Plus-size model and activist Tess Holliday kicked off Saturday's Teen Vogue Summit with an empowering message about body positivity, diversity, and taking up space.
In conversation with Teen Vogue Features Director Brittney McNamara, Holliday took the Summit stage to talk about her new book, Take Up Space, Y'all, a guide to feeling comfortable and confident in your teen years. Holliday, known for her long-running diversity campaign #EffYourBeautyStandards, also tackled the importance of inclusion — from race to ability, gender, and beyond.
“For me, real self-love is showing up for yourself,” Holliday said. “I've always loved myself. Whether I'm in a big body [or] small body.”
She continued: “I was always told to not take up space and to shrink myself. And that led to a life of misery, a life of no cute outfits, and just not being my authentic self.”
Holliday and McNamara spoke about the changing pressures of body image in the “age of Ozempic,” and Holliday said she often gets comments from people online who say she now has “no excuse” to not lose weight.
Related: Tess Holliday and Fashion to Figure Release #EffYourBeautyStandards Capsule Collection
“I'm like, that is not how it works,” she said of the comments. “Also, like, can I live? Let me just live.”
Holliday also spoke about turning 40 and continuing to dress the way that she wants. Wearing a pink sheer dress on stage at Summit, she said having fun with clothes is essential — no matter what age or size.
“I don't really follow trends,” Holliday said. “At the end of the day, fashion and life should be fun.”
Not only is Holliday standing up for her own body image and diversity, she's also become a fierce advocate on political crises — including being outspoken about the conflict Gaza — even if it means having to stop communication with family members who disagree.
As far as being brave in living your most authentic self, Holliday says that “the right people will find you."
“The right opportunities will find you. The right friends will find you. The right jobs will find you,” she said. “It's not worth a check to compromise your integrity.”
See the full discussion with Holliday here:
