Career
She is represented by Next Model Management, Ford Models, and Francina. Dalbesio was crowned, in 2004, Mission Wisconsin Teen United States of America at the age of 16. Through the pageant she was scouted by Jeff and Mary Clarke who tried to put her in regular-size modeling.
After being turned away by "straight-size" model agents at a scouting event in Saint Louis, Missouri, at age 16, Dalbesio was eventually signed by the Ford Agency as a plus-size model when she came in for a meeting at age 18.
Originally categorized as plus-size (size 10), she is now a size 8 and rejects the "plus-size" label. In December 2014, Dalbesio appeared on the cover of Lady magazine, shot by Daniel Arnold.
In April 2015, she was featured on the cover of Tush Magazine, photographed by Armin Morbach. Dalbesio was selected for Calvin Klein"s "Perfectly Fit" underwear campaign in 2014.
Her designation as "plus-size" caused some controversy.
In an interview with Elle magazine, Dalbesio said although she was larger than previous models used in Klein campaigns, she considers herself "in-between" rather than plus sized. In 2015, Dalbesio was placed on Models.com"s "Hot List", a ranked category for rising stars in the modeling world, and Maxim magazine"s "Hot 100 for 2015". Dalbesio identifies as a "multi-disciplinary visual and performance artist," and explains that her work "is greatly influenced by the examination of traditional and sexual femininity, mystical nature, and the place where the two meet." In 2011, she had three performance art shows called Homecoming, Homecoming: Sophomore Year, and her Young Money exhibition.
Her latest performance art piece, titled Young Money, included dressing up like a stripper and covering herself in fake tanner and champagne at the Chelsea Walk.
She was topless and stared down those in a gallery. She has exhibited her work internationally, and published two books
The first, Born Rich, was published by Edition Faust in 2013, and the second, Studies of Ecstasy, was published by Melville Brand Design in 2015.
