In the ever-evolving landscape of fashion, where trends come and go, Katie Sturino stands out as a symbol of self-love, empowerment, and distinctive style. Best known perhaps as the founder of MEGABABE, author of “Body Talk,” and the creative force behind the viral series #supersizethelook, Sturino’s journey transcends conventional standards. Recently appointed as Dia & Co’s brand ambassador, she reflects on a dream that took root nearly seven years ago, fueling her body-positive mission. In this exclusive interview, we delve into Katie’s inspiring narrative, exploring her profound impact on self-esteem, empowerment, and the fashion industry, culminating in her full-circle moment with Dia & Co.
“I want people to feel that they are not alone and that they have this great resource [Dia & Co], that they have so many options—10,000 styles,”
Katie Sturino
As the saying goes, “The clothes make the (wo)man.” As a plus-size shopper herself, Katie recognizes the profound impact clothing can have on our perception of ourselves and the way we present to the world. When I sat down with her, she shared her thoughts on clothing as a mood definer, a way to showcase personality, and a tool for building confidence.
“I’ve always loved getting dressed. Clothing is almost a costume. It lets people know a little bit about you before you meet them. I think it’s a great way to show your personality,” she shared.
This personal revelation has fueled Sturino’s mission to assist women in embracing their individuality, finding their style, and amplifying their voices in the world of fashion. Her journey in empowering women to embrace themselves has not only shaped her style but also evolved her perspective.
“It’s really empowering to me personally. And it just reinforces that I should try new things more often,” comments Katie.
From the inception of her body-positive, shame-free beauty brand MEGABABE seven years ago, she aimed to liberate women from the constant shame imposed by the fashion and beauty industries. Sturino’s viral content series #supersizethelook, also created seven years ago, challenges societal norms, urging us all to walk confidently in our self-expression and individuality. “Remember: it’s not about who wore it better – that just brings us down!” her sign-off on every post of the series.
Check out one of her latest posts where she recreates a Taylor Swift look with pieces from dia.com.
” I think a lot of brands have pulled back and kind of pivoted away from the size-inclusive movement. And it’s just really nice that as other people are fading into the background, Dia is stepping up…”
Katie Sturino
Today, women globally turn to Katie for fashion guidance and MEGABABE products, seeking comfort and confidence in their style choices.
“I get comments from people a lot who say that they’ve worn things like tank tops, or shorts, or bathing suits, or they’ve gotten back into dresses because now their thighs don’t chafe,” Katie admits, addressing her flagship product, MEGABABE’s Thigh Rescue, and common struggles faced by plus-size women.
Becoming Dia & Co’s brand ambassador not only furthers her mission but also serves as a remarkable full-circle moment. From distributing MEGABABE samples seven years ago to becoming the brand ambassador, she envisions a world where women of all sizes enjoy style freedom.
“I knew Dia & Co customers would love thigh rescue like I knew Dia employees would love thigh rescue. That was my dream goal, and I love that it’s happening now,” she shared. She went on to share, “Dia & Co was doing things before it was cool to be inclusive. I think a lot of brands have pulled back and kind of pivoted away from the size-inclusive movement. And it’s just really nice that as other people are fading into the background, Dia is stepping up…”
Her recent photoshoot with Dia & Co exposed her to the diverse options available for various body types, underscoring Dia & Co’s commitment to inclusivity. As Sturino reflects on her journey, she values the emotional impact her work has on individuals, aspiring to provide lasting tools for women to feel less alone and more confident in their choices.
Want her expert advice for embracing new fashion experiences that resonate with authenticity and courage?
“Try new things. I think we’ve all been told by someone else or ourselves that we can’t wear certain things… Start to build a little bit more confidence with being able to wear something new. And then wear it to lunch or dinner. Baby step your way out of your brain by going into the world and realizing that it’s just not so scary to wear a tank top.”
In a world where societal pressures often dictate fashion choices, Katie Sturino stands as a beacon of self-love and empowerment. Through her journey, collaborations, and dedication to inclusivity, Katie is reshaping the fashion landscape, encouraging women to embrace their authenticity. With Dia & Co as her ally, Katie continues to leave a lasting impact on self-esteem, empowerment, and the evolving perception of oneself in the ever-changing world.
Full Interview Below
(The interview has been edited for clarity.)
Christine Yarde
Thanks so much for your time, Katie, really excited to speak to you about your journey, fashion, and everything you’re doing with Dia & Co. I’ve also been doing some research to learn more about your career as a fashion publicist, and your blog. I’ve been doing my homework, girl. So I know quite a bit about your background, and one thing I’d like to ask is how you feel clothing has aided you or helped you in creating the life and the career that you have now.
