RJ: (laughs) Who even invented double zero?!

KC: Those double zeroes are vicious circles – oh quote that – because if you are that size you get rewarded, and then they blast you if you get too thin!

RJ: It’s true. Just based on the emails we get from men about loving curvy women. They say things like, “When did the lettuce chomping models become sexy? I love my wife and she’s curvy. How can I get her to feel comfortable with her body?” Exactly what you’re saying.

KC: That’s wonderful! The beauty ideal is you have to be thin, thin, thin. I think it all starts in the home – it’s cultural differences, too. I think women of color traditionally are more comfortable with their bodies (being) a little curvier. And our men like us a little curvy. (But) even that is changing, unfortunately. Even the thinnest black actresses are working on getting thinner, so I guess it’s just the industry in general. It’s a double-edged sword.

I’ve also had my struggles with wanting to lose weight, but not because I was trying to fit in better. I didn’t work any more when I was thinner than I work now.

RJ: So it was a personal thing then, not professional? You wanted to stay healthy?

KC: Yes, it was a personal thing, just trying to get healthy because I am getting older and I want my heart to work well and I want to be fitter and stronger. I work out and I’m muscular. I’d like to lose some weight for health. My cholesterol is a little high and that’s not cute! You can be thin and have high cholesterol, too, you know.

RJ: And you did Celebrity Fit Club?

KC: I did, I lost 24 pounds and gained 22 pounds back! I knew exactly what to do. Listen, let me tell you – that show is intense! It’s 12 weeks and it’s a competition and you wanna win!

RJ: Sounds like torture!

KC: I lost an average of 2 pounds a week, which is healthy. I exercised a lot. Towards the end I was exercising two times a day, but who has that kind of time? I made the time to do it and over the next year and a half I gained 22 pounds back. It didn’t all come back at once.

RJ: But you kept the fitness element going, which is the important part.

KC: I did. I do Pilates, I do yoga and I walk. When I’m really in “the zone” I hit the elliptical and take a spin class. So I do enough to maintain. Here’s the interesting part to this, I ran into a sales girl that I’ve been seeing for years and I said, “I want to get a size 16 please” and she said, “That is so good.” I said, “What do you mean it’s good?” and she said, “You’ve kept the same size for years!” I was like, “You know what? That’s right!’

I started out heavy. I lost weight just before I got into show business. People think I just gained weight but really, I just gained my weight back from when I was in my 20s and then lost it on Celebrity Fit Club. I was down to a size 12. I didn’t want to be smaller than a 12, that’s not good. I’m not doing it so I can get better roles. For me it’s (all about) being healthy.

RJ: Since we are a plus size lingerie company can I ask you a couple of lingerie questions?

KC: (laughs) Yes, you may!

RJ: Are you single or dating?

KC: I’m single!

RJ: So when you go out on a date… did you see Bridget Jones’s Diary?

KC: (laughs) Oh – that girdle! I believe in being comfortable. I have body briefers that I wear. There is a briefer I have that is no longer made and it’s practically falling apart. I’ll wear them for a show…but I don’t date enough to even know. I meet a guy and instantly he becomes my boyfriend, so I don’t even know. I don’t go on date dates!

I prefer hipsters and boyshorts. But I have a couple thongs – don’t get me wrong! But they come off immediately, as well they should! When I was married – I’ll never forget this really amazing piece of lingerie I got and it was so sexy – with marabou trim and all. When I wore it he said “Why the hell you got that on? I think your naked body is 10 times better!” And I thought, “Alright. It did its job, let’s take it off now!” I have great panties and fun, funky things, and I do it for me. If a gentlemen friend happens to see it then all the better! But on a date I am more about trying to be comfortable than I am trying to seduce.

RJ: Absolutely. You want something that makes you feel good, because that’s what shows.

KC: Yes. Also, a good push up bra. I’m big on cleavage – but not too much. Just enough to set “the girls” up! I’m more likely to set “my girls” up than to wear a tight girdle. I want to set them up and out – accentuate and enhance instead of hide. When you’re out on a date having dinner, that’s the money shot right there.

RJ: (laughs) Right! Do you have a favorite brand?

KC: Anything that fits and gives me the lift I need. I like black bras and a smooth cup, ‘cause whatever you’re wearing – if it’s too clingy and too tight – you’ll see all the lines. It’s a different story if you’re wearing it just for show, and the lace is all sexy and pretty. With a smooth cup push up, I’m a happy girl.

RJ: Did you get our “Damn Sexy” shirts?

KC: I sure did! I’m gonna have to get up the nerve to (wear it outside) because I don’t usually wear logo t-shirts. So you gotta commit to this “Damn Sexy” stuff. I’m sure gonna give it a try. The long one is sexy and yummy! It will be a great travel shirt for me!

RJ: What are you working on now?

KC: I am doing an independent film written by my best friend, and her husband is directing it. He happens to be a major, major, major director, so I know that it’s going to go somewhere. We haven’t even shot it yet so I can’t tell you where.

And I’ve been named as the host of The New Dating Game! It’s going to be on the Game Show Network. They haven’t put it on the schedule yet so I can’t tell you when it’s going to start airing, but it’s great.

RJ: What a great gig!

KC: They’re bringing it back. See what I mean, how my size hasn’t stopped me from doing anything that I want to do? It hasn’t gotten in my way.

There was this one gig I know that I lost. They told my agent they needed someone to be “skinny and sexy”. I was like, “But was I funny?” They didn’t need “skinny and sexy”. they just needed someone to be funny. They said, “We loved Kim but she was not skinny and sexy enough.”

RJ: Ugh! How did that make you feel?

KC: They hired someone skinny and sexy and fired her after three episodes. I won’t say what show it was, but it went on for a while. Here’s the deal, it made me feel like “What do you mean skinny and sexy? I’m sexy the way I am!”

What size do you wear?

RJ: I wear a 12 and I’ve been a 16 and I’ve been a 6, so I’ve dealt with body image all my life.

KC: Ok, here’s what I want you to do. Next time you’re in a restaurant, just sit and watch who the men look at when they walk by. I’ll never forget (when) I was in a restaurant and the hostess was about a size 12/14. She was gorgeous – blonde and buxom and she had a booty. I watched the male patrons as she walked by and they would be like, “Can I order that off the menu?”

RJ: (laughs)

KC: And I said that’s my indication to what’s really sexy. Hollywood is all about the skinny, skinny, skinny – but you really need to look at men and ask them what they think. Look at Pierce Brosnan – his wife has curves. She is not a thin Hollywood girl. I love him for that. There are quite a few – if you look behind the scenes – that want a woman with some curves on her.

RJ: That’s exactly what we say at Hips & Curves!

I just love what you’re doing! The stuff is so beautiful. I love the corset I got. And that jean skirt is my favorite thing ever! I love nothing better than a long denim skirt. It’s so fabulous!

RJ: It’s comfy, it’s curvy – I love it, too!

KC: And it’s nice and long, kind of sweepy and kind of goddess-y – if I may say so myself. Well done!

RJ: Well Kim, I can’t thank you enough for this interview. It’s just been wonderful! Good luck on your new film and The New Dating Game!

KC: Thank you, Rebecca. It’s been a pleasure!