Melissa Aronson | |
|---|---|
 Emme advertising forChromat in 2018 | |
| Born | Melissa Miller (1963-06-30)June 30, 1963 (age 62) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Other names |
|
| Alma mater | Kent School Syracuse University (BS) |
| Occupations | TV Reporter (1986–1988) Model, Activist (1989–present) TV Personality (1994–present) |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Spouse(s) | Phillip Aronson (m. 1989–2008; divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Melissa Owens Miller (born June 30, 1963), known professionally asEmme, is an Americanplus-size model,social reformer andbody image advocate. Emme gained worldwide fame as the first full-figured model chosen forPeople magazine's50 Most Beautiful People, first in 1994, then for a second time in 1999. Emme is largely recognized in the 1990s as the leadingmodel in the profession, as well as its highest earner.[1][2]
Born Melissa Miller inNew York City, Emme was raised inSaudi Arabia, and returned to the United States as a teenager to attendKent School in northwest Connecticut.[1]
In her book, she tells the story of herstepfather instructing her at age 12 to strip down to her underwear while he took a black marker and drew circles on her outer thighs, hips, stomach and arms to highlight where she needed to lose weight.[1]
Syracuse University awarded Emme a full athletic scholarship and she became a member of thecrew team; she is also a member of theSyracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame, where she was inducted for her significant contribution to women's athletics and to the sport of rowing[3] In addition, Emme was invited to the U.S.Olympic Team trials, as well as several U.S. National Team trials.
After graduating in 1985,[4] she spent two years inFlagstaff, Arizona, where she was a reporter and morning anchor for the NBC affiliateKNAZ-TV.
In 1998, she was the first plus-size model to be a spokesperson forRevlon.[5] Emme had a sportswear line of sized 2–26 women'sclothing sold atQVC under theme BY EMME label and the Emme Collection sportswear line manufactured by Kellwood and sold to department stores.
A 16" collectible doll bearing Emme's name and likeness generates money to benefit body image and self-esteem organizations.[6]
Emme's sister Melanie is also a model.[7] Emme married Phillip Aronson in 1989 and moved toCloster, New Jersey.[2] In 2001, Emme's daughter Toby was born. She separated from her husband in 2007, and later finalized her divorce in 2008.[2][8] Emme's daughter Toby Cole was recently inTeen Vogue and is signed atIMG Models.[9]
In May 2007 Emme was diagnosed with Stage 2aHodgkin's lymphoma – a type of lymphoma that is often curable with radiation and chemotherapy. She had surgery and in November 2007 doctors declared that she was "cancer-free".[10]
| Award | Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Hall of Fame[11] | Syracuse University Orange Plus | 1994 |
| Woman of Distinction – New York[citation needed] | Girl Scouts of the USA | 1997 |
| S.A.R.A. Award[12] | Syracuse University | 2006 |
| Letterwinner of Distinction[12] | Syracuse University | 2008 |
| Hall of Fame[12] | Syracuse Alumni Rowing Association | 2013 |
| Inspiration and Visionary Award[13] | Women & Fashion FilmFest (WFF) | 2015 |
| Fashioning Futures for Women Award[14] | Career Wardrobe | 2015 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
