Actress and singer Deborah Joy Winans is returning to her roots on Friday, September 22, 2017, to accept the Drama Icon award from Full & Fabulous Organization. The OWN "Greenleaf" series co-star was born and raised in Detroit and is ecstatic about returning to receive the award.
Before the 'Curvy Girl Movement'
Long before it was popular to be a plus size or curvy girl, Full & Fabulous founder Sharon DuMas took a borrowed $200 and a dream and started the organization that helps plus-sized girls and young women boost their self-esteem, and adapt to a healthy lifestyle.
The organization provides a program that includes several components and includes a formal debutante ball each year. The organization is celebrating its 35th anniversary and is honoring several trailblazing women at the 35th-anniversary gala, with Winans receiving the Drama Icon Award.
Full & Fabulous is a non-profit 501c3 organization that assists plus size women and girls in coping with the peer pressure of being overweight and promote lifetime habits of good nutrition and physical fitness. The membership organization offers a monthly newsletter, workshops in make-up and image building, modeling self-esteem, proportion-appropriate dressing, and much more. This year the organization is celebrating its 35th anniversary and is honoring several trailblazing women at the gala, with Winans receiving the Drama Icon Award.
Hometown hero
Winans is considered a hometown hero by many of the girls in the organization who are excited to spend time with the actress and singer. The organization selected to honor Winans based on her accomplishments, in addition to the fact that she is a native Detroiter. "Deborah Joy is proof positive that dreams do come true, and her success hits home in a myriad of ways for the girls in the program," says DuMas.
In addition to her role on Greenleaf, Winans has played the role of her aunt, CeCe Winans in the Lifetime movie, Whitney, directed by Angela Bassett and the musical "Born for This."
“Health and a positive body image are part of my personal values,” Winans says. “I’m grateful to receive the Full & Fabulous award and I look forward to the event.”
The Full & Fabulous 35th Anniversary Gala is Friday, September 22, 2017, at The Henry Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan. The event begins at 6:30 pm and attendees will have the opportunity to meet and greet with Deborah Joy Winans.
