1 00:00:15,076 --> 00:00:26,956 Speaker 1: Pushkin, this is solvable. I'm Ronald Young Jr. So normally 2 00:00:26,956 --> 00:00:28,436 Speaker 1: this is the part of the show where we hit 3 00:00:28,476 --> 00:00:30,636 Speaker 1: you with the voice of our guests, and we do 4 00:00:30,716 --> 00:00:33,396 Speaker 1: have a guest today, but before we hear from her, 5 00:00:33,636 --> 00:00:36,156 Speaker 1: I wanted to note that last week's discussion with Michael 6 00:00:36,156 --> 00:00:39,356 Speaker 1: Moss on food addiction and this week's topic are both 7 00:00:39,476 --> 00:00:42,316 Speaker 1: personal ones for me. I've been on a weight loss 8 00:00:42,396 --> 00:00:46,516 Speaker 1: journey since I graduated from college, but I've hated my 9 00:00:46,556 --> 00:00:50,396 Speaker 1: body my entire life. I've always felt chubby and out 10 00:00:50,436 --> 00:00:52,596 Speaker 1: of shape, even when I was at my smallest size. 11 00:00:53,236 --> 00:00:56,676 Speaker 1: Even now, as I'm still trying to lose weight, I'm 12 00:00:56,716 --> 00:00:59,196 Speaker 1: working to find a way to love my body, no 13 00:00:59,236 --> 00:01:02,996 Speaker 1: matter what size it is. Our conversation today is with 14 00:01:03,076 --> 00:01:05,036 Speaker 1: someone who's work I've turned to over the years for 15 00:01:05,156 --> 00:01:09,996 Speaker 1: encouragement and now for solutions. The goal is to not 16 00:01:10,036 --> 00:01:11,916 Speaker 1: hate yourself, right, and so there's also a term called 17 00:01:11,916 --> 00:01:15,556 Speaker 1: body acceptance that embody neutrality that's becoming more popularized now. 18 00:01:15,556 --> 00:01:16,996 Speaker 1: I think that a lot of us are striving for 19 00:01:17,356 --> 00:01:19,756 Speaker 1: because it also feels unattainable for a lot of us 20 00:01:19,836 --> 00:01:22,956 Speaker 1: to quote unquote love our bodies all the time. About 21 00:01:22,956 --> 00:01:26,636 Speaker 1: two thirds of American adults are classified as overweight or obese, 22 00:01:27,476 --> 00:01:30,356 Speaker 1: so it may be unsurprising that in twenty nineteen, the 23 00:01:30,436 --> 00:01:33,156 Speaker 1: weight loss and diet control market was valued at around 24 00:01:33,236 --> 00:01:37,436 Speaker 1: seventy eight billion dollars. Even as we work to change 25 00:01:37,436 --> 00:01:41,556 Speaker 1: our bodies, many Americans like me are also fighting the 26 00:01:41,596 --> 00:01:45,516 Speaker 1: stigma that comes with being classified as fat. It never 27 00:01:45,596 --> 00:01:50,876 Speaker 1: really used the word to describe individuals who haven't already 28 00:01:50,956 --> 00:01:53,196 Speaker 1: used that word to describe themselves, because I do think, 29 00:01:53,236 --> 00:01:54,836 Speaker 1: of course, you have to be aware that it does 30 00:01:54,916 --> 00:01:58,356 Speaker 1: come with, you know, people sensitivity, and people have different 31 00:01:58,356 --> 00:02:01,276 Speaker 1: feelings about the word, so I do get that. Gabby Gregg, 32 00:02:01,476 --> 00:02:04,076 Speaker 1: also known as Gabby Fresh, was my portal into the 33 00:02:04,116 --> 00:02:07,236 Speaker 1: world of plus size fashion and body inclusivity. For the 34 00:02:07,276 --> 00:02:10,516 Speaker 1: past decade, She's been an outsn advocate for looking and 35 00:02:10,516 --> 00:02:13,716 Speaker 1: feeling dope in your clothes for folks of all sizes. 36 00:02:14,076 --> 00:02:17,076 Speaker 1: She's been and continues to be a cheerleader for showing 37 00:02:17,116 --> 00:02:19,996 Speaker 1: skin with confidence, even as a lot of our society 38 00:02:20,236 --> 00:02:23,716 Speaker 1: tells us bigger folks to hide it. Her lingerie and 39 00:02:23,716 --> 00:02:26,516 Speaker 1: bikini lines woke up the fashion industry at a time 40 00:02:26,516 --> 00:02:30,676 Speaker 1: when most popular brands didn't manufacture clothing beyond the size eighteen. 