by PC Marks

Created on: July 22, 2008

Tocarra form cycle three of America's Next Top Model is my favorite. Her birth name Tocarra Elaine Jones was born 3/13/81 in Daytona Ohio, attended the Stivers School for the Arts.

Her plus sized body was no match for her super-sized personality and acceptance of loving her self just as she is. While Tyra and her judges continued to remind her of her size, she took a "in your face" stance that I adored.

Though frustrated with not being able to fit into the size zero clothes provided, not once did she mention the need to diet. Instead she pointed out the skinny models flaws in an effort to under mind their confidence. To further shake them up, America voted her "Covergirl of the Week," four times. Great strategy, but it backfired and she was the seventh to be eliminated.

Ms. Jones embraced her curves and showed us how bold and beautiful she is. On her way out in true Tocarra form, she did not shed a tear but told us, "yall will see me again," as she danced and bowed out gracefully.

Since then she has signed to Wilhelmina Models as a plus-size model, been on the covers of Be, The Next Level Magazine (November 2005), Black Men magazine, Black Hair magazine, Braids magazine, and King magazine (February/March 2006, March/April 2006, and April 2008).
Toccara has modeled for Ashley Stewart, New York and Company, Target, Essence, Vibe and Smooth magazine. Her runway shows include Hot 97's Third Annual Full Frontal Hip Hop Fashion Show, Luxe & Romance Fall 2005, BET Presents: Rip The Runway 2, Elle Girl presents Dare To Be You: Wal-Mart Meets America's Next Top Models 2005 and Alice & Olivia Fall 2006. She was also selected to be part of the 2007 Rocawear "I Will Not Lose" campaign representing the Rocawear plus-size line for full-figured females.

She was photographed by Steven Meisel for an all black issue of Vogue Italia, making her the first black plus-size model to appear in the pages of a Vogue issue.

In addition to print modeling, Tocarra has worked in television co hosting an episode of 106 & Park and appearances on The Tyra Banks Show. She also hosted America's Next Thick and Sexy Model on the show. She recently was one of the former Top Model girls who appeared in post show interviews in America's Next Top Model: Exposed. She also appeared on the second season of the VH1 series Celebrity Fit Club. Jones also appeared in another reality show for VH1, Celebrity Paranormal Project in 2006.

She was a correspondent for The Black Carpet, which airs on BET. She currently hosts BET's game show series Take the Cake. She has made a cameo appearance in Trina's music video.

I believe we'll see her in movies next because a star is not made, she was born.

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