The interview has also prompted a number of readers to write in with their reactions, and those reactions have been truly heartening.
Here are two that especially stood out.
A visitor named "Brandie" submitted the following comment, along with a vote for Christina from our survey page:
She's very beautiful and sexy. She's one of my rolemodels. Being plus-size myself, its great to see her doing things with such confidence, especially now when a lot of actresses are taking extreme measures to be thin. Seeing them taking those extreme measures is rather depressing and influential. Everytime I see her, I feel good about myself.
And "Robin" cast a ballot for Christina accompanied by the following statement, which is simultaneously an expression of gratitude for full-figured models in general:
Christina Schmidt has inspired me so much. She showed me that it's not always about being a size 2 in life. As long as you love yourself, and you have confidence, that's all that should matter! Thank you to all of you plus size models, I will consider not letting myself down about my weight, and just love myself!
We earnestly hope that the talented professionals who are responsible for making the plus-size industry such a boon to society--from the models, to the photographers and creative teams, to the companies whose financial investment drives the whole enterprise--realize how profoundly their work touches the lives of countless young women. If there is to be a cultural renewal, it will be due to their noble efforts.
A casual look for Christina, from an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation:
