Fat Babes Wearing Lingerie: Representation Matters

Can you imagine a size 28 babe modeling lingerie? I can! In fact, I had 9 women modeling lingerie at my boutique in San Jose recently - specifically to show that YES - fat babes can and do wear lingerie!

I wrote a blog once titled “Am I Too Fat To Wear Lingerie? Hell No!” and while it is over 4 years old, it is one of the most clicked through blogs I have ever written. It blows my mind that in 2017 people are still asking this question of Google. But, the media, and sometimes our friends and family, make us feel like we are not sexy. They make us feel that we are not worthy. We do not have the “right” to dress sexy and in a revealing way. It is all such a load of crap.

I own a boutique that ONLY sells plus-size lingerie. There are like two boutiques like mine in the entire country. Yet, 67% of women in the U.S. are size 16 or larger. Why do you think there are not more places for fat babes to buy sexy intimate wear? Likely because the media has us convinced that sexy bodies are not supposed to dress in a revealing and sexy way.

It is time to see more sexy fat bodies in the media. Representation matters because when you are 10 years old and you never see any bodies that look like your Aunties or your Mom, you start to internalize the possibility that your fat body does not matter. You start to internalize that fat bodies are not desired. You start to think that maybe fat bodies are not meant to be seen and that you have to hide when the camera comes out. You start to think things like “maybe I do not deserve love because I am NOT 5’10 tall, blonde with blue eyes, a tiny waist, tiny feet and huge boobs.” Maybe you even start to believe you have to settle for a shitty partner or you have to take whatever scraps a romantic partner might throw your way. Well, all of that breaks my big, fat, curvy heart.

I am here to tell the world that is bullshit. I am not having it. And, these beautiful babes in these pictures are not having it either. I asked some of my friends who are over a size 20 why representation matters to them. One of my models for this photo shoot is Saucye West, Plus Model. Saucye is also the creator of the #fatandfree hashtag and movement

When it comes to plus size bodies and representation, we only see a one dimensional viewpoint of what is beautiful and acceptable. It is important that brands and business showcase the many sides of Plus. The many different body types and variations and color, so that we begin to feel like we are truly represented. That's what I love about Curvy Girl Lingerie. I feel that when people look at the women that are showcased that they can actually see themselves and feel good about their bodies and not be afraid of loving and living in their bodies #fatandfree Saucye West, Plus Model

I am making it my life’s purpose to show more fat sexy bodies everywhere! On my own website, my social pages and anywhere the media that will let me. There are not yet a lot of bloggers or brands who are showing bodies that look like mine. I am personally not the type of fat person the media approves of. (The “good fatty” is someone who is just slightly fat and has an hour glass body. I happen to be a size 26/28 pant.) My good friend Marcy Cruz is also on a mission to show bodies who are a size 22 or larger. Marcy is a blogger and an editor for Plus Model Magazine. She features non-hour glass bodies on her own blog Fearlessly Me.

Representation does matter. It is a proven fact that showing body diversity help inspire others to have a positive body image of themselves and others. This is not about glorifying obesity as you cannot diagnose someone's health by looking at them. This is about showing true body positivity and pushing the message that we are all worthy of fashion, in this case, wearing lingerie. Sexy isn't a size or an age, for that matter. I applaud Chrystal Bougon for all the fantastic work she has done in the curvy community. To me, I feel she has helped so many women see their worth and know that they are beautiful at any size.

Sexy is for every body, just like fashion is for every body. Fashion should not stop at size 18 or 20. There are women all over the planet who are like me and they want to feel sexy and relevant. At Curvy Girl we are here to welcome them with open arms and we love to show off our lingerie on our customers so that regular people like me can get an idea of what the lingerie will actually look like on us. The professional models who the designers hire to model the lingerie are lovely, but they often have the benefit of a photoshop, breast or butt implants. clips in the back to cinch the lingerie, duct tape to hold their breasts together and on and on. We want to show our lingerie on a body that looks like the typical person at home on Instagram or Facebook who are browsing our lingerie and imagining what our lingerie might look like on their size 28 body.

I hope you all enjoy the photos we took for this project (which is ongoing) and you can truly get a feel for what our lingerie will look like on you! (Check our our website www.CurvyGirlInc.com )