#BoPo Art Installation

Earlier this month I blogged about my friend Karen and her hubs, Peter’s store anniversary party.  Their store, Your Big Sister’s Closet turned 1 this month and I was asked to be a window model for their Body Positivity Art Installation.  The concept was to make plus sized women more visible and to address what is not usually addressed.

I have to admit, putting myself out there in the “real world” was harder than in the virtual one I’ve created via this blog, but it was a great opportunity to make a statement.  Me, along with a few others, were asked to wear  whatever fabulous clothes we looked and felt great in, and were to stand in their store-front window holding up a sign that has either displayed our weight or measurements or some other indication that we were a curvy, bodacious lady, and an adjective that describes ourselves.  So for instance,  Karen’s sign read: Size 20 & Fabulous!

Originally when Karen reached out to me as “one of the most #bopo ladies in the city she knows.”..  I have to say, I didn’t know if that was a good thing or bad thing.  And upon researching ‘bopo’ via Urban Dictionary, I was very alarmed at its definition. But Google said #bopo stood for Body Positivity, which relieved my initial concerns – once I stopped laughing hysterically.  (Wanna know what was so funny? Check out Urban Dictionary’s def here … Ahem! No doubt that would certainly draw a crowd and make the news! But for all the wrong reasons, haha!)

Karen lined up a designer who came from NYC for a trunk show called Curvy Couture – showcasing bras right up to H cup – Hooray!  Along with a full candy bar, coffee and complimentary hair touch-ups and nail care all day from event sponsor Donato Salon + Spa.  Check out my “before” and “after” shots – big thank you to Michelle & Tracy for making and keeping me pretty all day!

 

                                         

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet amazing, positive and beautiful women!

Even networked with other plus fashion bloggers and hob-knobbed with Toronto celebs like Sheena Snively from MTV and the Full Figured Model, Ophilia Alleyne.

 

Together we brought awareness to the public promoting a simple message: ALL BODIES ARE GOOD BODIES!  My sign read: Curvy & Confident! 

Sizeism is widely considered to be the last socially acceptable form of prejudice. Body shaming happens every day, all over the city.  This Art Installation entitled “There’s No Right Way to Have a Body” was meant to bring awareness surrounding our society’s obsession with size and size shaming.

Overall, it was a Saturday well spent being ogled as a full-figured beauty in the window of Your Big Sister’s Closet! 🙂

 

Author: PetitePlusMeow

Social Media Enthusiast. Learning Designer. Curvy Fashionista. I'm a 30-something Canadian born Bengali (parents are from Kolkata, India...for those of you who need to know that type of thing). I've been chubby-curvy-plus-sized my entire life. Standing at a height of 5'2 and with a darker complexion, it has always been a challenge finding outfits or "looks" that really suit me. Living in the fashionable city of Toronto since birth, with a solid career has finally allowed me to embrace my love of pretty fashions in clothing, shoes and everything in between. View all posts by PetitePlusMeow