The big and the beautiful

Jane Linley-Thomas was joined in studio by Samukelisiwe Madlabane and Zinhle Ngidi who are big, beautiful and proud of it.

The two are the co-founders of Izidludla Eziythandayo - Loving The Way We Are --- an organisation for larger women.

The organisation's Facebook group has more than 18,000 members.
Izidudla Eziythandayo aims make "living large" comfortable for chubby and curvy women.

It seeks to give a voice to overweight women who are often subject to discrimination, ridicule, prejudice and negative treatment.
Numerous studies report high levels of stigma and discrimination experienced by obese/overweight women within the domains of popular culture, in the workplace and society in general.The two hope to change this.

Samukelisiwe, who is a resident of Hammarsdale and a fifth-year medical student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, told Jane that Izidudla Eziythandayo is not only about overweight women being proud and happy of their size but also creating awareness of the risk factors associated with being obese.

They  also address issues of life and love, work and relationships and offer fashion and style tips for plus size women.

The "FATabulous" duo has organised the East Coast's first-ever conference for plus size women.

The event will be held at Durban's Commercial City Building on the 30th of November under the theme: Living Life Large and Lovely.

It is hoped that the conference will change society's outlook on full-figured women.

All chubby and curvy women are invited to attend.

Click on the link below to listen to the full interview.

- Phumlani Dube (The Work Zone producer)