Houston-based stylist Kimberly Williams was quietly battling stage 4 breast cancer in 2022. Instead of going public, she kept the diagnosis within a tight inner circle.
But before stepping away from the spotlight, she wanted to leave the city she loved with one final gift: A joyful, affirming shopping experience where plus-size Black women could feel seen, celebrated and styled.
“She didn’t want pity,” said CURVchella co-founder Hollie Townsend. “She wanted to say thank you by creating something that made women like us feel whole.”
With the help of family, friends and a fierce will to pull it off in just three months, CURVchella was born. Held in a Houston venue packed with high-end fashion vendors, music and sisterhood, the first event drew over 400 women from across the country.
“They came from Chicago, they came from Atlanta. And the energy? You could feel it,” Townsend said. “People were crying. Women were walking in saying, ‘I’ve never felt like this before.’”
Williams went on to recover, and with her recovery came a new mission. CURVchella expanded into something much deeper than a fashion expo. It became a platform, a support system and a movement.
CURVchella returns as a shopping expo and a thriving cultural movement rooted in radical self-love, sisterhood and empowerment. Kicking off Friday, August 1st, with a panel titled “Dear Future Hubby,” the event weaves together fashion, relationships, wellness and entrepreneurship while rewriting what it means to thrive in a body the world isn’t always ready to celebrate.
“We want quality. We want to feel luxurious. And we deserve to walk into a store and know there’s something for us.”
Hollie Townsend, CURVchella co-founder
The event has grown beyond racks of size-inclusive fashion into something much deeper. In this space, curvy Black women find community, share resources and redefine beauty and success on their terms. Past events have included wellness workshops, financial literacy sessions, relationship panels and an all-inclusive fashion show at The Galleria, Houston’s high-end retail hub.
CURVchella’s impact doesn’t stop at the runway.
The organization’s ongoing partnership with Bridig’s Hope, a transitional housing program for women experiencing homelessness, is a cornerstone of its mission. Last year, CURVchella donated contractor bags filled with new clothing, toiletries and makeup curated to fit the needs and sizes of each woman entering a new chapter in her life.
“Beacon House is our baby,” said Townsend. “We make sure those women walk into their new homes with dignity, with everything they need. That’s what CURVchella is really about, elevating women in every way.”
CURVchella also has a non-profit arm called CURVchella Cares. The organization aims to improve women’s lives by raising awareness about breast cancer, addressing food insecurity, providing feminine hygiene resources and promoting plus-sized teen/prom initiatives in Houston.
This year, the event expands into new spaces across Houston, including a key collaboration with the Acres Home Chamber Farmers Market, where CURVchella will host line dancing, shopping and a meet-up of Black-owned businesses. The partnership is an opportunity to connect empowerment with wellness.
“CURVchella is about matching your inner and outer beauty,” said Acres Home Chamber Farmers Market representative, told the Defender. “The farmers market adds another layer by introducing the community to fresh food, holistic health and the idea that we can grow and nourish ourselves.”
The Market hopes the event will inspire attendees to focus on the inner work and improve the quality of their health. Black women face unique nutritional challenges, higher obesity rates, chronic diseases and complications due to factors like socioeconomic status, access to healthy food, cultural influences and historical inequalities.
CURVchella’s long-term goal goes beyond annual events. Williams and Townsend envision a permanent space akin to a community hub for Black women. In this place, people can get financial advice, healthcare guidance, emotional support, or simply feel seen.
“There’s no space like that just for us,” said Townsend. “I want CURVchella to be that place. A safe haven for Black women to get whatever they need, health, wealth, style, all of it.”
For more information, visit CURVchella.com.
