British Plus Size Awards: Best Achievement

If you follow me on any social media platform then you are probably already of my endless posts about The British Plus Size Awards at the weekend. I will do a proper post about the night, outfits and more but firstly I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!

You might know that I had the pleasure of being nominated for two awards this year - Best Blogger and Best Achievement. I was really proud to be nominated for both of them,  but the Best Achievement won definitely meant the most to me!

The award was related to the hashtag #WeAreTheThey which WE ALL worked on earlier this year. If you're new to We Are The They then you can read about it here and here. You may remember that WE ended up trended with the hashtag on more than one occasion, which was amazing in itself.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who voted for me but it doesn't seem enough. After all, I didn't make the hashtag trend on its own - YOU DID! Anyone and everyone who used the hashtag made it the amazing success that it was. You helped to support and uplift other people and for that, I am so thankful!

Of course, I am proud to have started the hashtag but as I said at the awards "This is for anyone who has ever been told they can't wear something because of the way they look".

With presenter Jeff Brazier

The awards was amazing and in all honesty, walking away with the trophy was the absolute icing on the cake. I can't even put into words how happy I am and how grateful I am to everyone that helped make it happen!

The grape Lyra from Lady Voluptuous

I know, this is a something and nothing post but I wanted to post and say thank you as soon as possible because I am truly blessed and you all made it happen!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Debz xx

If you liked what you read & want to keep up to date with future posts... You can do so here:

Facebook / Twitter / Blog Loving / Pinterest / Instagram / Tumblr /

We Are The They And We're Here To Stay

You will have seen earlier on today I posted about a We Are The They campaign for this evening. 

If you're reading this it's time to get on social media and post on your photos. I want to see you looking fabulous! Simply post your favourite photos of you on Twitter and Instagram using #WeAreTheThey :)

Quite frankly I am fed up of the notion that I shouldn't be entitled to clothing because I might be unhealthy. I don't think people quite realise that they're talking about something as basic as putting clothes on a body when they say that plus size clothing should not exist.

I even saw a blog post this morning that suggests 'obesity kills' warnings should be sewn into the labels of my clothing. 

Here is a comment I left on a blog post (which I refuse to link to) this morning.

"I think you are a little bit confused about the reasons for size 32 clothing.... I AM a size 32 and therefore I need clothing in my size. If you think that I am a size 32 because of the multiple choices of clothing I am now 'lucky' enough to have you are wrong. The truth is that people were fat long before they had clothing available in their size. I have been the teenager having to wear ill fitting school blazers and the 20-something having to squeeze my body into a work uniform that didn't fit, just so I could do things as basic as getting an education or earning a living.

I think if you want to battle the 'heath' of our nation then that is a whole different argument. You can read debates on both sides of the coin when it comes to the current health of our nation compared to 50 years ago. However, please be assured that those of us are fat because of much more complex reasons than striving to fit into the handful of plus size clothing options that we now."

Plus size clothing might be available and it might make loving your body more acceptable - it also makes it possible for plus size people to look nice, go out to work, look after their children etc. The fact that clothing for fat people now exists is not the reason we are fat, so please do not deny us the right to something as basic as clothing when you talk about fat people and their right to clothing.

So anyway.... I wanted once again to highlight when people say 'they shouldn't have clothes in this size', 'they shouldn't be wearing a wedding dress like that' and 'they should lose weight to fit normal sized clothing'; WE are the people they are talking about.... WE ARE THE THEY AND WE'RE HERE TO STAY!

 Me, Hayley,Charli, Tanya, Kerry, Sam, Lucia and Becky

Kat, Sharon, Nikee, Kelly, Leighanne, Vicky and Charlene

Kitty, Emma, Caroline, Charlie, Susan, Becs, Katt and Becky

Steph, Vicky, Leah, Caroline, Faith, Leah, Lucy and Mookie

Dom, Lee, Sharon, Elena, Sian, Lisa, Nikki

Joanne, Nicki, Bethany, Michaela,  Charlotte, Lorriane

Don't forget - post your photos on social media using #WeAreTheThey so we can all see and share them all!

