Muizenberg Beach was a sight to behold on Sunday where a dozen plus-sized women danced in their bikinis to raise awareness of body shaming and body positivity.
The team took part in the Phatt Dance Challenge, to encourage women to show off their curves while doing the Jerusalema dance challenge.
Melissa Smith, the founder of Differently Beautiful and the Phatt Society, says the plus size ladies were eager to participate.
“It is not expected from plus-size women to do the challenge, but we had one vision. We are here to express ourselves as differently thick women, with equal flexibility and movement.”
Ladies from as far as Worcester and Grabouw travelled to Muizenberg beach on Sunday morning.
The Jerusalema dance challenge demands dancers to be light on their feet as they bop around, but neither this nor dancing on sand put off the group.
#PhattDanceChallenge
Posted by Melissa Smith onSunday, November 1, 2020
As the ladies took their places on the beach, supporters gathered and cheered them on.
Elmarie Redelinghuys, 28, from Eerste River says after suffering from depression and seeking help, she auditioned as a challenger for the Phatt Society Jerusalema challenge.
“I was not sure of what I was getting myself into, but the requirements for the challenge was to be able to dance in a bathing suit and be confident and comfortable,” she says.
Two male-owned brands; The Djs List (TDL) and Crystal Image Production, collaborated with Phatt Society on this venture to show their support for female empowerment and body positivity.