Meet Fairen Kia

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Fairen Kia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Fairen, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Let Me run it back: In 2015 I started a fitness journey that reinforced these toxic ideas about my body: If you have a fat body or a large body, if you have a belly, if you have rolls, saggy boobs, stretch marks or cellulite, that there’s something wrong with your body and that you are undesirable. These ideas, along with restrictive dieting, suppression, and using fitness as a reward/failure system, resulted in me becoming unhealthy mentally and spiritually, despite the well-meaning compliments of others encouraging my results. Those All Intuitive compliments and comments reinforced this notion that my body was somehow better because it was smaller. Love Thy Belly started as a photo shoot in September 2018 as a f*ck you to societal norms and expectations about what a good body is. I was struggling with my own body image, understanding who I am, what my body is, and what it’s capable of; I was struggling with accepting my body for what it was.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Of course, it would have been nice if I had figured this all out before I gained weight in 2018 while working 3 jobs and being in an Gaslighting abusive relationship. The positive reinforcement from my weight loss I told you about earlier quickly became a negative self-prison for my weight gain which was suffocating. But finally, enough was enough, I wasn’t going to accept the lie that I “wasn’t worthy of love because I’m fat”, the backhanded compliments/comments, the abuse, the self-gaslighting that fat is bad and skinny is good, or any narrative that tried to tell me that I wasn’t worthy or capable because of my weight; Hence the biggest fuck you to self-hate and societal norms and expectations, Love Thy Belly, was born to drown out every voice, but my self-loving own.

Love Thy Belly is a movement that seeks to promote body positivity and self-acceptance, with a specific focus on cultivating a culture of love and appreciation for all body shapes and sizes. LTB strives to create a supportive community that fosters inclusive conversations, education, and empowerment, empowering individuals to embrace their bodies with kindness and compassion. Through advocacy, education, and awareness initiatives, we aim to challenge societal norms and stereotypes, fostering a world where every individual can confidently love and embrace their unique bodies.The word thy means your and because I have a deep love for Shakespeare and the Old English language, my constant fake-it-till-you-make-it self-love reminders of “love your belly”, “love your body”, “love your belly”, “love your body”, became the hashtag #LoveThyBelly under the photos of my September 2018 photo shoot. The hashtag quickly became a formal brand as I came to realize that everyone struggles with body image issues, even those who society says are “good” or the standard of beauty.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Self-awareness was pivotal in my journey to body positivity and self-acceptance. Understanding my thoughts, feelings, and triggers helped me recognize the toxic ideas I had about my body and the sources of these beliefs. This awareness was the first step toward challenging and changing them.

Start Small: Change doesn’t happen overnight. Begin with small, manageable steps toward self-awareness, resilience, and education. Celebrate your progress along the way.

Seek Support: Find a community or support group that shares your values and goals. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals can provide encouragement and accountability.

Be Patient: Be patient with yourself. Transformation is a gradual process, and there will be ups and downs. Trust the journey and be kind to yourself.

By focusing on these qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to navigate your journey towards self-love and body positivity. Remember, the most important voice is your own, and embracing your unique path is the key to true self-acceptance.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I would love collaboration opportunities! I am always looking to partner and collaborate with individuals, organizations, and brands who share our commitment to promoting body positivity and self-acceptance. Together, we can amplify our impact and reach even more people with our message of love and appreciation for all body shapes and sizes. We at LTB are excited to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations who are as passionate as we are about fostering a world where every individual can confidently love and embrace their unique bodies. Together, we can make a lasting impact and create a supportive, inclusive community.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Denisha McCauley-Young
Quincy Brents
TonyHuey
Mars Mason

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