Playwright, podcaster, and pioneering body positivity influencer Cathleen Meredith takes the viral dance phenomenon from the internet to bookshelves with FatGirlsDance, the hilarious, irreverent, and poignant fictionalized story of how three fat girls accidentally started the "Year of Dance."
Liv. Reese. Faith. Yes, they are plus-size, curvy, thick, whatever. Point is, they are past sick of society's relentless body-shaming defining them. Liv slays in dance classes, where she shakes off her frustrations as a struggling writer. Introverted Reese avoids "taking up too much space" by staying in the background as Liv's wing woman. And while diva-cold professional dancer Faith aces countless auditions, she's "too big" for starring roles. At the end of their respective ropes, all it takes is one more insult . . . for Liv to suddenly have an idea that will unite them all . . .
It's a shake-it-up, zero Fs challenge in which women like her will choreograph and perform a demanding new dance every week. For a year. Online. And just like that . . . after a boatload of hard work, FatGirlsDance becomes an Internet phenomenon, racking up thousands of followers, clicks--and controversy. More important, FGD creates a precious space for community. And it gives the three ladies an impossible shot: a major competition featuring the world's best dancers . . .
Yet while Liv is determined to prove FGD can go from amazing to outstanding, Faith thinks they're reaching too high, and Reese is caught in the middle. As the grueling practices and new goals start taking a toll, the trio soon finds their friendship stretched to the breaking point. With their biggest test ahead of them as their drama spins out of control, can these gutsy women pull it together to remake their futures--and become the women they were meant to be?
Cathleen Meredith is a writer, influencer, podcaster, public speaker and positivity ignitor originally from Sacramento, California. In August of 2016, she launched FATGIRLSDANCE(TM) (fatgirlsdance.com), "A Worldwide Movement Bent on Trashing Body Image Stereotypes through the Universal Language of DANCE." The project went viral and, as a result, she released a 3-minute film on the project with Dove Real Beauty Productions and Shonda Rhimes. Cathleen and her movement has been featured on NBC Today, The Real TV Daytime show, Essence, Healthline, HelloGiggles, MicMedia, Vogue Italia and countless other publications. She has written for Healthline Magazine, Huffington Post, Fran Drescher's Cancer Schmancer, and her personal blog on FATGIRLSDANCE(TM). Her first novel is entitled The Truth About Eve and Other Excuses for Neurotic Behavior in Your 20s. Some of her plays include titles such as: Aunts, Forgotten, The Infinites, and The Groomsman. Cathleen is also the CEO and founder of CM Creative Labs, a marketing and branding firm serving women and POCs through presence creation, brand launching, and influencer development. She is currently working with The Ohio State University on a media project that works towards the eradication of obesity bias in the medical community and maintains a residence in New York City. Visit her online at www.FATGIRLSDANCE.com.
- Publisher: Dafina Books
- Publish Date: October 22, 2024
- Pages: 304
- Dimensions: 1.25 pounds
- Language: English
- Type: Hardcover
- EAN/UPC: 9781496747945
- BISAC Categories: Women, African American - Women, Humorous - Black Humor