Katie Sturino
I’ve always loved getting dressed. I think clothing has been almost a costume or a mood definer. And it lets people know a little bit about you before you meet them. And I’ve always leaned into that because I think it’s a great way to show your personality. Professionally, I love helping people get dressed. I love helping people find things that they didn’t think they could find. While clothing can be a big confidence booster, it can also be something that can make you feel really bad. Right? So I love being a resource for people to feel good about finding clothes.
C.Y.
Yes, definitely. Women all across the globe look to you for inspiration and fashion guidance. What has that done for your own self-esteem and your own kind of willingness to be brave in your fashion choices?
K.S.
I would say that what it’s done for me is make me feel a little bit responsible for making sure I know what’s happening out there in the world of fashion. Plus, it’s empowering when you put on something that you’re not sure about, like, is this a good look or not? And then you get so many positive reactions from people. I think that is really empowering to me personally. And it just reinforces that I should try new things more often.
C.Y.
Absolutely! One of the great parts about fashion is being able to kind of reinvent yourself. It could be every day or for an event, you know, whenever. In your experience, have you met followers or fans who have shared with you how your journey or the fashion advice that you have shared, or just fashion in general, has impacted their self-esteem?
K.S.
Totally. I get comments from people a lot who say that they’ve worn things like tank tops, or shorts, or bathing suits, or they’ve gotten back into dresses because now their thighs don’t chafe. I’ve gotten so many messages from women who have been really generous with their compliments, and let me know how much I’ve helped them along their fashion journey. And that, that actually is what keeps me going I would say for MegaBabe and for my Instagram.
C.Y.
Oh, definitely. Do you have other any specific moments that come to mind?
K.S.
I get messages like that every day. Right? So I don’t have anything specific. It’s the consistency [of those messages] that makes me feel like I’m doing something right.
C.Y.
That’s important for all of us. This leads me to my next question; which is what lessons have you learned about yourself personally and professionally through your Instagram and through being the founder of a startup?
K.S.
I would say one of the things [I’ve learned is]: you’re not good at everything. Finding the right people to do things that they are good at so you can do what you’re good at is really essential. And it requires giving up control. And not everyone is great at that. But I really believe in letting people shine at what they’re good at. And it allows you the freedom to do what you’re good at.
C.Y.
Oh, that’s beautiful. But I have to push back on you a little bit because you have a publicist background. And I know it’s hard for somebody in that line of work to admit that they’re not good at everything.
K.S.
God, no! I’m not that person. I feel like it is really important to hear what others say because it’s easy to get into a bubble where everyone is just telling you; yes! And that is a really quick way to go down the tubes because you’re missing out on a lot of valuable perspectives from other people.
C.Y.
What have you done to be able to receive that feedback and not take it personally?
K.S.
Well, I always just ask that people be kind with their feedback. I think you can give feedback in a way that isn’t hurtful. Because I am very sensitive. And I do, hopefully, people think that I do the same with their own careers and their own feelings in return.
C.Y.
You said something interesting— you’re very sensitive. I can definitely identify with that. I think people are more sensitive than they’re willing to admit. How do you navigate that being a public figure?
K.S.
When people online say rude things, to me, that doesn’t really hurt me in the same way if someone on my team were to say: “I don’t think you are living up to your potential,” or “I don’t think you’re working hard.” Those things I would take really personally. But taking insults from strangers has never been something that really, really gets under my skin. Because who are they? What do they know? You always go to their profile, and it’s like; oh, no, it’s a dad with kids who’s calling you a b*&%^. But if it’s someone close to me who says something, I really take it to heart and it will impact me.
C.Y.
At the end of the day, people who are closest to you their opinions impact you the most, and there’s no way to get around that.
K.S.
But I do feel lucky that I’m less impacted by the online negativity.
C.Y.
In talking about your online presence, #supersizethelook kind of like blew up, no? Were you surprised by that? And at the end of the day, how do you feel about it?
K.S.
Well, as a publicist, I do have the ability to see what could be good or what is not being shown or what’s fresh. So, when I started, #supersizethelook, which was, at this point, I think eight years ago; that definitely felt fresh. It felt fresh to say that “nobody wore it better,” just both women looking good. We don’t have to have that mindset anymore. No one’s asking us to judge other women. Since then, so many other people do “get Haley Beiber’s look” [or similar content]. I think that that is one of the skills that being in PR taught me was figuring out what will get attention and not everything you think will get attention does. So many good ideas have not taken off. Many, many good ideas on the shelf.
C.Y.