41 00:02:31,236 --> 00:02:34,396 Speaker 1: I'm Gabby Fresh. I'm a body positive digital content creator, 42 00:02:34,476 --> 00:02:40,596 Speaker 1: and hating your body is a solvable problem. Why is 43 00:02:40,596 --> 00:02:45,076 Speaker 1: it important for the plus sized community to be able 44 00:02:45,076 --> 00:02:47,996 Speaker 1: to wear bikinis, to be able to wear lingerie that fits? 45 00:02:48,276 --> 00:02:51,476 Speaker 1: Why is that important? Number one, we deserve the same 46 00:02:51,596 --> 00:02:54,316 Speaker 1: access to the same trends and things as everyone else. 47 00:02:54,436 --> 00:02:58,556 Speaker 1: So just baseline, we deserve beautiful bikinis and lingerie because 48 00:02:58,556 --> 00:03:01,076 Speaker 1: everyone else has it, and why shouldn't we. But beyond that, 49 00:03:01,196 --> 00:03:05,356 Speaker 1: I think the bigger mission is to help people feel 50 00:03:05,396 --> 00:03:08,956 Speaker 1: good in their bodies. And we've been told historically as 51 00:03:09,316 --> 00:03:11,636 Speaker 1: people that we should not feel good in our bodies, 52 00:03:11,636 --> 00:03:13,796 Speaker 1: that we should not show our skin, that we should 53 00:03:13,836 --> 00:03:16,356 Speaker 1: cover up and hide and be invisible. And so a 54 00:03:16,396 --> 00:03:19,916 Speaker 1: two piece swimsuit is kind of the most skin you're 55 00:03:19,916 --> 00:03:21,836 Speaker 1: ever probably going to be able to show in public, 56 00:03:22,116 --> 00:03:24,276 Speaker 1: And so that has to be an experience where you 57 00:03:24,396 --> 00:03:28,836 Speaker 1: feel like you should be seen and should be accepted 58 00:03:28,916 --> 00:03:31,116 Speaker 1: and should feel good in your skin and so like, 59 00:03:31,756 --> 00:03:33,956 Speaker 1: because it also feels unattainable for a lot of us 60 00:03:34,196 --> 00:03:36,476 Speaker 1: to quote unquote love our bodies all the time, and 61 00:03:36,596 --> 00:03:39,116 Speaker 1: even I I definitely don't love my body every single day. 62 00:03:39,156 --> 00:03:41,316 Speaker 1: I'm not obsessed with it, but it's more about kind 63 00:03:41,356 --> 00:03:43,716 Speaker 1: of overcoming this culture that tells us we have to 64 00:03:43,716 --> 00:03:46,276 Speaker 1: hate ourselves and constantly be on a weight loss journey. 65 00:03:46,596 --> 00:03:48,756 Speaker 1: That's kind of a body positivity and fat positivity is 66 00:03:48,756 --> 00:03:52,596 Speaker 1: even more radical where and it's I say that ironically, 67 00:03:52,636 --> 00:03:54,636 Speaker 1: like it shouldn't be radical, but the idea that you 68 00:03:54,716 --> 00:03:58,756 Speaker 1: can accept and love your body even if it's fat, 69 00:03:58,796 --> 00:04:01,316 Speaker 1: which in our culture, of course, the word fat has 70 00:04:01,316 --> 00:04:04,156 Speaker 1: been so stigmatized and so associated with things like lazy 71 00:04:04,316 --> 00:04:07,436 Speaker 1: or unhealthy or a million other things, and so it's 72 00:04:07,476 --> 00:04:09,476 Speaker 1: really this idea. It says like, no, you can be 73 00:04:09,516 --> 00:04:11,556 Speaker 1: fat and happy, you can be fat and beautiful. You 74 00:04:11,556 --> 00:04:14,436 Speaker 1: can be fat and all of these other amazing things. 75 00:04:14,436 --> 00:04:16,756 Speaker 1: And to really accept that and learn that, I think 76 00:04:16,876 --> 00:04:20,236 Speaker 1: is kind of transformative idea and process to go through. 77 00:04:20,396 --> 00:04:24,436 Speaker 1: Is it somebody who has lived that experience? So I 78 00:04:24,476 --> 00:04:27,276 Speaker 1: grew up. I didn't grow up like I didn't get 79 00:04:27,316 --> 00:04:29,596 Speaker 1: I didn't gain a lot of weight until after college. 80 00:04:29,676 --> 00:04:32,196 Speaker 1: But I grew up being pretty average size I guess 81 00:04:32,236 --> 00:04:35,836 Speaker 1: they would describe, But I remember the entire time always 82 00:04:35,876 --> 00:04:38,796 Speaker 1: never being a big fan of by size or seeing 83 00:04:38,836 --> 00:04:40,716 Speaker 1: other people that were in better shape, and I was 84 00:04:40,836 --> 00:04:42,676 Speaker 1: just back when I was an average kid. And I'm 85 00:04:42,676 --> 00:04:44,436 Speaker 1: also one of those people that looks back at pictures 86 00:04:44,436 --> 00:04:46,236 Speaker 1: it says, I can't believe I thought I was fat 87 00:04:46,276 --> 00:04:49,556 Speaker 1: then versus now. So can you talk a little bit 88 00:04:49,556 --> 00:04:52,436 Speaker 1: about that. Look what that looked like for you growing 89 00:04:52,516 --> 00:04:55,076 Speaker 1: up and kind of what set you what made this 90 00:04:55,156 --> 00:04:59,156 Speaker 1: such a journey that was you were kind of drawn to. Sure, 91 00:04:59,356 --> 00:05:02,636 Speaker 1: I was kind of average size until middle school. I 92 00:05:02,676 --> 00:05:05,756 Speaker 1: started getting chubby around faither sixth grade, and I remember, 93 00:05:05,916 --> 00:05:09,596 Speaker 1: specifically for me, I actually moved schools from like public, 94 00:05:10,076 --> 00:05:14,236 Speaker 1: diverse school to a private, very white school, and that 95 00:05:14,356 --> 00:05:17,276 Speaker 1: is where I became super self aware of not only 96 00:05:17,596 --> 00:05:21,756 Speaker 1: my race and my class, but also my size. Like 97 00:05:21,756 --> 00:05:23,556 Speaker 1: all three of those kind of converged at once for 98 00:05:23,556 --> 00:05:26,076 Speaker 1: me because I was surrounded by like rich, thin white girls, 99 00:05:26,276 --> 00:05:30,076 Speaker 1: and I had never felt so ostracized and so othered before. 