This Blogger's Curves Once Took Center Stage, But She's Shifting the Spotlight

MORE THAN HER BODY.

It's something that most, if not all, women can relate to. 

When Tanesha Awasthi started her eponymous blog (formerly Girl with Curves) in 2011, she paved the way for plus-sized fashion bloggers. But this year, she's rebranding, stepping out from behind the body label as just herself-- a woman with brains, gusto, a champion for the body positive and female empowerment movements, mom (to 2-year-old son and English bulldog), digital influencer, and so much more. Her body may have carved out a place for her in the blogging world, but it's her other more compelling attributes that have staying power.  

Below, find out more about Tanesha, how she feels about Barbie's three new body iterations, and why it was time to say goodbye to Girl with Curves. 

When you started your blog what was the motivation? Was there a moment where you thought— OK, I’m underrepresented, I’m going to be that girl. 

I started the blog as a creative outlet and never imagined in a million years it would turn into a business. When my husband suggested I should start one, I had no idea people were sharing their personal style online, and even thought it was kind of ridiculous! But after posting a few pictures, I got an overwhelming response from women of all ages explaining how inspired they were seeing someone they could relate to. From that moment on, I knew I had something special to offer and I ran with it. I enjoy knowing I'm helping women feel better about themselves on some level. The work is rewarding because it's changing lives and creating change.

Mattel announced three new Barbie body types in January— Tall, Petite, and Curvy. How did that make you feel?

I think it's great that such an iconic doll is becoming more inclusive of body types, especially when Barbie is the first doll most of us pick up, play with and emulate as adolescents. Showing different body types, races and hair colors is definitely a step in the right direction to helping girls love themselves as they are vs. wanting to look like one form of beauty we see in a traditional Barbie doll.

That said, I also think it's important for us to learn to value more than our appearance, by valuing who we are, what we do and what we stand for vs. what we look like.

You left a job in tech— an industry that is known for being sexist and male-dominated, for a job in fashion— an industry that is likewise known for not being inclusive. Is a thick skin part of your work-DNA at this point? 

I was always the youngest person at any corporate job I ever had, and I'm the type of person that gives everything I do 110%, regardless of if it's my passion or not- I aim to excel and do my best, regardless, and I encountered some pretty harsh criticism being young and not having much experience, as well as being a "bigger girl" throughout my life. But I think the thick skin really came from realizing I was in fact plus size according to the fashion industry, which isn't something I really acknowledged about myself when I first entered the world of blogging. 

How do you navigate the “haters?” The hard moments? 

Shockingly, I don't get many negative comments, but when I do I practice the kill 'em with kindness ideology and I educate. I think most internet trolls are hiding behind their own issues and projecting them onto others. Sometimes people just need a good, intellectual response to set them straight and 9 out of 10 times it works and I get a respectful response in return.

Was there a point you ever felt like giving up? How did you stay motivated?

It was definitely hard staying motivated to blog while pregnant, unknowing if my audience liked or disliked me sharing such a personal part of my life. But as time went on, I realized my blog is about me, and alI I can do is be myself and share what I'm going through in life at any given time. The brand had to grow with me, or not at all.

"The brand had to grow with me, or not at all."

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What do you think is the most important part of your messaging?

My mission is to show women they can look and feel amazing, regardless of size. I also enjoy breaking the size barrier between straight and plus size fashion, working with brands on both sides of the playing field, being able to wear both ranges at times.

Do you ever feel pressure to be a consistent role model for other plus-sized women? And females in general?

Not at all, I'm honored and flattered to be a role model. I love sharing the knowledge I have of fashion and beauty and my journey to self-acceptance. I think my message resonates well with women of all sizes because we all want to change things about ourselves and we all struggle with self-esteem and confidence at some point. My goal is to impact the lives of all women, regardless of size, race or age. There's a lot of work to be done!

"My goal is to impact the lives of all women, regardless of size, race or age." 

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You’ve always put yourself front and center, but you have rebranded as Tanesha Awasthi. Why is now the right time?

My brand has grown to cover so much more than plus size fashion and when the blog recently turned 5, it was weighing on me quite heavily that the name didn't make sense anymore, so I made the decision to change it to my own name vs. being known as a phrase that only describes my body. 

How are you evolving as a business woman? 

I've learned a lot about business in the past 5 years since starting the blog. I worked in tech since I was in high school, but I started a jewelry business in college and a social network for adolescent girls after graduating, which never panned out because I didn't follow through. I've always been an idea person but never truly put my all into any of my own ideas because it was a lot of work- it wasn't as easy as getting a paycheck from someone else. 

