Departure Lounge with Amy Sheppard

Sheppard co-front-woman Amy Sheppard has created a movement. 

After years of filtering her image to try to conform, Amy posted a raw, unedited and real photo to Instagram in January. By doing so, she unknowingly ignited social media and began her call for fans to embrace their real selves and no longer buy into the airbrushed, un-real fantasy that lives on social media. In one post after another, she set about breaking down stigma about women’s bodies and telling everyone to #kissmyfatass if they didn’t like it, and was quickly joined by a cascade of support from women across the world joining in.

#kissmyfatass is a big middle finger to unrealistic beauty ideals: a rallying cry for women across the world, kicking back against the online culture of filtering so-called “flaws” and rejecting the toxic ideals promoted on social platforms full of “perfect” highlight reels.

Leading the conversation, Amy Sheppard boldly proclaimed she was no longer hiding anymore, saying “I’ve spent years trying to hide my flaws, to get the right lighting, the right pose, the right outfits all so I could hide.” Now, she’s embracing herself exactly how she is. A simple statement on paper, but one that’s radical for so many.

“I’m an average sized 12 woman,” said Amy. “The thing is, I’ve been labelled all throughout my life: “fat”, “too skinny”, “cellulite-y” even “a blob”. Worst of all, I’ve sprayed hate on myself. Sadly, I can’t say I have met a woman who hasn’t done the same.”

“#KISSMYFATASS is a big STFU to the beauty standards many of us feel the pressure to live up to. It’s about desensitising everyone to normal features such as cellulite, rolls and scars. It’s about celebrating how beautiful we all are in our own unique ways and most of all it’s about setting an example for women, men, girls and boys about what makes a person truly beautiful… and just a hint: it’s not what you see on the outside.”

The video for #KISSMYFATASS was filmed with Amy’s friends and supporters who have jumped on the #KISSMYFATASS hashtag of all shapes and sizes including her Sheppard bandmate and sister Emma, Biggest Loser trainer Tiffany Hall, crossfit expert Kara Saunders, body image activist Taryn Brumfitt, rapper Kaylah Truth and many more, celebrating the diversity and beauty of the human form.

Check out the single and hear Amy Sheppard check into the Departure Lounge to explain her motivation and the response she's received.