Aidy Bryant has become the plus-sized best friend I didn’t know I needed. As a long-time fan of her work on Saturday Night Live, my admiration skyrocketed after binge-watching her in the Hulu series Shrill. With Season 2 dropping this Thursday, I can’t help but shout its praises from the rooftops.
Shrill follows Bryant’s character, Annie, a plus-sized woman navigating the challenges of a writing career, a series of lackluster relationships, and a serious lack of self-confidence. In her journey toward self-improvement, she makes a bold choice: to stop obsessing over her weight.
With support from her equally fabulous and plus-sized best friend Fran, Annie learns to reject the unrealistic societal standards that have weighed her down. In doing so, she discovers her voice and embraces a fuller, messier life.
I’m excited to see what Season 2 has in store for Annie. The trailer hints that she’ll be speaking her mind much more often, and I’ll be cheering her on every step of the way.
After years spent grappling with an eating disorder while living in an unreasonably slim body, it’s been empowering to witness Bryant’s journey as a newly plus-sized woman. Watching Annie embrace self-acceptance has inspired me to celebrate my own body and its unique shapes. Although Bryant didn’t set out to be a symbol of fat acceptance, she now recognizes the power of living openly in a larger body. Through Shrill, she’s waving her curvy flag high.
In one memorable episode from the first season, Annie attends a body-positive pool party and breaks free from her shy shell, dancing joyfully with other plus-sized women. Interspersed with these uplifting moments are poignant flashbacks of a younger Annie, who once dreaded going to the pool due to fear of ridicule. While I didn’t face bullying for my size as a child, I was often criticized during my teenage years for my appearance. The harshest critic, however, was always myself. I never felt comfortable in my skin, and despite my efforts to lose weight, the desire for acceptance was never fulfilled.
Everything shifted when I gained a significant amount of weight during motherhood and found a sense of liberation. For the first time, I felt free to reject diet culture and begin healing my relationship with my body. I never believed I could achieve lasting self-love in a larger frame, but that’s precisely what happened. I refuse to return to a life filled with restriction and self-loathing.
I want to acknowledge that I’ve experienced thin privilege, and I understand the stark contrast between being criticized for my body and the systemic oppression fat individuals endure daily. Experiencing life in different body sizes has opened my eyes to the ongoing need for inclusivity and visibility. Thanks to Aidy Bryant’s incredible portrayal in Shrill, I can further my journey toward self-acceptance.
If you struggle with body image issues and haven’t yet watched this transformative show, I highly recommend giving it a try. The world definitely needs more characters like Annie to show us how to live unapologetically.
Season Two of Shrill premieres Thursday, January 24 on Hulu. For more insights about body positivity and self-love, explore our other blog post here. If you’re interested in understanding more about the ins and outs of home insemination, check out this resource as well. Additionally, for information on fertility and insurance, visit this excellent resource.
To summarize, Shrill is a groundbreaking series that champions body positivity and self-acceptance through the relatable journey of its protagonist, Annie. With Aidy Bryant at the helm, the show encourages viewers to embrace their bodies and challenge societal norms.