The blog started as a hobby and organically grew into a business, so I didn't consciously decide to try to make it into a business, which I think is the reason I stuck with it. It's also a venture my husband is involved in as my business partner, and he keeps me sane and reassured on the days I want to take a break and disappear from the world of social media. 

When it was just me fighting to stay afloat with deadlines and consistent content, it was much harder to create clear goals and grow the business. Now that he's involved, we're building a team and creating real goals I can actually be excited about!

Arianna Schioldager is Create & Cultivate's editorial director. You can find her on IG @ariannawrotethis and more about her at www.ariannawrotethis.com

Barbie Has a Brand New Bod, but What Happens If She Doesn't Sell?

The other night at dinner I was chatting with a friend about toys that kids play with and the interests they spark. This was ahead of Mattel’s big new reveal— a new generation of Barbie that comes in more than one size. Three new bodies to be exact: petite, tall, and curvy, and they hit the shelves of barbie.com yesterday, January 28th, marking the first time in her history that she's had to change her clothes. 

According to a TIME article, this decision is a “massive risk for Mattel.” Barbie has long come in one size and one color (an adjustment they made last year in an effort to combat diversity issues), and that size and color does $1 billion in sales annually. Sold in 150 countries, a Barbie is purchased every three seconds. 

Rewind back to the other night. Dude’s point was fairly simple— that playing with G.I. Joes and other similarly camouflaged men encouraged him to look behind the uniform. He said that the toys got him interested in history, made him ask his grandpa about the war, and ignited a lifelong passion and curiosity in current events. What, he wondered, did toys for girls DO for girls? 

Aside from some rather obvious flaws in his argument— Barbie, for one, has always claimed to be a champion for women, developing astronaut and doctor Barbie in the ‘60s and ‘70s when women were more likely to be typing and answering phones rather than stitching up a patient— he wasn’t entirely wrong. Barbie’s interests, varied as Mattel has tried to make them, still always come back to her Dream Home, Dream Wedding, Babe Ken and that G’night Kiss, and her Body. 

IT’S A CAPITAL B, BODY.

It’s a little wild when you think about it. We’ve been talking about Barbie’s body since Ruth Handler created her in the ‘50s. 

"My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices," Handler has said. But despite the fact that she has run for President six times, Barbie’s body has remained the same for over half a century. It’s a change that was bound to come, if not a little late. (No one has ever let the co. live down Slumber Party Barbie, who came with a book entitled “How to Lose Weight” with a one page instruction: Don’t eat.) 

On their end Mattel has always claimed, despite studies that prove the opposite, that Barbie has zero influence on young girls’ body image. Which, considering 92% of American girls ages 3-12 have owned a Barbie, is a pre—tty preposterous statement. Lots of stats have come out over the years detailing that IRL Barbie’s BMI would fit the bill for anorexia, that she likely wouldn’t get her period, that her bizarre proportions and size 3 foot would cause her to walk on all fours, and so on. 

More so, in regards to the new versions of Barb, Mattel will not divulge the doll proportions or how they were decided on. 

But at this point, they are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. That’s what happens when just about every single kid plays with your toys and you’ve got the minivan majority out for blood. 

In focus groups some moms wanted Barbie curvier. Others worried that gifting a plumper Barbie could actually create a different set of insecurities. Would the gifted assume that she was “curvy” or “average.” (Some moms were all, where the F is Dad Bod Ken? JK. That’s our idea.) 

"Where the F is Dad Bod Ken?"

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Part of the problem is these mom aren’t wrong. This Barbie isn’t reframing the conversation about women’s bodies, but rather adding the zeitgeist that women’s bodies are topic for conversation. Which, circles back to the question of what DOES Barbie spark in young women? Does she inspire young girls to dream big? Make her think about running for Pres one day? It’s possible and yet, this is never what we talk about when it comes to the blonde doll with the perky boobs. 

And even though Mattel introduced three new body styles, the majority of the media focus is on the "thicker" one.

BUT THIS NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

Time and sales will tell if it’s too late for Barbie to shift its image. Inclusivity is great, if it actually prompts inclusivity. There is the risk that no young girl is going to want “Curvy” Barbie. The body conversation is moving in the right direction, but if the doll doesn’t do well, will the toymaker pull the plug? And then what? What message does that send young girls? 

"If the doll doesn't do well, what message does that send young girls?"

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That’s part of the reason it is a huge, holy smokes kind of risk for the company. And that's part of the reason it also needed to happen. Without risk, there is no reward. There will ALWAYS be Barbie haters; it comes with the territory. Richard Dickson, President and COO of Mattel actually said, “Haters are gonna hate.” But this isn’t a T.Swift anthem. This is a doll that is deeply embedded in the American psyche and has the power to change how young girls view themselves and their friends. Let’s hope she sells, that way we can finally stop talking about her body. That would be boss.