LOS ANGELES — Plus-size model and adult performer Kelly Shibari has been selected for the 2015 Adipositivity Calendar, a concept founded and shot by Substantia Jones.
Shibari was featured last year in the 2014 edition of the calendar, which is dedicated to showcasing beautiful plus-size models and promoting body confidence for people of all sizes.
“I’m so thrilled to have been chosen for the calendar for the second year in a row,” said Shibari, who is the featured model for October. “The Adipositivity Project is something I’ve wanted to be a part of for a long time — Substantia is a strong, proud voice for the size-acceptance movement, and I jumped at the chance when she asked to photograph me.”
Founder and photographer Jones has photographed hundreds of plus-size people, mostly women and mostly nude, for her Adipositivity Project.
The hope of the ongoing project is to demystify the fat body and promote discussion of fat politics and social justice. “The Adipositivity Project is a body-love photo-activism campaign, which shows what the larger end of natural human variation really looks like,” Jones said. “It’s not the lumbering fat folks in grease-stained T-shirts television broadcasts would have you believe.”
“Exposing my body publicly, through adult entertainment, modeling and outreach, has been the direct catalyst for my own self-confidence,” Shibari added. “If sharing images of my body with others, through a variety of mediums, inspires women of size to feel better and more confident, then I’ve met my goal.” She notes that positive imagery of plus-size women, such as the Adipositivity Project presents, was not available to her when she was younger.
“I'm so pleased to have Kelly in the calendar again this year, particularly in such a casual, candid photo,” Jones said. “This shot was taken as we were sitting around talking following a shoot. It is playful yet contemplative, relaxed yet determined to help the project with its mission to encourage body autonomy and body love. I think this image fully embodies the spirit of The Adipositivity Project: part fat, part feminism, part ‘fuck you.’"
Shibari was recently honored as InkedAngels’ BBW of the Year at the 2014 Inked Awards.
As a plus-size model and performer, Kelly is also passionate about introducing body-positive messages into the media spotlight and promotes her ongoing mantra of “confidence is sexy” through a variety of mediums.
