Aidy Bryant, known for her work on Saturday Night Live and the Hulu series Shrill, has openly discussed her experiences with body image, weight loss attempts, and the impact of fatphobia on her life and career. Her journey is one of self-acceptance, empowerment, and using her platform to challenge societal norms.
Early Struggles with Body Image
Bryant has spoken about the pressure she felt to conform to societal beauty standards, particularly during her teens and early twenties. She recalls fearing being called fat and feeling self-conscious about her body. This led her to try various weight loss programs, including Weight Watchers, the Atkins Diet, and the South Beach Diet.
"I felt like the worst possible thing that anyone could ever do would be to think that I was fat, to call me fat," she said.
A Turning Point: Focusing on Goals Instead of Weight
Bryant reached a turning point when she realized the amount of time, money, and energy she was dedicating to weight loss. She decided to shift her focus to her passion for comedy and her career goals.
"I finally was like, what if I put all of that energy into just trying to like myself and focus on the things I actually want to do as opposed to this thing that’s like a made-up concept?" she explained.
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This change in mindset proved to be transformative. Within two years, she was hired by Second City, and two years after that, she became a cast member on Saturday Night Live in 2012.
"I stopped letting it be an all-day, everyday thing that defined everything that I did," she said.
Navigating Body Image on "Saturday Night Live"
Even after achieving her dream of joining SNL, Bryant still faced challenges related to her body image. She recalled instances where she had fewer wardrobe options compared to her smaller castmates during photo shoots.
"I got to Saturday Night Live and I thought, 'I made it. I made it. I got the dream!' And then I got there and I would do photo shoots with my castmates, who are smaller women, and they would have 50 dress options and I would arrive and I would have two, and they both looked like something that the mother of the bride would wear - and I was 25 years old," she said.
These experiences highlighted the lack of representation and inclusivity in the entertainment industry and further fueled her desire to create more opportunities for diverse body types.
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"Shrill": A Platform for Self-Acceptance and Body Positivity
Bryant co-created and starred in the Hulu comedy series Shrill, based on Lindy West's memoir Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman. The show follows Annie, a young journalist who learns to navigate life as a fat woman while pursuing her career and relationships.
Shrill tackles issues such as fatphobia, online harassment, and the importance of self-acceptance. Bryant drew from her own experiences and those of the writers' room to create a relatable and authentic portrayal of a fat woman's life.
"I felt very much like I am the one who can tell this story, if that makes sense. I know how this stuff feels. I know how it feels to feel embarrassed by your stomach, or to feel like you don't fit in a chair. I know how that feels," she said.
The show challenges the common portrayal of fat characters on television, who are often depicted as unhappy, unhealthy, and solely focused on their weight. Annie is a complex and multifaceted character with friends, family, and a fulfilling life.
"It was also important to me that Annie isn’t covering up in big, ugly clothes. She starts cool. She’s got cool friends. She’s got a great family. A lot of fat characters on TV shows, it’s all about weight. They have nothing. They hate everything. That’s just not been my experience," Bryant explained.
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Addressing Fatphobia and Promoting Body Liberation
Bryant has become an outspoken advocate for body positivity and against fatphobia. She has shared her experiences with strangers making comments about her body and the importance of challenging these harmful attitudes.
"Someone did grab my wrist and say, 'You know, you're actually very small under[neath]. You're petite,'" she recalled.
Bryant emphasizes that fatphobia is a societal problem, not an individual one. She believes that fat people deserve respect, dignity, and access to healthcare free of bias and shame.
"I’m thankful to Aidy Bryant, and the author of the original memoir, Lindy West, and everyone involved in this show for putting together something so unique that the world can see. I’ve never seen my everyday struggles as a fat person so accurately represented. The more we talk about anti-fat bias, share the impact, and demand better of the people mistreating us, the closer we are to structural and societal change. Fat people deserve access to healthcare free of anti-fat bias and shame. We deserve to trust that our healthcare providers see us as human beings. We deserve autonomy."
The Impact of "Shrill" and Continued Advocacy
Shrill has been praised for its groundbreaking representation of fat women and its honest portrayal of the challenges they face. The show has resonated with audiences who have felt unseen and unheard in mainstream media.
Bryant's work on Shrill and her continued advocacy have made a significant contribution to the body positivity movement. She has inspired countless individuals to embrace their bodies, challenge societal norms, and prioritize their own well-being over external validation.
"Looking back now, she says, 'the second I stopped being afraid of someone calling me fat, I was able to start to focus on my goals and my dreams.'"