Fat Babes Club of Columbus hosts pool parties, yoga classes for people with marginalized bodies

When Lana Moy would go to the Westerville Jaycee Community Pool growing up, she’d typically wear shorts and a t-shirt over her bathing suit – even when she went in the water.  

“The only time I’d strip down to my bathing suit was at (swim team) meets when I had to,” said the now 40-year-old South Side resident.  

That’s just one of the many reasons she was in awe of the scene that played out at her childhood pool Saturday night for the Fat Babes Club of Columbus pool party.  

It, frankly, was priceless for her and the other 210 attendees.  

“This is amazing,” she said from the water in a leopard and black bikini. “The idea that I have my belly out and everyone is comfortable – to have this community where you feel as sexy and wonderful as everyone else is worth whatever money.” 

Investment was minimal, though, as tickets cost only $15 and the price of admission paid for more than just a fun evening at the pool.  

The party, which was the third such aquatic event hosted by the group founded in 2019, provided people of all genders, sexualities and abilities who often feel judged by their size a chance to be themselves and feel beautiful and let it all hang and to show some skin.

Aidy Bryant show 'Shrill' inspires Fat Babes Club

The club and these events were initially inspired by an episode of the Hulu series “Shrill,” which chronicles the daily life of a young woman (played by Aidy Bryant) who wants to change her life but not her body. In the show, the main character attends a “fat babe pool party.”  

“You can physically feel the anxiety and see the stress on Aidy Bryant’s face,” said Elizabeth Chinn, one of the founders of Fat Babes Club of Columbus. “When she takes off her jeans, there is this moment of relief, of safety and then, she’s swimming in the water.  

“You see that at our pool parties.” 

Chinn, a social worker, said she and three other local bloggers and Instagram influencers who advocate for those in the plus-size community, got together in the spring of 2019 to create a safe space that seeks to uplift people of size.  

A pool party seemed like a logical kickoff event.  

“For people of size, summer is usually a triggering time,” said Chinn, of the Near East Side. “Our bodies are more on display. Verbal harassment, physical harassment can be more present in the summer.” 

Tickets for Fat Babes' pool party sell out in minutes

While the pool parties are very popular – tickets for Saturday’s event sold out in less than 10 minutes – Fat Babes has also offered yoga classes, roller skating meet ups, variety shows and karaoke outings.  

Basically, the organizers try to offer anything they’ve felt uncomfortable doing because of their size.  

The events are always a blast, the founders said, but the group is more about creating a community – online and in the real world – where people feel safe being their true selves and getting the resources they need to live their best lives.  

Hannah Godown, one of the other founders, said she used to be the only “fat friend” in her social circle and didn’t have many friends who shared her same experiences.  

“This is a whole new level of loving and accepting my body,” said Godown, a 29-year-old who lives near Clintonville. “Going shopping with Elizabeth is so much more fun than going somewhere where I can’t fit into clothes and I have to buy jewelry or a purse.” 

As founders, which also include Jeannette Burchfield and Krystal Orr, they’ve received questions about what types of bras work better for bigger sizes and where to find love. One of the most asked questions, however, is much more serious, they said. 

Where can I find a doctor who won’t make fun of my size? 

“It’s life-saving,” Chinn said. “If they feel more comfortable going to that doctor, they’re going to go to them for care.” 

She continued that the Fat Babes Club is about creating a community where joy, visibility and access aren’t radical concepts for people with marginalized bodies.  

The joy was certainly palpable Saturday night poolside in Westerville.  

Courtnee Fuehrer, 25, of the King-Lincoln neighborhood, couldn’t stop smiling after going down the tall, winding waterslide.  

Fuehrer said she has enjoyed following the Fat Babes Instagram account as it represents body types like hers that aren’t typically celebrated on social media. She attended the event with friend Holly Ciampa.  

“It’s so refreshing to have something so pointedly supportive of fat people,” said Ciampa, 28, of Westerville. “That never happens. Any person who has ever been fat knows how intimidating swimming and swimwear are. To have a space where we can just be – there are just good vibes here and that’s hard to find when you’re fat.” 

Babes did cannonballs, tried to help each other onto the numerous floaties – shaped like unicorns, dragons, donuts and roller skates – and giggled. They toasted with hard seltzers and danced to a dee jay playing upbeat music.  

“Everybody looks so happy,” Ciampa said surveying the scene. 

Longtime best friends Erin Nguyen and Ann Smith donned coordinating swim suits that represented Ariel and Ursula from “The Little Mermaid.” 

Nguyen, 35, of Westerville, said the evening gave her the opportunity to reclaim her childhood a bit where no one judges, asks questions about attire or talks about being fat.  

Smith, 34, drove all the way from Cleveland to share in the experience with Nguyen and she said she now feels less alone in her body.  

“I might not talk to everyone here, but we probably all have shared experiences,” Smith said.  

Linden residents Erin Katalinic and her wife Jenn appreciated the comfortable environment they experienced Saturday.  

Erin Katalinic was especially excited to wear the rainbow striped one-piece with a plunging neckline she’d bought before the pandemic 

And she was more than thrilled to not have to justify the bathing suit choice to onlookers nor hear that she’s brave for wearing it with her body type 

“People here just say, ‘Your bathing suit looks great,’” she said.  

The 27-year-old applauded the Fat Babes Club of Columbus for providing this opportunity.  

“I like that they put ‘fat’ first,” Erin Katalinic said. “Everyone should love their bodies, but fat people need to love their fat bodies.” Find more information at fatbabesclubofcolumbus.com

award@dispatch.com

@AllisonAWard