100 00:05:30,516 --> 00:05:32,076 Speaker 1: And again, just like you, though, I look back at 101 00:05:32,116 --> 00:05:33,916 Speaker 1: those pictures now of me when I was like ten, eleven, 102 00:05:33,996 --> 00:05:35,676 Speaker 1: twelve years old, and I'm like, I can't believe this 103 00:05:35,716 --> 00:05:39,076 Speaker 1: little girl hated her body. In college, I had a 104 00:05:39,076 --> 00:05:41,676 Speaker 1: live journal, which is kind of funny to say now, 105 00:05:41,716 --> 00:05:44,756 Speaker 1: But at the time, they were basically these online forums 106 00:05:44,796 --> 00:05:47,436 Speaker 1: and diaries where you shared your day with people, and 107 00:05:47,556 --> 00:05:49,676 Speaker 1: I found different communities there, and one that I was 108 00:05:49,676 --> 00:05:54,836 Speaker 1: introduced to was specifically for plus size fashion and politics, 109 00:05:54,876 --> 00:05:56,956 Speaker 1: and that really opened my eyes for the first time 110 00:05:56,996 --> 00:05:59,396 Speaker 1: to the fact that other people who looked like me 111 00:05:59,436 --> 00:06:03,076 Speaker 1: and had my body type were happy and were kind 112 00:06:03,076 --> 00:06:05,596 Speaker 1: of against diet culture in Okay with the bodies they 113 00:06:05,636 --> 00:06:08,196 Speaker 1: lived in. And so from there, I decided to start 114 00:06:08,236 --> 00:06:11,316 Speaker 1: a blog called Young and Fabulous and be a resource 115 00:06:11,396 --> 00:06:14,356 Speaker 1: for not only my own outfits, but also just like 116 00:06:15,156 --> 00:06:17,876 Speaker 1: a place where women could come and learn about what's trending, 117 00:06:17,956 --> 00:06:21,276 Speaker 1: how where to shop, talk in the comments, and give 118 00:06:21,276 --> 00:06:23,756 Speaker 1: each other advice and all of that, because one of 119 00:06:23,796 --> 00:06:25,676 Speaker 1: the things back then there was nowhere to shop, so 120 00:06:25,756 --> 00:06:27,516 Speaker 1: I kind of shared tips on like how to make 121 00:06:27,556 --> 00:06:29,556 Speaker 1: things work for you even if they're not in your size, 122 00:06:29,596 --> 00:06:31,036 Speaker 1: and so that's how I started my blog. It was 123 00:06:31,076 --> 00:06:32,756 Speaker 1: one of the first of its kind back in two 124 00:06:32,756 --> 00:06:35,836 Speaker 1: thousand and eight, and so because of that, MTV reached 125 00:06:35,836 --> 00:06:37,756 Speaker 1: out and I credit you for kind of being my 126 00:06:37,836 --> 00:06:41,196 Speaker 1: portal into the world of inclusivity when it comes to 127 00:06:41,276 --> 00:06:44,396 Speaker 1: plus size bodies, especially because you were a Twitter, VJ. 128 00:06:44,676 --> 00:06:48,396 Speaker 1: Was it twenty twelve, twenty eleven? Okay, and so now 129 00:06:48,436 --> 00:06:52,076 Speaker 1: it's twenty twenty one obviously, and Instagram is filled with 130 00:06:52,076 --> 00:06:55,276 Speaker 1: plus size influencers, lots of people speaking about body positivity. 131 00:06:55,556 --> 00:06:57,036 Speaker 1: I remember you were the one, the first one to 132 00:06:57,076 --> 00:06:59,916 Speaker 1: put out of the fat knie I remember, or the 133 00:06:59,956 --> 00:07:01,956 Speaker 1: earliest one that I remember. A lot of that was 134 00:07:01,996 --> 00:07:03,836 Speaker 1: all you were kind of the tip of the spear 135 00:07:04,196 --> 00:07:06,276 Speaker 1: and a lot of those ways. How did you find 136 00:07:06,276 --> 00:07:10,036 Speaker 1: yourself being in front when it came to making bus 137 00:07:10,076 --> 00:07:13,636 Speaker 1: size bikinis, making plus size laundry? So after I left MTV, 138 00:07:13,716 --> 00:07:16,556 Speaker 1: I actually was approached by in Style magazine to become 139 00:07:16,716 --> 00:07:19,236 Speaker 1: their first plus size editor and launch a