Beauty sells, but only when the body attached to it does, too. Sadly, for decades, the entertainment industry has heavily relied on vanity over vocals, pushing the narrative that fit figures and fair-skinned faces are the most marketable. However, a new dawn has come for these plus size female music artists, who are steadfast in redefining those standards.
As you may know, disco icon Martha Wash’s powerhouse voice first made waves through her former duo, Two Tons O’ Fun (later changed to The Weather Girls), which she launched in 1976 alongside the late Izora Armstead. The timeless trailblazers were voluptuous and victorious in their run, giving us their pop hit “It’s Raining Men” from their 1982 album, Success.
Wash saw similar accomplishments with her solo career but suffered at the hands of erasure due to her “socially unacceptable” size during that era. The California songstress went (notoriously) uncredited on chart-topping tracks like “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” and even hidden from videos, with many of her contributions replaced by individuals with more of a modelesque, “traditional” image and lip-synced for the sake of appearance.
Wash’s triumphant legal fight against the fraudulent usage of her work aided in combatting the marginalization of plus size female music artists. So much so that her successors, such as Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Kelly Price, and Xscape member LaTocha Scott, claimed their crowns in the ’90s, marking a prime era for full-figured women on the rap and R&B front.
With their larger-than-life abilities and intrepid attitudes, the ladies stopped at nothing to take their positions on the throne and stay here. Stone by stone, they built castles that created opportunities for those after them. Because of their legacies, megastars like our forever girl, Lizzo, have successfully carried the torch.
However, while the fat-girl representation from the booth to the blockbusters has come a long way, there’s still a shortage of those who have yet to break the mainstream ceilings but singlehandedly beasts every mic. Be it through the soulful sounds erupting from their melodic chords or the classic one-liners beatboxing through each hip-hop lyric, these queens embody a distinguished talent that isn’t restricted to a record label’s sales agenda.
Here’s TCF’s list of big baddies with the bops you should listen to!
Plus Size Female Music Artists You Should Hear About & Add to Your Playlist
1. Chyng Diamond
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Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, Chyng Diamond is an independent plus size female music artists bombshell who lit up the internet with her viral songs “Get It Go,” “Lose The Ugly,” “Trippin’ On Meh,” “Luck,” “Guess What,” and latterly, “Another B!tch Bites The Dust,” among others. Known for her daring lyrics, exuberant persona, and clever creativity, the 27-year-old’s star quality surpasses the stereotypes beyond the stage.
Diamond’s magnetic energy, humorous flair, and undeniable talent have amassed nearly one million followers (collectively) across her social platforms and a spot on season six of Love & Hip Hop: Miami. Authentic as they come, the ex-Rhythm + Flow cast member continues leading her own lane, reminding women of their power with every confidence-driven verse she leaves us with.
2. Dank DeMoss
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In January, rap singer Dank DeMoss left the cyber citizens in shambles when she called a Lyft driver out for refusing to service her due to her size. The unfortunate situation sparked quite a frenzy, with various opinions and most undermining fatphobia. However, the Detroit native is more than the girl who had a bad experience with a (rude) rideshare company; she’s a lyrical force to be reckoned with.
You may remember her from season one of music mogul Deb Antney’s reality TV show, Deb’s House, where she competed alongside fellow up-and-coming, female rhymers to become the next superstar. Long before her time under the mentorship of Aunt Deb, though, DeMoss made a name for herself online that still has the virtual streets buzzing today. The 29-year-old is known for her remix of Tekashi 6ix9ine’s “GUMMO,” “Tough a Bag,” “No Love,” For My Bychez,” Nicki Minaj’s “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” freestyle, “Just Talkin,” “What They Want From Me,” “Need That,” “WTf,” “So What,” and her latest, “Let You Go,” to name a few.
3. Chiyanti
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Chiyanti is one of the best plus size female music artists on the scene right now! She paid homage to the ladies dragging a whole lot back there with her catchy, country song “Big Ole Wagon,” in 2021. Since then, the multi-faceted creator has had all eyes on her as she flaunts several titles, including lyricist, singer-songwriter, producer, and actress. But… before the popularity of that anthem, the Brooklyn, New Yorker released her debut single, “Space,” on Soundcloud. From there, she took her talents to Instagram, where she found herself singing in a slew of broadcast lives for public figures, such as comedian Shiggy, Reginae Carter, K. Michelle, Jazze Pha, YoYo, and more.
Per an interview with Voyage Houston, the notoriety garnered new followers for The Engrave Music Group CEO. Aside from “Big Ole Wagon,” rising musician Chiyanti is celebrated for “Thangin” and “BBJWIR.”
4. PHATGIRL
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She deems herself the hottest out of Atlanta… and rightfully so. While 23-year-old emcee PHATGIRL’s baby face, candy-apple-red finger waves, and unapologetic style may have everyone’s attention on lock, it’s no secret that her magic on the mic does, too. The Georgia Peach was most recently seen in season two of Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow but has been dominating the internet for quite some time now.
Her bop “My Fupa” became an instant phenomenon on TikTok, with others like “Instructions” and “Her” making their rounds as viral sounds. As of late, PHAT has been pushing “One of One,” “Cute Face Chubby Waist,” and “Up and Leave” from her project, Big Girls Don’t Cry–all slated to take over the Chinese-based app as her captivating flow is famously recognized for.
“I feel like I would call myself kind of like New Era Missy,” she told Rolling Out when describing her musical influences. “I would say New Era Missy Elliott.”
5. Samyra
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The People’s Champ is in the building! Although 26-year-old Samyra may be respected for her audacious approach to blasting brands that don’t cater to plus sizes, she’s also a well-trained singer (and sometimes rapper). The New Orleanian had us all “BABOPing” when she gave us the ultimate “Plus Size Freestyle,” where she explained her frustration regarding companies that aren’t fat-friendly. However, it’s through her songs “Tequila in My Room” and “Supermodel” that she shows her true range, delivering compelling performances on each record. From being dubbed fashion’s problem child to being well on her way to artistic stardom, Samyra is (undoubtedly) a triple threat.
6. Meme The Goat
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Meme The Goat is a jane of all trades! The all-around entertainer knows how to keep her audience laughing and dancing. From Instagram to TikTok, the upcoming rapstress is responsible for quite a few challenges that derived from her dope rhymes. Her track “Straight to the Money” immediately blew up, with listeners pouring in globally. Born in Nashville, her Southern accent paired with her master skills is why Meme is (certainly) a G.O.A.T. in her own right. From comedic reels to hit tunes, the Tennessee breed did not come to play and is here to stay.
As you can see, plus size female music artists are taking over in more ways than one. Be it at the forefront of fashion, on the big screen, or in the studio, it’s our time to shine… and these beauties are making sure of that!
Which of these plus size female music artists will you be checking out? Let us know below!
