TV Show: Lizzo’s Watch out for the big grrrls

"They don’t want big girls to be sexy. They don’t want us to be happy. And that’s why this show is so important to me because…It’s hard to love yourself in a world that doesn’t love you back.”

In Lizzo’s premier reality TV show, she goes on the hunt for big women who are the most talented dancers across the country for a chance to compete for a spot on her upcoming Bonnaroo performance stage. This show is ‘Making the Band’ meets ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and I’m here for ALL OF IT! There is just something that feels so good and wholesome about watching women, who are often placed on the margins, finally have their platform to be unapologetic versions of themselves. Every episode, you get a chance to watch them break the fatphobic, oppressive stereotypes that have dominated their upbringing. Big women are motivated, flexible, athletic, talented, and, most importantly, healthy at every size. I watch this show with my daughter. She is not only captivated by Lizzo’s enthusiasm, she gets up and dances to her heart’s content. I cannot stress how important it is that she is exposed to this. To balance the scales and be shown a representation that was not available to me in my childhood. We have come a long way from The Dress Barn.  

The thoughtful challenges in each episode not only assess skill, but also give contestants the opportunity to reach deep, connect to their inner-child, and address their wounds physically and emotionally. This is the most unapologetic part of it all. I feel privileged to see these women be vulnerable, challenged, advocate for themselves, and come out the other side with their heads held high. This is what normalizing mental health in pop culture looks like and what better surrogate to guide us through this journey than Queen Lizzo herself.