page on 140 00:07:19,276 --> 00:07:21,956 Speaker 1: plus size fashion. There. One of the things I shared 141 00:07:22,076 --> 00:07:24,716 Speaker 1: early on, I think, I believe in twenty ten or 142 00:07:24,716 --> 00:07:26,836 Speaker 1: twenty eleven, when I was at MTV, we went to 143 00:07:26,916 --> 00:07:29,636 Speaker 1: Las Vegas for an award show, and when I was 144 00:07:29,756 --> 00:07:31,596 Speaker 1: at a Vegas pool, I shared a photo of me 145 00:07:31,676 --> 00:07:34,876 Speaker 1: in a bikini, and that bikini was so hard to find. 146 00:07:34,956 --> 00:07:37,796 Speaker 1: It was like I could had to search the internet 147 00:07:37,876 --> 00:07:40,156 Speaker 1: high and low, and I was so excited to find 148 00:07:40,196 --> 00:07:42,996 Speaker 1: it and I posted it and people freaked out because 149 00:07:42,996 --> 00:07:44,876 Speaker 1: They were like, oh my god, bikinis exist for us. 150 00:07:44,876 --> 00:07:46,756 Speaker 1: We didn't know that, Like where did you get this? 151 00:07:46,876 --> 00:07:48,676 Speaker 1: And it was so hard to tell them like, actually, 152 00:07:48,676 --> 00:07:50,516 Speaker 1: this only goes up to a size eighteen, but like, 153 00:07:50,556 --> 00:07:53,076 Speaker 1: here's the place I got it. Not long after that, 154 00:07:53,156 --> 00:07:58,036 Speaker 1: I was approached by an online retailer called Swimsuits for All, 155 00:07:58,076 --> 00:08:00,356 Speaker 1: who asked if I'd be interested in doing a capsule 156 00:08:00,396 --> 00:08:03,036 Speaker 1: collection with them. I said yes because there was so 157 00:08:03,196 --> 00:08:07,636 Speaker 1: few kind of fashion forward and trendy swimsuit options for us, 158 00:08:07,756 --> 00:08:11,356 Speaker 1: and so I was nervous. It was my first time designing, 159 00:08:11,356 --> 00:08:12,956 Speaker 1: It was my first time putting out a product. I 160 00:08:12,956 --> 00:08:14,796 Speaker 1: didn't know exactly how it would be received, but I 161 00:08:14,876 --> 00:08:17,116 Speaker 1: did know that demand was there, and so when that 162 00:08:17,276 --> 00:08:20,836 Speaker 1: launched in twenty twelve, it immediately went viral, kind of 163 00:08:20,836 --> 00:08:24,116 Speaker 1: broke the Internet and broke their website. Actually their website crashed. 164 00:08:24,236 --> 00:08:28,156 Speaker 1: It sold out immediately, and I think everyone was just like, Wow, 165 00:08:28,436 --> 00:08:31,236 Speaker 1: this is a game changer, because I think even, you know, 166 00:08:31,316 --> 00:08:33,476 Speaker 1: even the brand didn't realize how big of a demand 167 00:08:33,476 --> 00:08:35,796 Speaker 1: there was, and I the market at large definitely didn't 168 00:08:35,836 --> 00:08:38,196 Speaker 1: realize because there were none that existed, and they thought 169 00:08:38,196 --> 00:08:40,476 Speaker 1: that anyone who was plus sized would not want to 170 00:08:40,476 --> 00:08:42,196 Speaker 1: show skin, would not want to be in a bikini. 171 00:08:42,556 --> 00:08:45,116 Speaker 1: So to see that kind of demand and reaction I 172 00:08:45,156 --> 00:08:48,316 Speaker 1: think kind of really changed the marketplace. And since then, 173 00:08:48,676 --> 00:08:52,556 Speaker 1: each year the plus size swim market has grown exponentially, 174 00:08:52,836 --> 00:09:06,116 Speaker 1: and like, that's really exciting for me, Gabby. I personally 175 00:09:06,156 --> 00:09:10,516 Speaker 1: feel that the limited availability of size fuels the self 176 00:09:10,596 --> 00:09:14,676 Speaker 1: hatred many people experience around their bodies, Like, if you 177 00:09:14,716 --> 00:09:17,836 Speaker 1: can't find your size, it's like society telling you you 178 00:09:17,836 --> 00:09:20,996 Speaker 1: shouldn't exist. Recently, I went to buy a suit and 179 00:09:21,156 --> 00:09:22,876 Speaker 1: I'm a big guy, but it's by no means I 180 00:09:22,956 --> 00:09:24,596 Speaker 1: possible for me to find a suit on a rack 181 00:09:24,796 --> 00:09:27,596 Speaker 1: at the store, and the experience was pretty upsetting. As 182 00:09:27,636 --> 00:09:30,596 Speaker 1: I walked in the suit, guys typically do this thing 183 00:09:30,676 --> 00:09:33,036 Speaker 1: where they're just like, well, I mean, I don't know, 184 00:09:33,076 --> 00:09:35,196 Speaker 1: we might need to find some more material, and you know, 185 00:09:35,236 --> 00:09:36,716 Speaker 1: I don't know, this is gonna be it's gonna be 186 