September 5, 2006

The Vegas BBW Bash - Tenth Anniversary, 2006

ELEGANT PLUS CONTENT TAGS:

Event Report by Guest Columnist Cher Rue of BBW Press

Community Events: The Vegas BBW Bash - Tenth Anniversary, 2006

Let’s Get the Party Started

This past July 25 through July 30^th was Las Vegas Nevada’s BBW Bash hosted annually at the Stardust Hotel by the BBW Network. Over a thousand people from the plus-size community gathered from all over the country and around the world for a full week of socializing. Everyone had a common interest…. being plus sized themselves or being an admirer of voluptuous beauty.

People plan up to a year ahead to attend this fun filled party that continues day and night for six days straight in Vegas, a city that never sleeps. They can attend dance lessons, pool exercises and relationship tips if they choose; or they can just gamble, eat, relax and make new friends on a daily basis. The night is where the big parties begin. After the pool get together each night which lasted until midnight, BBW nightclubs from other states sponsored club parties.

Tuesday evening Club Envy from Texas hosted a pool dance party. The party featured a show from “Big Bottom Girls” doing a Moulin Rouge review. It was a sassy performance that made the crowd go wild.

On Wednesday events during the day included a seminar for men on “How to Meet and Talk to a Lady” and a rollicking Vegas Dice tournament. That evening was a pajama party hosted by Big Connections in Connecticut which had the guest DJ “Fat Man”.Thursday early evening was karaoke with some fantastic singers, followed by a fashion show by the vendors who showed a taste of their goods. All the models were bashers, some who never walked the catwalk before. This was a great, ego boosting experience for them! Thursday night’s party was sponsored by BBW Radio out of Las Vegas with the theme of “schoolgirl”. Many dressed up for the occasion. “Tofu” was spinning some great dance tunes all night. Bash goers got to practice the moves they had learned earlier in the day from regular basher, Michael, had given dance lessons on the Electric Slide and Cha Cha slide.

Singer, Kim Yarbrough, entertains guests at the Saturday evening formal ball of the 2006 Vegas BBW Bash

Friday was the Vendors Fair where shops from all over came to sell their clothes, jewelry, art and crafts …. all geared for the plus size community. A size acceptance and self-esteem seminar was available during the day. Friday evening began with a fabulous masquerade ball featuring fun, sexy costumes that showed the flirtatious personality of each guest. Then the partying started with Club Bounce from Long Beach, California who brought their own Dj Skelly to spin hip hop and old school. Bounce had an awesome show with the “Plumpa Humpa Allstars” and the new fantastic emcee “Tree” who took over the stage and made the crowd go wild with his new song “Fat Girl”.

Saturday was another chance to see the vendors and then begin putting on your best outfit for the dinner dance. Joann and Darwin Bellemore, the creators of the Vegas BBW Bash, wanted to make the bashers feel special at this event; and they succeeded. There was a real red carpet with photographer, interviewers and stunning formal attire to make you feel like a celebrity. After the red carpet affair guests entered a huge ballroom with gorgeous decorations, food and great entertainment. The ultimate desert topped the menu, a decadent creation of three chocolate fountains of dark, white and milk chocolate for dipping fruit, marshmallows and cake. The ball was the highlight of the week. Attendees surprised the bash organizers, Darwin and Joann Bellemore, with a special presentation of thanks for all their hard work and gifted them with a cruise. Entertainment was BBW singing diva Kim Yarbrough who had the whole room mesmerized by her spectacular voice. Then there was dancing, and off to the last club party held by Club Fulfilled from Phoenix, Arizona. All the bashers had a blast, to say the least, and danced until dawn.

I have never seen so many wonderful people feeling comfortable, alive and having a blast being completely themselves with such a huge group of like-minded people. There were about 1,200 attendees by the weekend. It is so heartwarming to see everyone making new friends, greeting old ones and finding common ground to let loose and have fun.

The Bash was covered by NBC Travel which followed several bashers to learn what the event was all about. An independent documentary film-maker, Kira, a BBW herself, was also on-hand filming footage for her project “The BBW World: Under the Fat” which she is planning to submit to Sun Dance upon completion.

This is an experience many will never forget …. fun friends, and total acceptance of who you are. Everyone should have such a great experience and they can next year!

About the Vegas BBW Bash Hosts

Ten years ago Joann Bellemore had a dream. She wanted to get a group of BBW’s together in a fun, relaxed and supportive social environment where networking, acceptance and new friends were the highlights. The first bash had fifty attendees. This year they welcomed over 1300 BBW’s and their admirers to Vegas to celebrate the tenth anniversary!Joann, along with her husband Darwin begin planning for these popular events almost as soon as the most recent bash is finished. Today, many people appreciate their hard work and attention to all the little details that make such a large event a success year after year, making the Vegas Bash their annual vacation destination.

Las Vegas BBW Bash founder Joann Bellemore and her husband, Darwin

Many of the photos pictured below were taken by the official event photographer, Rob Saunders, who will have a CD of the event available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Breast Cancer.

Two Vegas Bash 2006 attendees enjoying the pool.	Kim Yarbrough singing at the Saturday evening Gala Ball.

Club Bounce party sponsors, Lisa Marie and Cher Rue flanking DJ Skelly at the Saturday evening Red Carpet event.	BBW Basher strutting her stuff down the catwalk to applause at the Fashion Show.

Singing and dancing the night away at Karaoke Night.	All dressed up for School Girl Night.

Voluptuous bathing beauties relaxing in the pool.	In the spotlight, diva Kim Yarbrough entertaining in style.