When Did You First Feel Bad About Your Body? | Tess Holliday and Virginia Sole-Smith | A Kids Co. (Re-Run)

(Note: This episode originally ran on September 9th, 2025)

What do kids learn when they hear “fat” used like an insult? And what do we say when they turn that word on themselves? In this episode, we talk about how to name fatphobia, challenge it, and model true body respect at any size.

Back-to-school season often brings comments about weight, growth, and how bodies “should” look. For parents of tweens and teens, it’s a critical time to talk about body image, confidence, and how kids feel in their own skin.

Model and body activist Tess Holliday shares what it was like growing up in the South, taking up space, and parenting through shame. Later, author and journalist Virginia Sole-Smith offers practical ways to push back on harmful beauty standards and make space for more honest conversations at home.

Whether you're unpacking what you grew up hearing or just trying to find the right words, this conversation is a place to begin.

Raising Us is hosted by Elise Hu, an award-winning journalist and mom of three, known for her warm, candid approach to tough conversations. Each week, she breaks down big questions families are facing, with help from expert voices and real-life stories.

Key Takeaways:

“Fat is just another way to have a body.” Reclaiming the word fat helps kids build respect, not shame.

“Perfection isn’t the goal. Showing up is.” Modeling body acceptance starts with honesty.

“If we don’t talk about fatphobia, kids will believe the dominant story.” Silence reinforces bias. Conversation builds empathy.

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ABOUT THE SHOW

Raising Us | Parenting Podcast for Kids, Tweens, & Conscious Caregivers

Award-winning journalist Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, Forever35) hosts Raising Us, a parenting podcast for grownups raising Big-Question Kids. From puberty and identity to tech and body image, each episode gives you tools to spark real conversati…