Rising Stars: Meet Marcy Guevara-Prete of LOS ANGELES

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcy Guevara-Prete.

Hi Marcy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started back in 2015 with me and my co-founder, Jen Wilder. Honestly, we were drowning in plus-size clothes we didn’t know what to do with! We connected online and decided to host a clothing swap.

The event was a huge success—but we actually ended up with more clothes than we started with! That’s when we realized we were onto something. We saw the opportunity to create a real space for plus-size people who wanted to look and feel fabulous.

We literally hit the streets of LA, and it all moved pretty fast, and we quickly found a brick-and-mortar spot in Glassell Park and opened our doors in 2016, creating the “plus-size heaven” we have always dreamt of right here in Los Angeles.

Since then, it’s been all about curating the best clothing for sizes 12+—from fast fashion to luxury, new to vintage—and keeping it all sustainable. But more than the clothes, we’ve focused on building a true community. We’re dedicated to a safe, inclusive space where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, and can connect over body positivity and self-love.

I’ve been running the business solo as of January 2025, and we’re celebrating 10 years in business this year! It’s been an incredible journey living our lives “FAT and FREE” and building this amazing community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
“Smooth road” is definitely not the phrase I’d use! It’s been a journey of faking it ’til you make it and learning everything on the fly. I never set out to be a CFO or CEO, but suddenly I was in charge of a mission-minded business and a staff.

The biggest challenge came in 2023 when the retail economy took a nosedive. We had to make some painful decisions, including major layoffs. What was once this really tight-knit clubhouse community was suddenly disbanded, and a lot of feelings were hurt. Honestly, it was devastating.

It was a tough lesson in balancing our potential and our profit. Unfortunately, we operate in a capitalist world, so we have to hit the bottom line, and we just weren’t making it happen. We’ve had to pivot our business model which has caused some confusion and strife along the way, but ultimately, staying open is the goal. I feel so depressed seeing small businesses crumble all around us on the daily.

I really hope that as people continue to support and see what The Plus Bus is doing, they understand that the choices I’m making are what’s best for the business to keep our community alive and our space as we know it open (now on beautiful and vibrant York Blvd.).

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am so proud of the legacy that The Plus Bus is creating. There is no worse feeling than walking through an entire mall and not being able to find anything to buy. The Plus Bus centers plus size people and helps them find the fit they’re looking for. We are selling clothes but we are selling the belief that your body isn’t a before and you are worthy of clothes at every size. Too many people have the mentality of waiting until they lose X amount of weight before they buy new clothes and we’re here to say you deserve to look and feel fabulous NOW regardless of what the scale says. The Plus Bus is a radical act of liberation and stands as a beacon to those bodies who feel marginalized and left out of the conversation of fashion.

How do you think about luck?
I’m not sure I really believe in luck—good or bad—the way some people do. For me, it’s more about fate, karma, and holding things loosely.
When I look at The Plus Bus, I see less “luck” and more of a series of events that were meant to be.
Ultimately, by focusing on holding things loosely, I’ve been able to adapt and keep going when times got tough. If I was rigidly stuck on how things “should” be, we probably would have closed. This belief system has allowed us to roll with the punches and continue building our community as a vehicle for self-acceptance and empowerment. Ultimately cultivating a community focused around body acceptance and fat liberation—is my primary passion.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theplusbus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplusbusboutique/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theplusbus

Image Credits
A. Klass