People always say, “embrace your differences”, “don’t fit in the box”; but do you realize how unkind society is to those who stand out? Those who are bigger than the usual ‘standard size’, those who embrace their curves, those who have no fear and love themselves for who they are?

The world is built on insecurities. Companies and their marketing departments thrive on this. They love to tell people, specially women, how they should dress, what they should eat, what car they should drive and most importantly, how they should look. Ever heard someone say, “Oh you’ve put on but you’re still really pretty” or “She’s a bit chubby but she has a beautiful face”? Why do we, as a society put so much weight (pun intended) on to the way a woman looks? It’s because we are being told day in and day out that thin equals beautiful and fat equals taboo. “Shhh, don’t call her fat, just say chubby”. As if ‘fat’ is a swear word too ugly to be said out loud in polite society.

Ever had a moment when your achievements, your personality, your kind nature, were all overshadowed by your weight? Were you ever excited about graduating but all anyone could talk about was how it might be great if you lost a bit of weight before the ceremony so your saree could drape better?

Curves are great as long as they’re in the right places and aren’t too pronounced. A dress split to the navel is sexy as long as your boobs don’t fill out the front and make it obscene. God forbid if you lift up your arms and a bit of your stomach fat shows. Would’ve been much better if your top reached your knees.

We are so conditioned to treat ‘Fat’ as a disgusting quality that you should be ashamed of rather than a descriptive noun. We have given it so much power over us that just uttering the word makes people cringe. It’s a long way to changing society’s perspectives, but at least as a start, stop being so afraid. Take control and build your own meaning to life. Do not let anyone tell you what you should fear, YOU define what FAT means to you. Shake that booty, love those curves, kiss the fear goodbye and let Queen Flabulous take over!

By Samurdha Jayasinghe