00:09:36,756 --> 00:09:39,236 Speaker 1: a struggle, and I feel like that's that's always hard. 187 00:09:39,676 --> 00:09:42,076 Speaker 1: One thing that's always been inspirational to me is being 188 00:09:42,116 --> 00:09:45,356 Speaker 1: able to see a lot of plus size influencers, primarily 189 00:09:45,356 --> 00:09:47,796 Speaker 1: women that are like really in the space and looking 190 00:09:47,796 --> 00:09:50,556 Speaker 1: beautiful and lots of clothes, and I see that fashion 191 00:09:50,636 --> 00:09:54,636 Speaker 1: choices are beginning to Expand do you think that women's 192 00:09:54,676 --> 00:09:57,916 Speaker 1: fashion when it comes to plus size clothing has outpaced 193 00:09:58,076 --> 00:10:01,036 Speaker 1: men's fashion when it comes to plus size clothing, Because 194 00:10:01,036 --> 00:10:03,596 Speaker 1: what I'm finding is that for men, it feels like 195 00:10:04,276 --> 00:10:06,916 Speaker 1: trying to find that same fervor and those same options 196 00:10:07,196 --> 00:10:08,996 Speaker 1: has still been a bit of a struggle for me, 197 00:10:09,356 --> 00:10:11,036 Speaker 1: well for me personally, And I don't know if maybe 198 00:10:11,036 --> 00:10:13,316 Speaker 1: I'm just not looking at the right places. I think 199 00:10:13,436 --> 00:10:16,316 Speaker 1: the male fashion customer is just different than the female 200 00:10:16,356 --> 00:10:20,396 Speaker 1: fashion customer, like generally speaking, and like often isn't looking 201 00:10:20,436 --> 00:10:23,876 Speaker 1: for the same fashion items as the as women are. 202 00:10:23,916 --> 00:10:25,876 Speaker 1: And so I think historically men have been fine with 203 00:10:25,916 --> 00:10:28,196 Speaker 1: like a plane button down and some jeans or a 204 00:10:28,236 --> 00:10:31,316 Speaker 1: T shirt, you know, And I think women a lot 205 00:10:31,396 --> 00:10:34,556 Speaker 1: of us have really been pushing for like more statement pieces, 206 00:10:34,556 --> 00:10:37,876 Speaker 1: more eye catching pieces. That being said, like I do 207 00:10:38,036 --> 00:10:40,316 Speaker 1: know that there are I was so excited, for example, 208 00:10:40,316 --> 00:10:43,756 Speaker 1: like when Aso's uh not only launched plus sizes for women, 209 00:10:43,756 --> 00:10:46,556 Speaker 1: but like a few years ago finally launched plus sizes 210 00:10:46,596 --> 00:10:49,276 Speaker 1: for men, And that made me so excited because I 211 00:10:49,316 --> 00:10:51,596 Speaker 1: constantly am hearing from men and my dms, Like, I'm 212 00:10:51,676 --> 00:10:53,836 Speaker 1: so excited for what you're doing, but like, do you 213 00:10:53,876 --> 00:10:55,676 Speaker 1: know of any places for me to shop, because like 214 00:10:55,716 --> 00:10:58,236 Speaker 1: Macy's or Ords, Drum or whatever may carry bigger sizes 215 00:10:58,276 --> 00:11:05,156 Speaker 1: for men in general, just like among the get yeah, 216 00:11:05,156 --> 00:11:07,636 Speaker 1: we did too. We still even now as much as 217 00:11:07,636 --> 00:11:10,476 Speaker 1: you were saying, like women's plus size fashion has outpaced men, 218 00:11:10,556 --> 00:11:13,996 Speaker 1: like I still almost exclusively shop online. We still don't 219 00:11:14,036 --> 00:11:17,516 Speaker 1: have any instore options. We have like our typical Lane 220 00:11:17,516 --> 00:11:20,996 Speaker 1: Bryant tour in which are like our two kind of 221 00:11:21,356 --> 00:11:25,436 Speaker 1: biggest retailers, big box retailers, but like, we don't have 222 00:11:25,956 --> 00:11:28,116 Speaker 1: a lot of in store options some again, some of 223 00:11:28,116 --> 00:11:32,356 Speaker 1: the department stores have plus size sections, but they for 224 00:11:32,476 --> 00:11:37,316 Speaker 1: the most part are pretty dire. They're pretty bad. We're 225 00:11:37,396 --> 00:11:39,756 Speaker 1: kind of stuck in the corner on the top floor, 226 00:11:39,996 --> 00:11:42,196 Speaker 1: in the back next to the dishes. You know you 227 00:11:42,236 --> 00:11:44,636 Speaker 1: talked about ass like and a lot of these plus 228 00:11:44,636 --> 00:11:48,116 Speaker 1: and extended sizes, they also have a limit, and I 229 00:11:48,196 --> 00:11:51,156 Speaker 1: know that there's been some like I think even some 230 00:11:51,196 --> 00:11:53,956 Speaker 1: of your lines to like eventually have a limit. YEA, 231 00:11:54,116 --> 00:11:55,596 Speaker 1: how do we solve that? How do we get to 232 00:11:55,636 --> 00:11:58,876 Speaker 1: a place where there is a size for everyone and 233 00:11:59,196 --> 00:12:01,396 Speaker 1: they're not being a limit that we can't reach. Because 234 00:12:01,436 --> 00:12:03,396 Speaker 1: even when you were talking about not being unable to 235 00:12:03,396 --> 00:12:06,196 Speaker 1: get the one bikini that was in size eighteen, Yes, 236 00:12:06,756 --> 00:12:08,476 Speaker 1: and if they're one person came along and they were 237 00:12:08,476 --> 00:12:10,836 Speaker 1: twenty and it's like, oh, that's it. That's it for me. 238 00:12:10,876 --> 00:12:13,516 Speaker 1: And I've experienced that myself in different sizes as well. 239 00:12:13,836 --> 00:12:17,516 Speaker 1: So how would you how do you solve for that? Yeah, 240 00:12:17,556 --> 00:12:19,636 Speaker 1: that's a really tough one and a great question. It's 241 00:12:19,676 --> 00:12:23,596 Speaker 1: something that's an ongoing conversation within the community because you know, 242 00:12:23,676 --> 00:12:27,436 Speaker 1: inevitably wherever you kind of stop, whatever size you stop at, 243 00:12:27,476 --> 00:12:29,916 Speaker 1: there's going to be someone larger than that size who 244 00:12:29,916 --> 00:12:33,436 Speaker 1: feels excluded, when in reality, you're trying to be inclusive 245 00:12:33,436 --> 00:12:37,036 Speaker 1: and you're trying to extend the sizes. And so I 246 00:12:37,076 --> 00:12:39,196 Speaker 1: will be the first to say, like my swimsuit line 247 00:12:39,276 --> 00:12:42,596 Speaker 1: and my laundry line both are not inclusive enough. Like 248 00:12:42,676 --> 00:12:45,356 Speaker 1: we I really wish I had more control over the 249 00:12:45,396 --> 00:12:48,116 Speaker 1: side range, but ultimately that's not my call. But the 250 00:12:48,156 --> 00:12:51,516 Speaker 1: consensus I've seen is like, we wish all plus size 251 00:12:51,556 --> 00:12:55,156 Speaker 1: brands went to at least a size thirty or thirty two. Unfortunately, 252 00:12:55,196 --> 00:12:58,076 Speaker 1: like what we're facing in capitalism is like, of course, 253 00:12:58,076 --> 00:12:59,076 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, you want to have 254 00:12:59,076 --> 00:13:04,276 Speaker 1: the highest margins and the most profits, and and that 255 00:13:04,476 --> 00:13:08,156 Speaker 1: is sometimes at conflict with what's needed in the community. 256 00:13:08,316 --> 00:13:11,436 Speaker 1: Right It's like, ethically, what is the right thing to 257 00:13:11,476 --> 00:13:13,436 Speaker 1: do versus what is going to make you the most money. 258 00:13:13,796 --> 00:13:18,836 Speaker 1: And so I definitely hope to continue doing more swimwear 259 00:13:18,876 --> 00:13:21,796 Speaker 1: and laundree and I hope that I'm able to extend 260 00:13:21,796 --> 00:13:24,036 Speaker 1: the side is beyond a size twenty six because I 261 00:13:24,036 --> 00:13:27,276 Speaker 1: think we need to. And it's it's definitely consistent feedback 262 00:13:27,276 --> 00:13:31,836 Speaker 1: that I've heard. There was a trainer, Jillian Michaels, who 263 00:13:32,236 --> 00:13:35,116 Speaker 1: got out, who came out and was she kind of 264 00:13:35,116 --> 00:13:38,756 Speaker 1: went to battle with Lizzo, who is a great singer, 265 00:13:38,876 --> 00:13:42,676 Speaker 1: pop star who is also plus size and very body inclusive, 266 00:13:42,796 --> 00:13:45,596 Speaker 1: and Jillian Michaels looked at her and said that she's 267 00:13:45,996 --> 00:13:49,076 Speaker 1: basically said she's unhealthy and she's promoting obesity. How do 268 00:13:49,116 --> 00:13:51,596 Speaker 1: you feel about the critics that are saying things like 269 00:13:51,596 --> 00:13:56,756 Speaker 1: that about this movement, that it is a promoting obesity. Yeah, 270 00:13:56,796 --> 00:13:58,596 Speaker 1: I mean that's kind of the oldest response in the 271 00:13:58,596 --> 00:14:01,316 Speaker 1: book that I've heard since I started over a decade ago, 272 00:14:01,356 --> 00:14:04,836 Speaker 1: it's constantly like you're promoting obesity or like you're unhealthy, 273 00:14:05,436 --> 00:14:07,996 Speaker 1: And I have so much to say about that, mostly 274 00:14:08,076 --> 00:14:11,356 Speaker 1: because the truth is especially right now, I am unhealthy, 275 00:14:11,436 --> 00:14:13,316 Speaker 1: mostly not because of my weight, but because I have 276 00:14:13,436 --> 00:14:16,516 Speaker 1: chronic illness and lyme disease. And so my