Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.
~Mary Tyler Moore
August 2009, The 1st Daily Venus Diva Cover
2 years ago when I took over as Editor-In-Chief of the newly modeled Daily Venus Diva.com, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I dabbled in journalism and wrote poetry while in school, but I never thought I would be the Editor of an online magazine.
My love for writing never left me but it wasn’t my love of writing that brought me to DVD, it was my business. I had just opened an online boutique for plus size women and wanted to get the word out about my business so I agreed to contribute to what was then Venus Diva Magazine in exchange for free advertising.
Although it was a business agreement, I took my writing very seriously and studied the industry of journalism as if I were a student pursuing a degree in it. In 2008, I started out as a contributor and before I knew it, I became the Lifestyle Editor and then Entertainment Editor for Venus Diva Magazine. I loved what I did and had no plans on stopping anytime soon.
Due to the change in technology and the way people interacted over the web, the decision was made to turn Venus Diva Magazine into DailyVenusDiva.com. When I was approached by our wonderful Publisher/Creative Director Valery Amador to assume the role of E.I.C. of the newly remodeled DVD, I was ready to step up and show what I could do. Just like a student, I went back to studying but this time the stakes were higher.
I wasn’t just the Editor of a section. Valery (whom I had never met before at that point) entrusted me to take the legacy that she created with Venus Diva Mag (a monthly mag) and turn it into a daily magazine. The most difficult part of this was staying true to the vision that Valery had when she started her journey in 1998 and creating something new and fresh that would appeal to plus size women simultaneously.
Since assuming the role of E.I.C. I’ve made many mistakes. No one is perfect and this has definitely been a learning experience for me. Like anyone doing something that they love, I question myself and I wonder if we are making a difference. Then I receive an e-mail from readers like Mo Handahu of Clutch Culture letting me know how much she appreciates what we do.
Instead of just responding to Mo with a simple thank you, I decided to feature her and her business this month and give her a chance to shine the way Valery gave me a chance. To her DVD is an inspiration but her letter inspired me and that’s what we’re all about at Daily Venus Diva……Inspiring one another, learning from our past and living in the present.
Inspiration is what keeps our cover model Kori Spencer thriving. Whether it’s her family encouraging her to enter model searches or her best friends convincing her to re-create history, Kori’s dreams are fueled by the support of others making her an inspiration to those around her.
Although September is dedicated to fall fashion, it’s also about embracing and remembering our past as we head into the future. Fashion revisits the past quite often, so why can’t we?
My journey as E.I.C. may have started 2 years ago but I am forever a student. I often take a peak into the archives of Venus Diva Magazine and Amaze Magazine to pull inspiration from the past issues so I can create a legacy for the future.
Now that’s what I call fashionable!
Keep Thriving in your Fashion Forward Curves,
Stephanie Penn-Danforth & the DailyVenusDiva.com Team
Editor-In-Chief, Stephanie Penn-Danforth -- Daily Venus Diva.
I wrote a long response to this but it didn’t go through so I will sum it up now just in case this one doesn’t. Stephanie you are AMAZING! I know it takes hard work to do all that you do but I love how you always remain humble through it all. Thank you for sharing with us how you got your start here and how far your hardwork has brought you. God is good! It is amazing to see that where you started in not where you envisionsed yourself but that is just how awesome God is cause He always has something better for us even though sometimes we can’t always see it right away. In this journey from Venus Diva to DVD one thing that I have noticed about the DVD Team & content is that it is ‘THRIVING’! As we learn and grow as women, so does DVD. It is a place of inspiriation, encouragement & love for the curvy woman and I am so thankful for you, Valery and everyone else involved with making this mag happen. Words could never fully express how much I love DVD but I do. Between this and PMM I have been blessed. I love how you mention in order to move forward sometimes you have to revisit the past in the same way fashion does, this is so true. Thanks for your words of inspiration this morning and congrats to beautiful cover model Kori Spencer, as always ‘THRIVE!’ LOVE, LIMARIE
Stephanie,
I do love your writing. It’s like you’re speaking to me. I first started going to the site a couple of weeks ago because I found out the Limarie was an editor for DVD and stumbled onto a couple of articles of yours.
You are an inspiration.
I know…Why did it take me this long? I’ve always been a late bloomer with EVERYTHING!
Thank you Diane for your kind words. I am happy that you have joined us over at DVD.
Hi Diane! Welcome tod DVD
We are so happy you have been inspired here…wait there’s more. We have an amazing team of curvy divas that speak right from the heart …it’s actually addictive 
Stay tuned and ‘THRIVE’!
Hola Steph,
Loved this. Writing gives us a peek at the author’s soul. We don’t need to know where they are from, or what age or even what they look like. Words will start their dance and tell us a great story each and every time. You must already know how proud I am of you, as an amazing woman, daughter, writer, editor, and dear friend.
Valery is not just your average smart cookie, she is a brilliant one!! I have been with you and her on this journey and I am just blessed to be a part of this magazine and your lives. I love my plus size sisters!!
I see Venus growing into perfection everyday and our voice is wanted, needed and demanded!
Keep working the way you do, and love ya.
Curvy hugs,
Olga
Lifestyle Editor
Editor of DVD Community