That brings us to my next question, which is, high level, how do you envision your work having a lasting impact on women and the fashion industry overall?
K.S.
Yeah, I think one of the things I’m most proud of is [that] MegaBabe, [is a] category creator, we are a trailblazer in beauty, and I can say this with confidence. When we started, no one was talking about taboo issues, and everyone’s packaging looked the same. It all felt very different than what we were putting out there. And since then, the beauty industry has shifted and people are talking about things that we typically used to shy away from or just pretend weren’t happening. Because we’re trying to free people of shame, and I love that. Shame-free beauty products were not a thing seven years ago when we started. So I feel really proud about kind of opening up that conversation.
C.Y.
Yes, definitely. I will say I have been working for Dia & Co for about seven years and I remember when you brought the MegaBabe Thigh Rescue to the office. I love them! I use them all the time. I’m a plus girl myself and I definitely have more thighs than a little bit, so I know the challenge of wearing shorts in the summer or going to the beach. I wanted to be cute in my little tiny outfits too, you know, but I also wanted to be comfortable. But there would be bumps in between my thighs because of the rubbing, friction, and all these kinds of things. Saying all of that, I think that’s a big mark to like leave on the world because a few years ago, beauty was all about shame.
K.S.
Yes, it was like fix this, fix this. You don’t look right; conform, conform, conform. I love where we’re going with beauty. I also just kind of realized that what we’re doing right now with Dia & Co is kind of exactly what I wished—wanted best best-case scenario when I came to visit Dia seven years ago. I knew the Dia & Co customer would love thigh rescue like I knew Dia employees would love thigh rescue. That was my dream goal and I love that actually it’s happening now.
That is coming to a full circle—cool moment.
C.Y.
That’s brilliant. If you want to, please share more about that.
K.S.
Dia & Co was doing things before it was cool to be inclusive. I think a lot of brands have pulled back and kind of pivoted away from the size-inclusive movement. And it’s just really nice that as other people are fading into the background, Dia is stepping up and bringing on more brands, investing more in advertising, and getting the word out there. I really feel very proud to be associated with that.
C.Y.
I completely agree. I heard that when you were doing the photo shoot, you were so shocked at how many different brands and different styles we have. What were some of your biggest surprises when you were trying on the clothes?
K.S.
I mean, I’m supposed to be an expert in the space, and I didn’t know, most of the brands I was putting on. I thought that was eye-opening because I can still learn about a space that I’m supposed to be an expert in, which is always a good reminder to keep your eyes open and to keep learning. That pushed me to be like, “Hey, you need to get back out there and do more research and, let people know about this resource.” Because there’s a lot more out there than you know about.
C.Y.
I love that. Best case scenario, what would you hope comes out of your partnership, with Dia & Co? What’s the lasting effect on customers?
K.S.
Yeah, I would say emotionally I feel like, [we were] in a time when it’s easy to feel that maybe you had just started to feel comfortable with yourself or started to feel safe. And now things are, I don’t know, regressing. I feel like I want people to feel that they are not alone and that they have this great resource that they have so many options. 10,000 styles. Right? I want them to feel that they have options and so discovering Dia, shopping, trying Megababe, are just things that I think can lead to that feeling of not being alone.
C.Y.
Absolutely. Options also mean freedom.
K.S.
Yes. And so does wearing dresses when you don’t think you can’t because you think your thighs will chafe or be too hot. I think that there’s a lot of emotional impact that those things can have.
C.Y.
So unfortunately we’re coming to an end here. My last question for you is: What are three points of advice that you would give to Dia customers? Maybe someone who is discovering Dia for the first time and is trying to use fashion to boost their self-esteem?
K.S.
Try new things. Yes. Because I think we’ve all been told by someone else or ourselves that we can’t wear certain things. So I would say try new. My advice for trying new things is to put it on, keep a tag on, wear it around the block, and wear it to the grocery store. Just see how you feel in it because your first reaction is going to be exactly what you’ve been conditioned to have, the shame, embarrassment, everyone’s gonna make fun of me. So flip that, wear it outside [and] notice that no one cares. Start to build a little bit more confidence with being able to wear something new. And then wear it to lunch or dinner. Baby step your way out of your brain by going into the world and realizing that it’s just not so scary to wear a tank top.
C.Y.
I love the way you said, “Baby step your way out of your brain.” Most people think that the work is external when a lot of the work is us just getting outside of ourselves.
K.S.
Yeah, I’m writing that down.
C.Y.
Absolutely. Thank you so much for this time, this has been a pleasure.
K.S.
I enjoyed our conversation. And I appreciate your time. And I’m so glad that you’re still at Dia.
