LOS ANGELES — Kelly Shibari will speak with students at the University of Southern California’s Body Love Week tomorrow.
Shibari will field questions regarding her career in the adult entertainment industry as a plus-size performer and model, as well as share her insights on navigating plus-size relationships, body confidence, media messages and how to combat size-based bullying.
“I’m incredibly honored to be invited to speak with the students of USC,” Shibari said. “Learning how to gain confidence in a world filled with constant and repetitive negative media messages in regards to size is something all men and women should learn and embrace as early as possible. I’m honored to be a part of Body Love Week, and look forward to interacting with the students who attend and participate in the workshop.”
Kelly’s presentation, “Sexy du Plus: How to Feed & Care for Your Inner Sexy,” will take place on the USC campus at THH 114 from 7-8:30 p.m.
The workshop is limited to USC students, and is sponsored by Condomman and Shibari Wands, which will be providing giveaways. Workshop attendees will also enjoy free cupcakes courtesy of Sprinkles Cupcakes.
“Body Love Week is an annual week-long series of programs put on by the WSA,” explained Shyann Murphy, co-executive director of USC Women’s Student Assembly, who sponsors the annual event. “The intention of Body Love Week is to provide a space for students on our campus to talk about body positivity and hopefully find some acceptance and body love. We are so excited to have Kelly, because it is inspiring to see a woman with such a strong and unapologetic sense of radical self love."
USC’s annual Body Love Week kicked off yesterday, and continues all week. For a schedule of events, click here.
“The concept of body positivity isn't new, and yet there are still very few environments where women are encouraged to look beyond unrealistic perceptions of beauty and practice self acceptance,” added Tandia Elijio, director of Body Love Initiatives. “I believe Kelly's ‘Sexy Du Plus’ workshop, along with the other Body Love Week events, will serve to help create a space where students will be challenged to examine and move beyond their sexual inhibitions. Rebuilding body image isn't something that happens overnight. This event is about starting the discussion, and allowing people to know that they aren't alone in these struggles.”
Shibari reports that she is passionate about introducing body positive messages into the media spotlight, and has boldly done so with a series of “firsts.”
She was the first plus-size model on the cover of a major men's magazine, on Penthouse Forum’s June 2014 issue, which garnered positive mainstream media coverage from Huffington Post, Nerve, The Daily Beast, Examiner and others.
She also collaborated with Wicked Pictures’ Jessica Drake on the first-ever sex education film for people of size, “jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex: Plus Size.”
