History is written… and, most times, watched. While these days, full-sized women may be foregrounded for their figures over feats, the obstructions we’ve overcome are in the faces of those who’ve fought past the anti-fat rhetoric. Because of this, documentaries about plus size female icons are necessary in reminding the world that we’re more than the digits that often divide us.
Unfortunately, many records of ladies with larger builds who served as monumental forces in entertainment and beyond have either been wiped from today’s vintage archives or hidden behind a beauty standard. Most have attempted to undermine the impact of plus size people, viewing our bodies as broken parts of humanity that aren’t good for anything other than acting as walking PSAs of society’s long “rid obesity” message. However, regardless of that shallow hypothesis, it’s important to place a magnifying glass on the influential things our fluffy sistas have done… decade after decade.
Thankfully, as curvy representation in Hollywood continues to skyrocket, there’s an increase in documentaries about plus size female icons that are enlightening new-age audiences on the significant roles these women have played in fat culture. Whether you leave the screen with an ounce of confidence or even a cry, these productions won’t disappoint. Let’s take a look at the leading films to date.
Documentaries About Plus Size Female Icons That Are Educational & Inspiring
1. Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
2019 saw the overwhelming loss of a literary legend, Toni Morrison. The Howard/Cornell University graduate broke into mainstream fiction with her debut novel, “The Bluest Eye,” in 1970. Through Morrison’s famed run, she would go on to unveil a slew of works, including the uber-successful “Song of Solomon” (1977) and the Pulitzer Prize winner “Beloved” (1987), which was adapted into a psychological blockbuster in 1998. The drama starred heavy-hitters like Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Thandiwe Newton.
Recognized as a pioneer in publishing, the Nobel Prize recipient became the first Black female editor for master publisher Random House’s fiction sector in the 1960s, spawning fellow African-American stories to the front of the book arena that are noted as classics today. Morrison’s writings were celebrated for her raw point of view of being Black in America and the characters born on the backs of those adversities.
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, a visual illustration of the storyteller’s career as one of the most prestigious novelists, was released before she died in 2019. Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, the two-hour, PBS-produced documentary chronicled the Ohio native’s interesting upbringing and how her creativity breathed life into the narratives that used her artistic revolution as the blueprint.
2. Unsung: Jennifer Holliday
Songstress Jennifer Holliday garnered acclaim on the theatre circuit in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls at 21. Show after show, the Texan delivered a captivating act as the original Effie White from 1981 to 1985. Known for her groundbreaking performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” Holliday quickly stole the stage, becoming one of the most profound talents ever to grace the industry.
In 1982, she won a Tony for ‘Best Leading Actress in a Musical’ and even a Grammy for her official recording of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” Following the Broadway rush, Holliday went on to find national stardom as a soloist in the rest of the 1980s, with chart-toppers like “I Am Love” and “No Frills Love,” among others.
TV One profiled the famed singer in an episode of their music documentary series, Unsung, in 2015. The hour-long segment uncovered the untold story of Holliday’s layered career, the struggles that came with it, and the road to recovery.
3. Amazing Grace
The late megastar Aretha Franklin passed in 2018 and shattered the hearts of many who’ve long listened to her powerful (yet angelic) voice. Honored as the ‘Queen of Soul,’ the Memphian needs no official introduction, as she’s still acknowledged as the greatest singer of all time–even in her death.
Franklin’s gospel beginnings began in childhood, performing from church to church as a part of her father/manager’s caravan tours. The Detroit-raised heroine signed with Michigan label J.V.B. Records in 1956 and unleashed her first single, “Never Grow Old.” From hitting the road with The Soul Stirrers to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin instantly made a buzz in the religious music scene. At 18, she inked a deal with Columbia Records in 1960 before moving to Atlantic in 1966 and Arista in 1980. Her time with each company served as pivotal years of her career, setting the foundation for the powerhouse she became.
The Hollywood Walk of Famer is celebrated for numerous songs, including “Respect” (1967), “A Natural Woman” (1968), “Chain of Fools” (1968), and “Ain’t No Way” (1968).
In 2018, her concert documentary, titled Amazing Grace, was unveiled on Netflix. The praised production captured behind-the-scenes footage of Franklin recording her 1972 live gospel album of the same name at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California. It is often referred to as one of Franklin’s most “chilling” performances, as she single-handedly went back to her roots and stunned the crowd with her unbelievable vocal range.
4. My Name Is Mo’Nique
Actress/comedienne Mo’Nique’s stand-up special, My Name Is Mo’Nique, aired on Netflix in 2023. While it may not be considered your ordinary “documentary,” the veteran funnywoman (definitely) shared some super personal tidbits of her life–on and off screen. To this day, people are still talking about the candidness of the comedy film.
Whether it was as a member of The Queens of Comedy or the lead role of Nikki Parker in UPN’s Moesha spin-off, The Parkers, Mo’Nique cultivated a lane for herself in the entertainment field that (surely) surpasses the stereotypical images of plus size women displayed in the era she came up in. The Baltimore, Maryland native set the tone and opened new doors for our voluptuous beauties, as she authentically merged confidence with comedy… be it in front of a mic or the lens of a production camera.
She led the body-positivity-focused blockbuster Phat Girlz in 2006, where she portrayed Jazmin, a chubby queen who finds romance after dealing with the challenges of being a big girl living in a small-minded world. 2009 saw a less loving side of Mo’Nique when she acted in Lee Daniels’ award-winning Precious.
Within those major milestones, Mo’Nique did everything from reality TV to writing a memoir. This lady’s legacy is (clearly) one for the books.
5. Madam C. J. Walker’s Two Dollars and a Dream
The Guinness Book of World Records controversially documented Madam C. J. Walker as the first female self-made millionaire in America. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove from Louisiana, obtained a fortune after founding her brand, Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company, in 1910. The cosmetics collection featured a line of beauty and hair care products for African-American women and quickly became the most successful of its kind in the early twentieth century.
Although the hairstylist/retailer’s business was based in Indiana, Walker would go on to make nationwide moves, delving into philanthropy and activism. Her keen entrepreneurship and steadfast hustle carved her an unforgettable spot in Black history that we still speak of today.
In 2020, WORLD Channel launched her 1989 documentary, Two Dollars and a Dream, on YouTube, which was originally produced and directed by notable filmmaker Stanley Nelson Jr. The in-depth biography gave an exclusive look at Walker’s rise to riches–from an orphan child of slaves to socioeconomic royalty.
Which of these documentaries about plus size female icons will you check out? Let us know in the comments!
