism Awareness (especially to the Latino and African American communities where diagnosis are sometimes ignored) as an advocate and spokesperson for the New York chapter for over 15 years now.