National Plus Size Appreciation Day, celebrated annually on October 6th, is a day of body positivity and self-love. It’s a day that reminds us that beauty exists in all shapes and sizes, encouraging us to appreciate and accept diverse body types, and challenging traditional beauty standards that often favor slimmer figures.

Celebrating body diversity and inclusivity serves as an opportunity for individuals to embrace their bodies and cultivate a positive self-image. This is especially important during a time when social media rules the mind's perspective of self. Moving away from body shaming to body appreciation helps cultivate a positive self-image. National Plus Size Appreciation Day highlights the beauty of plus-sized individuals in fashion, media, and society, promoting a more inclusive perspective.

National Plus Size Appreciation Day originated in 2016 through the efforts of Women Rock, Inc., a community organization dedicated to empowering women and addressing issues related to beauty standards and self-acceptance. The day was created to boost confidence for people of all sizes, promoting self-love and challenging societal stigmas about body size and appearance.

National Plus Size Appreciation Day was not officially recognized until 2017 when the Registrar of the National Day Calendar proclaimed the celebration to be observed annually. The emergence of this day can be attributed to the growing body positivity movement and ongoing efforts to challenge traditional beauty standards.

In more recent years, social media has played a major role in spreading awareness about body positivity, inclusivity, and celebrating plus-size individuals. It continues to contribute to the movement’s recognition to this day!

Self-love and body confidence are incredibly important for your overall mental health and well-being. They play a massive role in shaping how you perceive yourself and interact with the world around you. 

Importance of Self Love

• Foundation of Relationships - When you value yourself, you’re better equipped to form healthy connections, set boundaries, and avoid toxic relationships.
• Mental Health Benefits - Self-love can reduce anxiety and stress, enhance self-esteem, and promote resilience. It allows you to manage negative emotions more effectively, improving mental well-being. 
• Encouragement of Healthy Choices - Loving yourself motivates you to prioritize your well-being and engage in self-care practices. (Yes, those sweet treat runs count <3)
• Reduction of Self-Criticism - Cultivating self-love helps counteract the harsh inner critic many people experience. This shift allows you to treat yourself with kindness and fosters a more positive self-image; reducing feelings of shame or guilt. 

Importance of Body Confidence

• Positive Self-Image - Body confidence contributes to a positive self-image, enabling individuals to appreciate their uniqueness and embrace their bodies as they are.
• Empowerment - Feeling confident in your skin empowers you to engage in activities that you enjoy, express yourself freely, and pursue your goals without the constraints of societal beauty standards.
• Social Impact - Body confidence can influence how people interact with others and how they are perceived in social settings. Confident people are often more assertive and less likely to tolerate mistreatment or negative comments about their appearance.
• Encouraging Inclusivity - Promoting body confidence supports a broader acceptance of diverse body types, challenging harmful stereotypes, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and body positivity within society.

The perception of beauty is continually evolving, with recent trends showing increased diversity and inclusivity. The fashion and beauty industries are embracing models of various sizes, ethnicities, and ages, reflecting a more inclusive approach. The body-positive movement is a key driver in challenging outdated beauty standards and encouraging individuals to embrace their unique characteristics. This shift is accompanied by a growing awareness of the connection between beauty standards and mental health, promoting self-acceptance and well-being as central to beauty.

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have played a crucial role in amplifying diverse representations of beauty, allowing influencers and underrepresented groups to reshape the narrative. Consumers are increasingly demanding authenticity in advertising, moving away from heavily edited or unrealistic images. This evolution also includes a focus on health, wellness, and self-care, rather than just aesthetics, signaling a broader societal shift towards acceptance, diversity, and empowerment in defining and expressing beauty. 

Plus-size representation in media has a major impact on society by challenging traditional beauty standards and promoting inclusivity. Visibility in advertising, television, fashion, and social media helps normalize diverse body types and sends a powerful message that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. This representation can boost self-esteem and body confidence, particularly for those who may have previously felt marginalized.