big thing 277 00:14:16,596 --> 00:14:20,036 Speaker 1: is like health should not be an indicator of value, right, 278 00:14:20,036 --> 00:14:21,916 Speaker 1: Like it doesn't matter if someone is healthy or not. 279 00:14:21,956 --> 00:14:23,956 Speaker 1: They should be respected as a human being and they 280 00:14:23,996 --> 00:14:27,636 Speaker 1: still deserve to be seen and to be heard. And like, 281 00:14:28,076 --> 00:14:31,116 Speaker 1: I don't care if someone is healthy or not. I want, 282 00:14:31,476 --> 00:14:34,516 Speaker 1: of course, I want us as a society to care 283 00:14:34,556 --> 00:14:37,116 Speaker 1: about our health. But like, at the same time, as 284 00:14:37,156 --> 00:14:40,276 Speaker 1: individuals walking down the street, you can't tell me who's 285 00:14:40,316 --> 00:14:42,356 Speaker 1: healthy and who's not just based on how they look, 286 00:14:42,396 --> 00:14:45,116 Speaker 1: Like you don't know anyone's personal behaviors. There's a million 287 00:14:45,156 --> 00:14:47,956 Speaker 1: reasons someone is thin, there's a million reasons someone is fat. 288 00:14:48,276 --> 00:14:51,556 Speaker 1: And someone's health status should not be indicative of like 289 00:14:51,676 --> 00:14:54,316 Speaker 1: how they deserve to be treated as a person. If 290 00:14:54,356 --> 00:14:57,996 Speaker 1: someone struggling with their health, why are you telling them 291 00:14:58,036 --> 00:14:59,756 Speaker 1: they shouldn't wear a bikini? Like how are those two 292 00:14:59,796 --> 00:15:02,636 Speaker 1: things correlated? Like it's like one you don't really know 293 00:15:02,716 --> 00:15:05,596 Speaker 1: someone's health status into even if they are unhealthy, that 294 00:15:05,636 --> 00:15:07,836 Speaker 1: doesn't mean they can't enjoy their time on a beach 295 00:15:07,996 --> 00:15:10,636 Speaker 1: looking cute. Like I don't I don't get why those 296 00:15:10,676 --> 00:15:13,516 Speaker 1: two things are related to people. If you care so 297 00:15:13,596 --> 00:15:16,716 Speaker 1: much about health, then do be on the front lines, 298 00:15:16,796 --> 00:15:21,316 Speaker 1: like working to get people educated about nutrition, like get 299 00:15:21,196 --> 00:15:23,716 Speaker 1: let's let's get better food options and food deserts, like 300 00:15:23,756 --> 00:15:27,316 Speaker 1: let's work on that, versus you just telling someone they're 301 00:15:27,436 --> 00:15:33,476 Speaker 1: ugly and they're gonna die. What do you hope to 302 00:15:33,476 --> 00:15:37,396 Speaker 1: see in the fashion world as a result of your 303 00:15:37,396 --> 00:15:40,636 Speaker 1: influence in the next five to ten years. I guess 304 00:15:40,956 --> 00:15:43,276 Speaker 1: I could say we're still tokenized, right, Like it's still 305 00:15:43,316 --> 00:15:46,756 Speaker 1: like a niche issue to be Oh, look at the 306 00:15:46,836 --> 00:15:49,396 Speaker 1: body issue, or look at we look at this runway show. 307 00:15:49,396 --> 00:15:52,356 Speaker 1: We included three plus size models. How amazing are we? 308 00:15:52,516 --> 00:15:54,556 Speaker 1: You know? And so it's still kind of a talking 309 00:15:54,596 --> 00:15:58,476 Speaker 1: point and a headline when a plus size model does something. 310 00:15:59,076 --> 00:16:01,756 Speaker 1: And so I think when plus size models and when 311 00:16:01,756 --> 00:16:07,276 Speaker 1: plus size black models are being included consistently in campaigns 312 00:16:07,356 --> 00:16:11,476 Speaker 1: and in fashion editorials, and like when our sizes are 313 00:16:11,676 --> 00:16:13,796 Speaker 1: being offered at every store and it's not the exception, 314 00:16:13,836 --> 00:16:16,116 Speaker 1: but it is the rule. I think that's when it's 315 00:16:16,196 --> 00:16:18,316 Speaker 1: truly going to feel like, you know, there has been 316 00:16:18,356 --> 00:16:21,796 Speaker 1: a shift in the tide where we are just included, 317 00:16:21,916 --> 00:16:24,116 Speaker 1: and it's kind of the exception for us to not 318 00:16:24,196 --> 00:16:29,676 Speaker 1: be included versus to be included. Gabby, what can listeners 319 00:16:29,676 --> 00:16:32,156 Speaker 1: who are struggling with self hatred and body image issues 320 00:16:32,236 --> 00:16:35,676 Speaker 1: due to combat them? And what can listeners do to 321 00:16:35,796 --> 00:16:38,276 Speaker 1: support people who are struggling with body image issues and 322 00:16:38,316 --> 00:16:41,476 Speaker 