It's the body positive movie we have been waiting a lifetime for.
If you've seen Netflix's adaptation to Julie Murphy’s novel, Dumplin', you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
Starring Jennifer Aniston and Danielle Macdonald, it's a refreshing take on self-acceptance, beauty pageants and how the plus-size community are portrayed in the film industry.
Coming from a former fat girl, i.e. me, the movie didn't shy away from the very real stigma people face every day.
It's clear that the author and those who wrote the script had an insight into the real struggles plus-sized people face.
When the girls face this stigma, instead of running home and gorging on chocolate like most movies portray 'sad,' 'lonely' fat women, Danielle, who plays Willowdean Dickson, fights back.
In one scene, when a bully makes fun of another girl, Willowdean goes for the glory shot and punches him in the nuts, another clip shows her eye-rolling to slagging shouts of teens towards herself and co-star, Millie (played by Maddie Baillio).
Instead of playing the victim and the sad, fat girl, they portray young women leading a body revolution, and the film rightly shows those who bully the girls as total assholes.
Another perception they tackle in the movie is when an absolute ride of a fella asks Willowdean out.
Bo Larson is the hottie that works with our leading lady and is utterly taken by the teen.
After an ole snog on their first date, it was Willowdean, not Bo who needed some time to reflect.
Bo didn't go out with her for a bet, no fat jokes were made or any attempts of trying to make her turn from an "ugly duckling" into a swan – he liked her for her.
In fact, we saw a very real admission from Willowdean about how guys like him didn't go for girls like her – and he totally called horsesh*t on it.
He confessed that he thought she was beautiful and she is.
The film shows how despite society's best efforts to make us conform to a certain look to feel beautiful, that there are leaders out there who want you to embrace you for you and feel empowered as the sexy ladies we are.
No shame, no excuses, just love for the skin you're in.
The movie follows four teenage girls who take on a pageant competition – they're all very different in shape, size and style and they want to redefine the look of a beauty queen.
One of our fave part of Dumplin' is that it shows a number of different plus-sized women and drag queens totally owning their identity.
Instead of just one fat girl, there are plenty of plus-size role models – her aunt and friend, Millie.
The role models in the film extend their knowledge of self-acceptance and give the young women buckets of inspiration to go up on stage and take it over.
The women all go on very unique paths in the film, and it shows that plus-sized women are diverse and they have multiple voices on screen – they aren't cast as the 'fat friend'.
Dumplin' creates a positive body narrative through their journey and doesn't force the characters to lose weight in order to be confident.
They project the message that confidence is achieved through finding your inner-self and letting it shine – no diet plan or killer exercise regime required.
It shows that you can be fat and happy, which is the reality for millions of people around the world.
We applaud everyone involved in its creation and we hope this is the way forward for the portrayal of plus-sized women.
If you haven't seen the film, please do.
