Darling Dea and her always helpful attitude make her a joy to work with on photo shoots. She looks simply delightful and makes the purrrfect Mrs. Claus. She's gorgeous inside and out. ~Satu

Name: Dea Lyn Ogata
Month: December

Fat Stats

Age: 43
Weight/Size: 240 lbs / 20

Why did you model for Plush Cat/Satu? I had seen some of Satu's photos of other women, and I was thrilled to have been selected to pose for pictures that show how beautiful larger size women can be. I was actually a little intimidated at first, because all of the women that Satu photographs look SO amazingly gorgeous, and I consider myself ordinary at best. I thought, "How could I ever even think to be in the same league?" And yet, here I am - a Plush Cat Calendar Girl! It's such an awesome feeling!

What did you gain from the experience? This has been such an incredible experience in so many ways! First, by attending modeling and make-up classes with Marlene, I learned so many tricks about make-up and modeling I never knew before. I learned how to make myself look better through make-up and clothes (and especially good bras and shapers!), and I learned how to walk and carry myself with the poise and posture of a model - which really is a lot of work and looks a lot easier than it is! From Satu, Tiina and Dana, I learned how to pose my body and face in order to take a good picture almost every time. And best of all, I feel like I've gained a lot of self-confidence, and a lot of new friends!

Do you do other modeling? No, I have never done any other modeling other than with the Plush Cats... but... I have a daughter, Christa, who is 18 years old and a size 14. Thanks to my positive experience with the Plush Cats, she has joined the 2007 Calendar Model Search, and in the process she has been selected to model for a couple of different plus-size designers and groups. It makes me really proud!

What's your day job? I used to work in Public Relations (writing for and editing a military newspaper), but right now I'm working full-time as a mom to my three kids, Christa, 18; Rick, 17; and Matthew, 13.

What do you hope your picture says to other women? I would hope other women like me could be inspired to know just because they're plus-size doesn't mean they can't feel beautiful and sexy too. If they could only see me on one of my "frumpy" days, they would know what I'm talking about. Believe me, I look at some of the photos I have posed for and I go, "WOW! I look like THAT?" The fact is, EVERY woman - any shape or size - can take beautiful pictures, she just has to know the right "recipe"! And honestly, when a woman feels good about herself, it really does come through in pictures. Beauty really does come from inside!

What do you hope your picture says to men? This is a great question! Considering I'm happily married and a "mom", I don't really think about what other men think of me. But I have to admit it was totally cool to have men I didn't know coming up and asking me for pictures and autographs at the Calendar launch party - it was very flattering. I guess what I would honestly want men to think when they see my picture would be, "Wow, she's cute!" And I really hope the men who see the calendar DO think all of the women in it are gorgeous, and they DON'T think about the fact we are all plush.

Fun Stats

Favourite colour: Red.
Favourite word: Love.
Favourite flower: Roses (red, of course!).

Purchase Plush Cat Calendar

***