Have you ever found yourself feverishly flipping through a fashion publication, from cover to cover, searching for your likeness, only to be met with disappointment?The majority of women have.Despite being 67 percent of the market, plus-size (U.S. size 14 and up) women make up less than 2 percent of the images we see in publications, retail stores or advertising campaigns. This is a startling and indefensible statistic that Refinery29, an online destination for how to live a stylish, well-rounded life, is tackling head-on via its newly launched initiative, the 67 Percent Project. It aims to amplify the conversation around societys definition, views and acceptance of diverse beauty.On Wednesday, R29 hosted Every Beautiful Body in partnership with retailers Lane Bryant and Aerie. Held in lower Manhattan, the symposium united fashion industry thought leaders, influencers and celebrities for a day of thought-provoking panels. Orange is the New Black star Danielle Brooks (and now model) stepped in as the keynote speaker for one of the sessions.After Brooks addressed the room of 100-plus women, espnW had a conversation with the Tony-nominated actress about embracing her curves and why Serena Williams represents her ultimate #bodygoal.This interview has been modified for length.?espnW: What is your favorite part of your body and why?Danielle Brooks:?I like my thighs a lot. Theyre smooth and thick. I mean solid. I feel like an Amazonian woman because of my thighs. In a healthy way, of course.espnW: What about your favorite curve?DB: My butt. [Because] its bubbly and also firm. Just round and big. I like that its big. I like that its mine. I like that it carries me around. I like that in my head, it looks like Serena Williamss [butt]. Shes the definition of ?body goals.espnW: What makes you feel sexy?DB: When I am fully confident, I feel sexy. Theres something attractive about a woman regardless of how big or small she is. When she walks into a room, and she loves herself ... that is just attractive. She can be wearing a trash bag, but if shes feeling herself, shes sexy.espnW: Have you always been confident about your body?DB: I think what makes us all human is the fact that we are inconsistent. One day, I am feeling very confident and the next day ... ugh, I shouldnt have eaten that pizza. Its just who we are as people. Im constantly trying to change my mindset on how I look at my body. Sometimes I have to be conscious of what my brain is taking in. Maybe its because I was on Instagram too long? That might be why I feel some type of way. So, I have to change what Im taking in -- what Im reading, and what Im looking at. Because this is what the conversation is all about.espnW: What makes you feel fierce?DB: Doing what I love. Acting. Like right now, Im in The Color Purple on Broadway and when I get on that stage, and at the end of the two-and-a-half-hour show -- just giving 150 percent of myself -- and hearing that applause at the end of the night. I feel like yeah, Dani you did that!Or, working on Orange is the New Black. Getting up early. Just being a hard worker. And doing it with a peace of mind. Staying sane and grounded. All of that makes me feel fierce.espnW: How did you learn to embrace your body?DB:?Im still trying to navigate that. Growing up I wasnt that girl that all of the guys wanted. I have natural hair, dark skin, and being a big girl ... wasnt always in. Ive had to reprogram my mind. I have to know that Im worthy.espnW:?Do you think the fashion industry is evolving to be more size-inclusive?DB: Slowly. Its like a turtle right now, but were getting somewhere. As they say: slow and steady wins the race. I think we still have a long way to go when it comes to fashion. Its very upsetting to me when I open up a magazine and dont see myself.espnW: Why is every body beautiful?DB:?Every body is beautiful because you only get one. And the thing is ... this is flesh. This goes. Its really about the spirit. Because we are blessed to have this body that reflects our spirit, we have to take care of it, and we have to embrace it. Because once its gone; its gone.espnW: Curvy vs. plus-size: do you prefer a specific term?DB: I prefer curvy because it gives me the fluidity to live freely in my own body. For example, I might have a kid and gain a bunch of weight, or have a kid and lose a bunch of weight. Its a reminder to women that your body can be whatever you want it to be.Regarding the term plus-size, I understand why it bothers some women. But it doesnt bother me. To be honest, the word fat is more troubling, because it implies that you dont take care of yourself, or that youre unhealthy. But plus-size --- yes, Im a 14. Im not a size 6, and Im healthy. I never looked at the term plus-size as a negative thing.espnW: Criticisms such as: youre too curvy, too dark, or your natural hair is too distracting, are often said to women of color. How does it feel to be handpicked by Lane Bryant to be their visual representative of womanhood?DB: Overwhelming, in the best sense of the word. It feels good. Im making my people proud. Yesterday I was on stage [at The Color Purple] and as I took my final bow, this 40-something black woman in the crowd mouthed the words, Im proud of you. And thats what I feel from my community.And I feel that from people that look like me ... and that dont look like me. I am a representation of women that I follow, and that I model myself after -- Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay, Uzo Aduba and Serena --- and I want to stay. I dont want to let my ancestors down, because they just worked so hard for me to be in this position. I dont want to take it lightly, and I want to continue to make them proud.Shana Renee is the founder and editor-in-chief of All Sports Everything and a passionate New York Jets, Knicks and Yankees fan. Follow her sports talk on Twitter at @ItsShanaRenee. Authentic Nike Air Force 1 Wholesale . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Air Force 1 Deals Uk .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. http://www.airforce1cheapuk.com/ .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Air Force 1 Cheap Near Me . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Cheap Nike Sf Air Force 1 . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. PESARO, Italy -- Federico Delbonis won the first point for Argentina against Italy in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Friday then the second singles was postponed because of bad light and weather.Fabio Fognini and Argentinas Juan Monaco are down to play their opening singles on Saturday, followed by the doubles.Rain overnight and through the morning delayed the start of the tie for 2 1/2 hours, then Delbonis took more than 3 1/2 hours to beat Andreas Seppi 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3).Delbonis, a lefty playing only his sixth tie, led 3-0 but had to win the first set in a tiebreaker.Seppi served much better in winning the second set, but his unforced errors gave away the third.ddddddddddddIn the fourth, Seppi took a timeout for a back complaint, and Delbonis had break points in the seventh game, and broke in the 11th to serve for the match. He failed, but in another tiebreaker Delbonis was dominant.Monaco leads the head-to-head 3-1 but Fognini won their last match, also in Davis Cup in 2014 in Argentina, in straight sets.Italy is trying to reach the semifinals for only the second time in 18 years, while Argentina is trying to get there for the 11th time in 14 years. ' ' '