When I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at over 300 pounds, the biggest challenge wasn’t the altitude or the terrain — it was finding gear that fit. Jacket zippers wouldn’t budge. Hiking pants stopped at size 14. The message was loud and clear: This world and the plus size industry wasn’t built for bodies like mine.
But I climbed anyway. Not to prove my worth — but to reclaim it.
The reality is, this isn’t just my story. Millions of plus size people move through the world being told, subtly or blatantly, that they don’t belong. In dressing rooms. In gyms. On airplanes. At outdoor outfitters. In boardrooms and magazine spreads. Despite making up over 68% of U.S. women, we are treated as an afterthought — if we’re thought of at all.
And in 2025, that is unacceptable.
The Cost of Being Ignored
From fashion and fitness to travel and wellness, most industries are still woefully behind when it comes to serving plus size consumers. Size ranges are limited, inconsistent, or hidden in separate “extended” sections. Styles that do exist often sacrifice form for function — or vice versa — as if comfort and confidence can’t coexist.
Representation isn’t much better. Many brands feature a single token plus size model in campaigns, often styled in a way that screams, “This is different.” Meanwhile, entire product lines are built around aspirational wellness, performance, and freedom—with no intention of including larger bodies in those visions.
And this isn’t just a social issue. It’s a massive economic blind spot. The global plus size market is valued at over $288 billion and is growing. Yet brands still hesitate to commit, fearing they’ll “dilute” their image. In truth, they’re diluting their impact by leaving money—and loyalty—on the table.
What We’re Really Asking For
Let me be clear: The plus size industry doesn’t need to provide special treatment. We’re asking for equal access—to style, to adventure, to visibility, to dignity.
When you ignore or minimize this audience, you’re not just missing out on revenue. You’re erasing stories, identities, and dreams.
We deserve more than stretchy basics, patronizing language, or PR-friendly “body positivity” posts during awareness months. We deserve integrated, ongoing, intentional inclusion.
How We’re Shifting the Narrative
At The Gorgeous Agency, I work with brands that are ready to move beyond buzzwords. We’ve partnered with companies like Peloton, Keen, and Discover Puerto Rico to help them not just speak to plus size audiences—but listen, understand, and truly serve them.
We’ve helped rethink outdoor experiences, redesign product fit strategies, and center storytelling around real people—not just idealized versions of them. We’ve shown brands that when they embrace authenticity, their community responds with loyalty and love.
And I don’t just talk the talk—I live it. As an author, speaker, and adventurer, I’ve made it my mission to lead from lived experience. Not as a trend, but as a truth.
The Future Belongs to the Bold
To the brands still stuck in outdated playbooks: the world has changed. Consumers demand representation that reflects the richness of real life — and real bodies. The question isn’t whether you can afford to be more inclusive. The question is whether you can afford not to be.
And to those of us pushing for change? We’re not waiting for permission. We’re showing up. We’re telling our stories. We’re building our own tables when we’re not offered seats.
We are done waiting. We are here, we are powerful, and we’re changing the game.
Kara Richardson Whitely is the author of Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds and CEO of The Gorgeous Agency, which helps brands connect with the plus size audience.
