Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda Sharp.
Hi Miranda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Upward mobility as a queer alternative fat woman who is also creative is hard to come by in the traditional job market. I had numerous jobs where I was succeeding in helping other businesses grow but was not being adequately compensated for the value I brought. I picked up necessary skills along the way until I finally got to the point where I had outgrown what these jobs could offer me. I decided to take a chance on myself and to see how far I could go without the constraints of a normal 9-5. Finding a niche for my art was something I struggled with, but once it clicked, everything fell into place. I became frustrated by the lack of positive representation of fat bodies in art and fashion. Almost every gallery show I went to featured only thin people or dehumanizing portraits of fat people to represent society’s ills. As I gained weight, I found it harder to express myself through clothing as my options became more limited. In 2018, I decided to only depict fat bodies in my artwork, and by 2020, I realized this was a business that was sorely needed. People need diverse art in their homes, and fat people are just as deserving of alternative clothing styles. We shouldn’t be limited to cold shoulders and business casual. When I began to create my fat-positive artwork, I found a community that was ready to embrace me, and they’ve helped grow my business to where it is today. Whether it’s through an online following or vending at plus-size exclusive events, I’ve loved creating things for this often-overlooked community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building up a plus-size brand is not easy. There’s a lot of customer education involved because fat people are not used to having their bodies catered to! Most people don’t even know their measurements or what size they are because there is no universal standard sizing. It can also be a struggle to convince some fat people that they are worth investing in. Because society is so cruel to fat people, many struggle with confidence issues and don’t value themselves enough to invest in a closet that they actually love. I make lots of videos for my channels to educate on topics like these and to boost others’ confidence. Of course, being a fat person on the internet can be a minefield to navigate, as anytime a post goes viral, it comes to the trolls. If you look at the comments (usually a mistake), you’ll find responses ranging from fat jokes to death threats. Luckily, my worth is high, so I’m able to shrug it off and thank them for the boost in engagement. If I’m feeling generous, I’ll troll them back, haha.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Softcore is an alternative lifestyle brand for plus-size individuals of all genders. For fat people that are tired of the boring prints and ill-fitting clothing. Most brands still only go up to an XL or have a limited amount of options for XL and above. At Softcore, I put fat people first, offering bold clothing choices that help you take up space and be seen while doing so! I didn’t just stop at clothing; I want to give fat people representation across a broad range of goods! You can enjoy lifestyle pieces such as stickers, calendars, mugs, prints, and more featuring plus-sized characters. Surround yourself with artwork that reflects the body you live in.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
My art is about increasing positive representation of fat people. Fat does not mean lazy, stupid, sloppy, etc. It’s a neutral descriptor of someone’s body, just like the word thin is. Myself and others in the fat-positive community are aiming to reclaim the word. I contribute to this by creating artwork of fat people as ethereal beings such as fairies, mermaids, sci-fi babes, and other fun characters. Rarely do we get to see ourselves portrayed this way. It makes my day when someone tells me that they felt seen by my art. I often get people messaging me to say that my artwork made them tear up or healed something in them. Reactions like that make my creation feel all the more worthwhile.
Pricing:
- $4 – $95
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopsoftcore.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopsoftcore/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopS0ftcore
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsoftcore
Image Credits
https://creatively.life/AlreadyEuphoria
https://www.instagram.com/jaynafoto/
