Emme (model)
Encyclopedia
Melissa Aronson, better known as Emme (born 1963), is a plus-size model
, and is largely recognized as the leading model in the profession, as well as its highest earner.
, Emme was raised in Saudi Arabia
, returning to the United States
as a teenager to attend Kent School
in northwest Connecticut.
When she was a preteen girl, her stepfather encircled her thigh
s with magic marker
and drew on her stomach to show her how she needed to lose weight.
Syracuse University
awarded Emme a full athletic scholarship and she became a member of the crew team
; she is also a member of the Syracuse University Orange
Plus Hall of Fame, where she was inducted for her significant contribution to women's athletics and to the sport of rowing. In addition, Emme was invited to the U.S. Olympic
Team trials, as well as several U.S. National Team trials.
After graduation, she spent two years in Flagstaff, Arizona
where she was a reporter and morning anchor for the NBC affiliate KNAZ-TV
.
.
She previously hosted Fashion Emergency on E!
where she gave fashion advice to women of all ages.
Her "Simply Green with Emme" iVillage
blog came about from her brush with lymphatic cancer in 2007, pondering all things for the quest of green living for herself and her family.
Emme posts as well for the Living channel on The Huffington Post
on body image, self esteem, and related matters.
Her column "Ask Emme" appeared monthly in Mode magazine in the 1990s. She's been named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" (1994 and 1999) and Glamour
magazine's "Woman of the Year" (1997). Ladies' Home Journal
selected her as one of its "Most Fascinating Women of the Year" (1997) and as one of its "Most Important Women in America" (1999).
Her first book, True Beauty—Positive Attitudes & Practical Tips from the World's Leading Plus Size Model, was published in 1997. Also in 1997, she was invited to speak before a Congress
ional subcommittee about eating disorders.
Her second book, Life's Little Emergencies: Everyday Rescue for Beauty, Fashion, Relationships, and Life, was published in 2003. Her third book, written with her husband, Morning Has Broken: A Couple's Journey Through Depression, was published in January 2006. She and her husband wrote their first children's book What Are You Hungry For?, illustrated by Erik Brooks and published by Harper Collins, which was released in the summer of 2007.
Emme had a sportswear line 2-26 women's clothing
sold at QVC
under the me BY EMME label and the Emme Collection sportswear line manufactured by Kellwood and sold to department stores. A 16" collectable doll bearing Emme's name and likeness generates money to benefit body image and self esteem organizations.
She had been a resident of Leonia, New Jersey
.
Plus-size model
Plus-size model is a term applied to a person who is engaged primarily in modeling plus-size clothing. Plus-size models also engaged in work that is not strictly related to selling large-sized clothing, e.g., stock photography and advertising photography for cosmetics, household and pharmaceutical...
, and is largely recognized as the leading model in the profession, as well as its highest earner.
Early life
Born Melissa Miller in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Emme was raised in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, returning to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a teenager to attend Kent School
Kent School
Kent School is a private, co-educational college preparatory school in Kent, Connecticut, USA. The Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill, Order of the Holy Cross, established the school in 1906 and it retains its affiliation with the Episcopal Church of the United States.Students at Kent come from more...
in northwest Connecticut.
When she was a preteen girl, her stepfather encircled her thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
s with magic marker
Marker pen
thumb|MarkerA marker pen, marking pen, felt-tip pen, flow or marker, is a pen which has its own ink-source, and usually a tip made of a porous, pressed fibres; such as felt or nylon.-Permanent marker:...
and drew on her stomach to show her how she needed to lose weight.
Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
awarded Emme a full athletic scholarship and she became a member of the crew team
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
; she is also a member of the Syracuse University Orange
Syracuse University Orange
The Syracuse Orange is the nickname used by the athletic teams of Syracuse University. The school is a member of NCAA Division I and the Big East Conference. The school's mascot is Otto the Orange. Teams were previously known as the "Orangemen" and "Orangewomen". The men's basketball, football,...
Plus Hall of Fame, where she was inducted for her significant contribution to women's athletics and to the sport of rowing. In addition, Emme was invited to the U.S. Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Team trials, as well as several U.S. National Team trials.
After graduation, she spent two years in Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
where she was a reporter and morning anchor for the NBC affiliate KNAZ-TV
Knaz
Knaz may refer to:*KNAZ-TV, a television station in Flagstaff, Arizona*kenaz or Knaz, hunter, the name of several persons in the Hebrew Bible....
.
Media
In 2009, Emme was host of FOX's reality dating series More to LoveMore to Love
More to Love is a reality game show that premiered on Fox on July 28, 2009. The series is hosted by plus-sized model Emme...
.
She previously hosted Fashion Emergency on E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
where she gave fashion advice to women of all ages.
Her "Simply Green with Emme" iVillage
IVillage
iVillage, Inc. is a media company that is owned by NBCUniversal. The site focuses on categories targeted at women, including Food, Health, Entertainment, Family, Beauty & Style. Additional businesses and brand extensions within iVillage Networks include iVillage UK, NBC Digital Health Network,...
blog came about from her brush with lymphatic cancer in 2007, pondering all things for the quest of green living for herself and her family.
Emme posts as well for the Living channel on The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
on body image, self esteem, and related matters.
Her column "Ask Emme" appeared monthly in Mode magazine in the 1990s. She's been named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" (1994 and 1999) and Glamour
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
magazine's "Woman of the Year" (1997). Ladies' Home Journal
Ladies' Home Journal
Ladies' Home Journal is an American magazine which first appeared on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States...
selected her as one of its "Most Fascinating Women of the Year" (1997) and as one of its "Most Important Women in America" (1999).
Her first book, True Beauty—Positive Attitudes & Practical Tips from the World's Leading Plus Size Model, was published in 1997. Also in 1997, she was invited to speak before a Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
ional subcommittee about eating disorders.
Her second book, Life's Little Emergencies: Everyday Rescue for Beauty, Fashion, Relationships, and Life, was published in 2003. Her third book, written with her husband, Morning Has Broken: A Couple's Journey Through Depression, was published in January 2006. She and her husband wrote their first children's book What Are You Hungry For?, illustrated by Erik Brooks and published by Harper Collins, which was released in the summer of 2007.
Personal life
Emme's sister Melanie is also a model. Emme married Phillip Aronson in 1989 and had one child born in 2001, they are now divorced. Emme lives in New Jersey.Emme had a sportswear line 2-26 women's clothing
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
sold at QVC
QVC
QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households...
under the me BY EMME label and the Emme Collection sportswear line manufactured by Kellwood and sold to department stores. A 16" collectable doll bearing Emme's name and likeness generates money to benefit body image and self esteem organizations.
She had been a resident of Leonia, New Jersey
Leonia, New Jersey
Leonia is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,937. It is located near the western approach to the George Washington Bridge....
.