ACTIVISM

Stephanie Yeboah’s New Book ‘Fattily Ever After’ Speaks Openly About Being a Black Plus-Sized Woman

by Glitter Staff posted on September 4, 2020
Hardie Grant Books

On September 3, Stephanie Yeboah released her debut book, Fattily Ever After, which celebrates the difficult journey of a Black plus-size woman on the road of self-acceptance.

Yeboah’s story is essential for Black plus-sized women as it delivers insightful tips with honest advice. She aims to teach people to be confident and live their life openly, unapologetically in the color and shape of their own skin.

 

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(ad) Our skin is beautiful. It provides the perfect canvas for the most beautiful and heart breaking moments of our lives, using our scars, hyperpigmentation, stretchmarks and cellulite as the tools with which to paint. It tells the stories of Motherhood. Of growth. Of pain. Of celebration. Yet, new research from @Dove shows that 25% of women filter/smooth their skin before uploading to social media, and only 16% of women who have these so-called ‘skin imperfections’ (83%) choose to upload an image showing said imperfections. Why is this? When our skin is the greatest piece of art? As much as I used to feel insecure about my stretchmarks, I know that there is a long story behind them, a story of growth and perseverance, and I’m proud of them. We are all so wonderful in our uniqueness, and it’s something that Dove want to encourage and celebrate. Maybe you should too. @Dove #DoveUnfiltered #DoveBodyWash

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She is a London-based body positive advocate and writer, encouraging similar women that self-love is possible within a world where racism and body-shamers exist. Yeboah is very honest that body-positivity is difficult to operate in the dating world as men and society praise the “skinny-body.”

In an interview with Metro UK, Yeboah said, “It will take a lot of unlearning of stereotypes before my dating experiences stop being based on rejection, humiliation, and fetishization, because right now I’m either being objectified by men that have a fetish for plus-size women, or I’m being told I’d be so much prettier if I lose weight.”

 

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What is one piece of advice you’re often told that – even though you know the person means well – you absolutely detest? For me, it when people (mostly women who are in relationships or have experienced relationships before) tell me the following: “but being single is so fun! I wish I were single” “Someone will come when you least expect it” “Learn how to be alone, and love yourself first!” “Concentrate your energies into platonic relationships!” Like, I’m not 15 😂 I’m a 31 year old who had been alone almost her whole life. I’ve had my whole life to work on myself, be alone and do all the other things people often say to do when they want to feel like they are being helpful. As someone who deals in harsh realities, I find all the woowoo stuff exhausting and patronising tbh. I’m sure that advice would be great for someone attractive who has a body deemed as attractive by the majority of society, but there’s just some pieces of advice that don’t wash over when you look…different. 🥴

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She features real-life stories of everyday misogyny and being fetishized, to navigating the complexities of online dating and experiencing loneliness. Fans are loving the vulnerability and bluntness that delves into the truth of steering through life when you don’t fit into society’s definition of beauty.

The book to her is a love letter to plus-size Black women; she understands first-hand the microscope that they are put under to be ridiculed and shamed for how they look. It was important for Yeboah to finally have a voice and represent her story in an accurate manner. Her journey is absolutely beautiful and real.

Stephanie Yeboah overcame prejudice and the world’s “standards of beauty,” to learn how to accept herself. You can laugh, cry, and scream with her when reading the debut book ‘Fattily Ever After’; buy it here.

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