Glee's Amber Riley flies the flag for curvy women in her dazzling first fashion shoot

Glee diva Amber Riley has hit a real high note with her first ever fashion campaign.
The actress proudly put her shapely figure on show in a dazzling photo spread for Essence magazine’s Black Women in Hollywood issue.
The 24-year-old, who plays feisty Mercedes Jones in the hit TV show, looks a picture of confidence as she poses in a sparkling silver sequinned dress and bright pink peep-toe heels.

Dazzling: Glee star Amber Riley models a sparkling silver dress for Essence magazine's Black Women in Hollywood issue

In a second frame, she wears a beaded corset, bolero, tight black trousers and Christian Louboutin heels - which she teams with plenty of attitude.
Riley’s inspiration for the shoot was Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan.
'She's my favourite artist,' says Riley of the singer, best known for her hit I'm Every Woman.
'Not only because her voice is amazing she's just creative. She had a different style from anybody who was in her era.
'She brought a sexiness to R&B. It wasn't like sexiness in stilettos, it was just the confidence that she has.'

Diva mode: The Glee star brought plenty of glamour and attitude to the fashion shoot

Essence is even launching a Facebook campaign calling for Glee to do a full episode devoted to Khan.
Of her first foray into the fashion world, Amber says: 'It was a lot of fun, I wish it wasn't ending.'
It has already been a big year for Riley, who received an NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People ) Image Award nomination for her portrayal of Mercedes.
The ensemble cast of Glee also won a Screen Actors Guild Award at this year's ceremony.