Making Space for Glorifying Obesity

It’s no secret that fat bodies, in comparison to slim ones, aren’t given the same airtime or respect in the entertainment industry, more specifically, the cabaret scene. Yet when they are there included, there is a strict trope people automatically expect from them - for example, fat burlesque is comedic and based around the performer’s size, fat comedians only talk about their failed diets and the ‘harmless’ casual fatphobia they encounter, drag queens pad their big bodies within an inch of their life to fit in with the “hourglass figure” expected of them. Fat creativity is consistently put into boxes of what is expected by the consumers.

At the risk of sounding like the opening to an early 2000s MTV reality show, my name is Alabama Whirley and I set out to change this narrative. I have been a pole and burlesque performer for around 6 years now, predominantly creating horror and gore filled routines, and I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have come off stage to be greeted with, not only the classic and frankly offensive line of, “YOU’RE SO BRAVE I COULD NEVER DO THAT!”, but also, “I didn’t realise you were going to have a sexy act, I was waiting for it to be funny.” I can tell you now, the straight size performers on those nights weren’t told the same. It was expected they would be the ones to titillate the audience and the fatties would be there to make them laugh. 

I created Glorified to challenge this mindset. A cabaret show filled to the brim entirely with powerful fat performers, not only burlesque acts, but pole, comedians, poetry, singers and more. I was fed up with being the token plus size performer in a line up, shoved in the middle of the show for diversity reasons, and I knew other fat performers felt the same way. I wanted to create a safe space for our audience and performers alike, with no judgement and no risk of heckling - which I have unfortunately experienced in the form of a guy who stood and laughed loudly through my entire non-comedy performance. 

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I wanted a name for the event that gave it the power and impact that it deserved. So often a fat person living their life without shame or embarrassment is accused of ‘glorifying obesity’ and I wanted to reclaim that phrase because it’s a lazy insult used against us by the media and slimy creatures who slide into our DMs with nothing better to do. I created this space specifically to glorify fatness; to celebrate everything we bring to stages by being unapologetic in our bodies. 

I sent out a casting call for Glorified, specifying it was for fat performers and that UK size 22/24+ performers would be prioritised in this line up. I didn’t ask people to provide the number on the label of clothes they wore, but instead asked people to consider if this is a show in which they should be taking up space in. Of course, there were a few negative comments from people who didn’t fit this brief and seemed upset that they couldn’t apply, but plus size performers sit quietly whilst they’re rejected by casting calls and when the line-up is released, they know exactly why  - despite being as good or better than those acts booked. Shows that have based their bookings on a preconceived (and frankly fatphobic) assumption of the aesthetic they think their audience want to see in an act, not how excellent that performer with a bigger dress size and underrepresented body may be at what they do. 

The first night of Glorified was a celebration of fatness and existence; It was an evening of effortless acceptance and empowerment. Comments made after the show enthused that audience members have never felt so at ease at an event, not feeling the reason to adjust their clothes or fold their arms to minimise the space they take up to make other people feel more comfortable. This queer, inclusive, consenting, and caring environment was grown organically with an unbreakable feeling of community and belonging without it feeling forced or phony. 

Not to toot my own horn, but the cheers and applause at Glorified were deafening - both physically and metaphorically. It felt desperately needed in a world where producers use the excuse that they can’t find plus size performers for their shows to hire less of us. Here was an entire line up of twelve glorious performers, not to mention the email inbox overflowing with applications for our first show, and that was only for one evening lineup. At the time of writing this, I posted the casting call for Glorified 2023 just under two hours ago, and already have at least twenty applications from potential acts wanting to be a part of it. 

“So often a fat person living their life without shame or embarrassment is accused of ‘glorifying obesity’ and I wanted to reclaim that phrase because it’s a lazy insult used against us by the media and slimy creatures who slide into our DMs with nothing better to do.”

I never want to hear another producer say they don’t know of any incredibly talented fat performers ever again. If you’re one of these producers, give me a DM on Instagram. I can give you a list that will keep you going longer than the Simpsons has been on air. If you’re a performer who hasn’t found somewhere to perform that feels like home, give me a message, let’s see what we can do for you. 

Words: Katie Chester | Photos: Hipkiss Media