Debz x

If you liked what you read & want to keep up to date with future posts... You can do so here:

Facebook / Twitter / Blog Loving / Pinterest / Instagram / Tumblr /

We Are The They - And We're Not Going Away!

You might have seen on Channel 4 last night a program called My Big Fat Wedding.

The program followed a few plus size brides and their search for the perfect wedding dress. Pretty harmless you would think - just some very happy brides to be sharing some special moments from their big day.

Sadly the world of social media did not agree. Instead Twitter became busy with people shocked at the very notion of plus size dresses. In fact it has even led to a blog post this morning (which I refuse to lead to) which claims that our nation is fat because plus size clothing exists.

I asked this blogger what she thought I should do without clothing (if they didn't sell clothes in my size) and her answer was lose weight.... I'm not sure what I am supposed to do in the interim!

Anyway, the point is once again that this is all very anonymous. It is SO easy to say that 'they shouldn't be able to wear clothes' and 'they are unhealthy make them thinner' but that doesn't put real people in the picture. I've even seen some one suggest that 'obesity kills' labels be added to all my clothing.. EXCUSE ME!?

It's time to remind people that we are REAL people. All we want is the basic right to clothing. I honestly find it baffling that people would take away the right to clothing in my size because I might be unhealthy!

So at 8pm tonight I want to do another wave of We Are The They Posts. So get your Twitter and Instagram ready to post photos on your social media.... Let's show those who think we should be denied clothing WHO we are and why we're important! #WeAreTheThey - Make sure you use the tag!

ALSO! I want to blog properly about this at 8pm (This is rushed.... I know you'd never tell) and I'd love to include your photos! Send them over by 7pm tonight and I'll do my best to include them all, including any blog links. Email them to debzjs@hotmail.com (or drop me an email with your blog address if you want me to just pick one for you)

#WeAreTheThey and we're not going away!

Debz x

If you liked what you read & want to keep up to date with future posts... You can do so here:

Facebook / Twitter / Blog Loving / Pinterest / Instagram / Tumblr /

They Shouldn't Wear That - But I Always Will #WeAreTheThey

Unless you have been on Mars for the past week you will have seen that something quite amazing has happened with a little hashtag I started - #WeAreTheThey.

I decided that I wanted to keep the movement going and so tonight we're once again hitting blog posts and social media! The idea behind the set of posts this evening is what 'they' shouldn't wear. What size body you have, there are usually a set of rules put to you to help you dress 'better'. Whether that's to accentuate your curves, stop you from looking to short or avoiding heels if you're tall. I say stuff that and where what you want.

Browse the #WeAreTheThey hashtag tonight and you'll see a whole range of beautiful, amazing women showing you exactly how they break fashion rules! Why not add your own?

Do Not Wear Short Dresses

Avoid Stripes

Don't Wear Oversized Swing Dresses

You're Too Fat For Primark

The only rule you should listen to when it comes to dressing yourself is whether you want to wear it or not!

Debz

So many bloggers joined in with the challenge and I can't possibly link to them all. I will be retweeting and sharing on Twitter though, so come over and see!

If you liked what you read & want to keep up to date with future posts... You can do so here:

Facebook / Twitter / Blog Loving / Pinterest / Instagram / Tumblr /

Why We Need 'We Are The They' #Wearethethey

Yesterday I wrote a post putting a face to the people bullies refer to when they say 'they should feel ashamed. I clicked post and suddenly the world went BOOM! A few hours later #WeAreTheThey was the 2nd most talked about topic on Twitter. People from all over were posting their photos and words of support. Men and women of all shapes and sizes embraced the hashtag and it literally made my heart want to burst with joy seeing so many people standing together against bullies. 

I don't even mean just Jamelia any more, it has become so much more than that. Now we stand together as a team against those who bully others because of the way they look.

