Originally Posted: December 3, 2011
Updated: January 2025
This post has been refreshed in 2025 with updated writing, a new title, and an image to better enhance the story.
Sometimes, a single act of vulnerability can ignite a movement. For humorist and writer Brittany Gibbons, that act involved standing in Times Square in a swimsuit. On national television. In front of millions of people.
It wasn’t just a stunt or a moment of shock value. It was a declaration—a brave, unapologetic statement about what it means to occupy space in a world that often tries to shrink women down to unrealistic ideals. Brittany shared this journey during her TEDx talk at Bowling Green State University in 2011, and it’s stayed with me ever since.
What struck me most about her talk wasn’t just the boldness of that moment in Times Square but the humanity behind it. Brittany doesn’t position herself as some untouchable icon of body confidence. Instead, she’s refreshingly honest about her struggles—bullying, bulimia, self-doubt—and how they shaped her relationship with her body.
Her humor is disarming, which makes the heavy truths she shares even more powerful. Her self-deprecating wit becomes a lifeline for difficult topics, making the audience laugh while reflecting deeply. She jokes about losing her virginity in the back of an ’89 Hatchback and walking into the wrong room at a sperm bank, but then pivots to read scathing comments from strangers about her weight. Comments like, “I have no idea how someone as obese as you managed to land a husband.” The laughter fades, replaced by the undeniable sting of how cruel people—especially women—can be to each other.
And yet, Brittany doesn’t dwell on the pain. She channels it. That’s what makes her story so compelling. When she talks about the moment she realized her daughter might grow up facing the same kind of criticism she did, you feel the shift. It’s no longer just about her journey; it’s about creating a world where all women—our daughters, mothers, friends—can feel beautiful and whole, no matter their size.
That determination led her to create Curvy Girl Guide, an online space where women of all shapes and sizes could share their stories, celebrate their bodies, and redefine what beauty looks like. It wasn’t just a platform; it was a revolution, one post and one picture at a time.
But Brittany didn’t stop there. She knew that conversations about change weren’t enough. Sometimes, you have to be the change. That’s what her swimsuit moment was about. It wasn’t comfortable or easy. She admits that every fiber of her being wanted to run away, to find her clothes and disappear. But she stayed, because she knew she was standing there for something bigger than herself.
Her courage didn’t just inspire people watching at home—it opened a floodgate. That day, 300 women emailed her photos of themselves in swimsuits, celebrating their bodies in ways they never had before. Brittany’s vulnerability gave them permission to do the same.
Listening to her talk reminded me of how deeply ingrained our insecurities can be, but also how powerful it is to see someone step into the light and say, This is me. And I’m not ashamed.
Brittany’s story isn’t just about body positivity—it’s about humanity, resilience, and the courage to challenge a culture that thrives on telling us we’re not enough. It’s a reminder that beauty isn’t something we achieve; it’s something we reclaim.
What would it take for us to reclaim our own definitions of beauty and self-worth? Perhaps, like Brittany, it starts with daring to be seen.
Scott Bryant 
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