Representation of plus-size individuals can influence society’s attitudes toward weight and body image. It also encourages brands and industries to cater to a broader range of consumers, leading to more inclusive products, clothing, and services.

Corissa Enneking @fatgirlflow

Corissa Enneking is the creator of FatGirlFlow, a blog launched in April 2015 that focuses on body positivity, plus-size fashion, and the challenges faced by fat individuals in a society that often stigmatizes them. 

The blog serves as a platform for fashion and self-acceptance, the stigma of being fat, and the importance of celebrating one’s body without conditions. Enneking has gained significant media attention, being featured in outlets like Huffington Post and Cosmopolitan. FatGirlFlow represents a significant voice in the body positivity movement, advocating for self-love and acceptance while navigating the complexities of societal perceptions of fatness.

Bruce Sturgell @chubstr 

The founder of Chubstr, Bruce Sturgell, has played a pivotal role in advancing fashion inclusivity for plus-size men. Since launching Chubstr in 2010, Sturgell’s mission has been to help men of size discover, create, and share their style with the world. He has become a prominent voice in plus-size men’s fashion, with features in the New York Times, Esquire, USA Today, LA Times, and more. Sturgell was nominated for Outstanding Blogger at the 2024 Full Figured Industry Awards, having won the award in 2023. Additionally, he and co-host Jody Koenig won Podcast of the Year in 2022 for their podcast, Heavy Conversation.

Chubstr started as a Tumblr blog where Sturgell expressed his frustrations with the limited fashion options for men. It has since grown into a leading style resource for big and tall or plus-size men. The platform offers informative guides, engaging interviews, striking photo shoots, and a curated shopping section, challenging the stereotype that larger men aren’t interested in style. Chubstr’s content spans fashion, lifestyle, politics, travel, food, and relationships. Chubstr has significantly contributed to the visibility and representation of plus-size men in fashion, creating a community and resources that were previously lacking in the industry.

Brands that prioritize plus-size inclusivity are vital in creating a more equitable and representative world. By embracing and celebrating diverse body types, these brands challenge societal norms and help dismantle harmful stereotypes. Their commitment extends beyond fashion to various sectors, from fitness and health to home products and services. When brands are inclusive, they ensure that everyone, regardless of size, can access products and services that cater to their needs and preferences.

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

Titan Mattress is dedicated to inclusivity by designing products specifically tailored for individuals who are big, tall, and strong, ensuring that everyone can experience exceptional comfort and support. Our commitment goes beyond just providing a product; it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and addressing the unique needs of heavy sleepers. By offering high-quality, durable mattresses that cater to diverse body types and sleep styles, we champion ourselves on inclusivity and our commitment to ensure that every sleeper, especially heavy sleepers, can enjoy restful, restorative sleep without compromising.

National Plus Size Appreciation Day is the perfect opportunity to honor and celebrate body positivity, and here are some inspiring tips to help you join in the festivities and show your support!

1. Embrace body positivity and self-love. Take time to appreciate your own body! Have a self-care day or buy that item you’ve been eyeing for a while!
2. Attend or watch a plus-size fashion show to support plus-size models and designers.
3. Shop from and support plus-size brands and retailers.
4. Share positive stories and images on social media to raise awareness, using relevant hashtags like #NationalPlusSizeAppreciationDay and #bodypositivity.
5. Host or attend a plus-size appreciation event in your community, like a clothing swap or body-positive workshop.
6. Follow and engage with plus-size influencers, models, and activists on social media.
7. Educate others about body positivity and the importance of size inclusivity.
8. Give sincere compliments to friends, family, and even strangers to spread positivity.
9. Write positive affirmations to yourself and others!
10. Organize a clothing drive or donation for plus-size clothing to support those in need.

The most important thing about celebrating National Plus Size Appreciation Day is to take it as a day to celebrate beauty in all shapes and sizes- including you! Even small actions can make a big difference in fostering a more inclusive and body-positive culture.