And then, well today - WOW! The campaign has been mentioned on different radio stations thanks to some amazing bloggers for spreading the word. It has been mentioned in The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Metro and Look Magazine. There are too many blog posts for me to even keep up with reading and we trended again today.

I am so proud of everyone who has shared photos and words of love. Who have battled the trolls who took glee from writing negativity in our hashtag and even an article where we were compared to animals being fattened to slaughter - awful.

But as much as those people fought to bring us down  - they didn't. 

We as a collective team rose above it and we trended and we caused a ripple in the media and THAT is why we need campaigns like this.

The truth is that there will always be bullies and there will always be people who want to bring us down. They'll always talk about the way others look and make claims about what they deserve just because of the size of their bodies. I would love a world where these people do not exist but we're a long way off of that. So for now, we need to stand together and create a force to be reckoned with and a support work.

The biggest power we have is showing others that they are not alone. The more people we can show that loving their body is not a sin the better and that is why the success of #WeAreTheThey has literally filled my heart with joy.

#WeAreTheThey and we are not ashamed. 

You all amaze me. Thank you x

Debz xx

If you feel the same as me then please share this post on ANY social media you can. Let's spread the word. If you're below a size 6 or above a size 20 then tweet and Instagram your photos. Let's put even more faces to the people Jamelia feels should be made to feel uncomfortable. 

Use the hashtag on any posts so I can see you all!!

If you liked what you read & want to keep up to date with future posts... You can do so here:

Facebook / Twitter / Blog Loving / Pinterest / Instagram / Tumblr /

Jamelia - We Are The 'They' #Wearethethey

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few days, you will have heard about Jamelias comments regarding clothes shopping on the high street. I blogged about it here.

Today she has 'apologised'. Reassuring us that she only meant 'extremes' in sizes and that she feels the high street should stock sizes 6 to 20... It really is quite laughable. 

I feel that by saying 'they' should shop in specialist shops and 'they' should be made to feel uncomfortable it is all very anonymous. It is easy to say that a bunch of blank faces (and bodies) should be treated a certain way, but what Jamelia (and anyone who agrees with her) needs to realise is that WE are real people. We have REAL feelings, REAL jobs, friends and families. When you say that people should make 'them' feel uncomfortable you are encouraging them to treat US differently.. US as in real people.

So, Jamelia and anyone who feels that 'they' should be made to feel uncomfortable...

WE ARE THE 'THEY'

Sam // Lisa // Kate // Daisy

Sarah // Nikki // Lolly // Steph 

Emily // Michelle // Hannah // Faith 

Rebs // Emma

// Stephanie // Becky 

Lindsey // Kerry // Charlene //  April //

Zoe // Michaela // Lucia

Susan // Lisa

Dawn // Lauren // Alyssa // Janet 

Katie // Cat // Rebecca // Vicky

Sharon // Katt // Joanne Sian

Kathryn // Bobbie // Emma // Sonya

Elaine // Hayley // Sue

Shereen // Kerry-Ann // Tammy 

Nikki // Claire // Fig // Leah

It is worth pointing out these these women are bloggers and non bloggers, wives, girlfriends, sisters, mothers, cousins, friends, white, black, tall, short, large, extra large, casual dressers, vintage dressers, tea drinkers, bike riders, gym goers, couch potatoes..... and above all else the women that Jamelia feels should be MADE TO FEEL ASHAMED just for buying clothes to go on their back.

If you feel the same as me then please share this post on ANY social media you can. Let's spread the word. If you're below a size 6 or above a size 20 then tweet and Instagram your photos. Let's put even more faces to the people Jamelia feels should be made to feel uncomfortable. 

#WeAreTheThey and we are not ashamed.

Use the hashtag on any posts so I can see you all!!

Debz xx

If you liked what you read & want to keep up to date with future posts... You can do so here:

Facebook / Twitter / Blog Loving / Pinterest / Instagram / Tumblr /