1: self hatred? Yeah, so I think a couple things, But 323 00:16:41,596 --> 00:16:43,796 Speaker 1: one thing I always start with is like, if you 324 00:16:43,836 --> 00:16:48,836 Speaker 1: are struggling to accept your body, following influencers or just 325 00:16:48,996 --> 00:16:52,316 Speaker 1: people who look like you is life changing. And I 326 00:16:52,396 --> 00:16:56,316 Speaker 1: know it sounds kind of superficial or not that important, 327 00:16:56,316 --> 00:17:00,076 Speaker 1: but I cannot emphasize enough how much representation matters and 328 00:17:00,156 --> 00:17:02,636 Speaker 1: how much seeing someone who looks like you and who 329 00:17:02,716 --> 00:17:07,156 Speaker 1: reflects your body and your experience is important. So, like, 330 00:17:07,196 --> 00:17:10,116 Speaker 1: even if when you're following so incisitions in the beginning, 331 00:17:10,116 --> 00:17:11,756 Speaker 1: you might even be judging them because a lot of 332 00:17:11,796 --> 00:17:14,596 Speaker 1: us have that internalized shame and internalized fat phobia, So 333 00:17:14,596 --> 00:17:16,156 Speaker 1: you might be like, oh, she should not be wearing that, 334 00:17:16,196 --> 00:17:18,196 Speaker 1: Like why is she wearing a string bikini. You might 335 00:17:18,236 --> 00:17:21,156 Speaker 1: have that initial gut reaction, and that's because you have 336 00:17:21,236 --> 00:17:24,236 Speaker 1: been conditioned to feel that way, and so like it's 337 00:17:24,276 --> 00:17:27,276 Speaker 1: even more important for you to follow those people. Over time, 338 00:17:27,316 --> 00:17:31,236 Speaker 1: what you'll find is that, like, those reactions will dissipate 339 00:17:31,356 --> 00:17:33,756 Speaker 1: because when you're seeing that on a day to day 340 00:17:33,796 --> 00:17:37,196 Speaker 1: basis in your feed and you are normalizing that to 341 00:17:37,276 --> 00:17:40,876 Speaker 1: yourself and realizing, like, oh wow, these women like themselves 342 00:17:40,876 --> 00:17:43,716 Speaker 1: and are allowing themselves to express themselves through fashion or 343 00:17:43,716 --> 00:17:47,356 Speaker 1: through creativity and like enjoying their lives. And like, when 344 00:17:47,396 --> 00:17:49,796 Speaker 1: you're seeing a fat person do all the things you've 345 00:17:49,836 --> 00:17:52,036 Speaker 1: been told they're not supposed to do, and you see 346 00:17:52,036 --> 00:17:54,916 Speaker 1: that consistently over time, you give yourself that grace too, 347 00:17:54,916 --> 00:17:58,996 Speaker 1: and that permission to live that way as well. Gabby, 348 00:17:59,076 --> 00:18:01,476 Speaker 1: thank you so much for being with us. Of course, 349 00:18:01,476 --> 00:18:02,876 Speaker 1: thank you so much for having me. This is a 350 00:18:02,876 --> 00:18:07,956 Speaker 1: great conversation. Gabby Fresh is a body positive digital content 351 00:18:08,036 --> 00:18:11,636 Speaker 1: creator Solvable listeners. I want to thank you so much 352 00:18:11,676 --> 00:18:14,036 Speaker 1: for listening in on these last two episodes that were 353 00:18:14,436 --> 00:18:16,956 Speaker 1: way more personal for me. It's been meaningful to get 354 00:18:16,956 --> 00:18:19,276 Speaker 1: to talk with experts about how to solve these difficult 355 00:18:19,276 --> 00:18:22,036 Speaker 1: problems and I'd love to hear more from you. What 356 00:18:22,116 --> 00:18:24,676 Speaker 1: are the challenges that you're struggling with and what are 357 00:18:24,676 --> 00:18:26,836 Speaker 1: some problems you'd like to hear us discuss on the show. 358 00:18:26,916 --> 00:18:29,756 Speaker 1: What solutions do you need? You could tweet at us 359 00:18:29,876 --> 00:18:32,996 Speaker 1: with the hashtag solvable. Could tweet at me at oh 360 00:18:33,076 --> 00:18:36,036 Speaker 1: it's big Ron that's at O h I T S 361 00:18:36,316 --> 00:18:38,836 Speaker 1: b I g R O N, or you could tweet 362 00:18:38,836 --> 00:18:42,436 Speaker 1: at Pushkin at Pushkin pods that's at p U s 363 00:18:42,676 --> 00:18:46,516 Speaker 1: h k I N p O d S. Solvable is 364 00:18:46,516 --> 00:18:51,036 Speaker 1: produced by Jocelyn Frank, research by David Jah, booking by 365 00:18:51,076 --> 00:18:55,276 Speaker 1: Lisa Dutton. Our managing producer is Sasha Matthias, and our 366 00:18:55,316 --> 00:19:00,316 Speaker 1: executive producer is Mio Lobel. I'm Ronald Young Junior. Thanks 367 00:19:00,356 --> 00:19:00,876 Speaker 1: for listening.