Oak Park resident Ellie Mariyo simply gained $75K to unfold her message of physique positivity along with her model Large Lady Besties

Elizabeth “Ellie” Mariyo has the phrases “Plus Measurement Pleasure” subsequent to her title on her TikTok channel. The phrases “Large Women deserve superb lives” additionally relaxation beneath her moniker.

With practically 150,000 followers on that platform and one other practically 35,000 followers on Instagram, Mariyo is a self-professed “Plus Measurement Pleasure Promoter,” one who does that via the lens of trend, dance and a way of life that she exudes via her rising model, Large Lady Besties.

“When folks come to my web page, I would like them to really feel that sense of pleasure and put a smile on their face,” the Oak Park resident mentioned.

Now Mariyo has $75,000 to assist unfold these smiles on a broader scale as a result of in November she gained “The Nice Unshackling” contest from a California wine model referred to as Unshackled. The competition, launched in August, was created to provide a person the funds to take a artistic facet hustle or ardour full time. Mariyo’s brother turned her on to the competition three days earlier than the deadline. She was chosen from tons of of entries via a mix of client voting and a judging panel. Mariyo, a recruiter, plans to make use of her winnings to launch Large Lady Besties, a podcast and occasions firm that goals to empower plus-size people.

“When my dad and mom requested me, ‘What do you need to be once you develop up?’ I might say I actually need to assist folks,” Mariyo, 30, mentioned. She thought her ardour was drugs, nevertheless it wasn’t. She thought she may very well be a diplomat however left her job in Switzerland with the thought to start out her personal enterprise. She explored one thought earlier than the pandemic ended it. Then Mariyo discovered TikTok.

“After I first acquired on social media, I seen that each time you see a plus-sized particular person speaking about their expertise, or simply present, there’s a number of trolling or folks invalidating their expertise,” Mariyo mentioned. “I might make movies to speak about these items and encourage others however with social media, you solely get seconds to actually speak about one thing. I didn’t really feel like there was sufficient time and the fitting area to speak in regards to the points which are vital to the plus-sized group. Large Lady Besties sprouted out of me seeing that as an issue on social media, and actually desirous to not solely create a protected area for folks to specific themselves and share their expertise but additionally an area the place we might really focus on points which are vital to the plus-size group and provides them the time and a spotlight that they deserve.”

Mariyo desires Greatest Lady Besties to be that protected area the place a group for plus-size folks and their allies can construct camaraderie, speak about physique positivity in additional element and thrive. Within the spring, she hopes to launch a podcast the place friends corresponding to a board-certified life coach, a plus-size mannequin and a private coach are interviewed to facilitate therapeutic, debunk dangerous myths and have fun plus-size folks doing extraordinary issues.

On the podcast she desires folks “to speak about undoing trauma across the physique that one has picked up rising up or simply being in society.”

By the summer season, she desires to host Large Lady Bestie occasions that function an extension of the podcast, the place the life coach will come to an in-person session for a extra personal touch.

Peggy Hemphill, model supervisor of Unshackled Wines, mentioned Mariyo’s contest entry simply stood out from the remainder.

“Ellie had a pleasure about her that was infectious — you couldn’t not smile watching her movies,” Hemphill mentioned. “At Unshackled, we consider in expressing your most genuine self and breaking free from expectations. Anybody who interacts with Ellie can see she is 100% bringing her genuine self and we love the mission of Large Lady Besties to spark conversations round physique positivity and problem societal expectations to assist others break away and discover extra pleasure in their very own lives.”

In the course of the contest, Mariyo, a Madison, Mississippi, native, noticed an outpouring of help that she wasn’t anticipating. “I might see that this was one thing that was wanted, however I didn’t actually count on different folks to see it instantly,” she mentioned. “So to have Large Lady Besties be validated all through that contest, have so many individuals — huge or not — actually understanding what I’m making an attempt to do with it, that was a giant deal to me. And I actually need to convey it to life as quickly as attainable. We’re undoubtedly shifting and shaking in a short time. So far as the primary occasion for summer season 2023, that’ll be proper after the primary season of the podcast is over. And we’ll do a launch occasion right here in Chicago.”

What began as a artistic outlet for Mariyo in 2021 — simply Mariyo being Mariyo and making glad, self-affirming movies of her dancing, sporting cute outfits, having fun with life and speaking to her followers 5 to seven occasions per week — might be a challenge that Unshackled Wines might be amplifying and sharing on its platforms for the subsequent 12 months.

“Successful ‘The Nice Unshackling’ contest was affirmation for me that I’m on the fitting path,” Mariyo mentioned, including, “2020, that’s the 12 months I arrived on the airport, made it via safety and I acquired to my gate. I taught myself graphic design that 12 months, realized extra about advertising. After which in 2021, I boarded the airplane and the airplane is pulling out from the gate. That’s after I began my social media, discovered my voice, realized to be extra per posting and interacting with my viewers. All 2022, the airplane I’m on is taxiing. I do know my second is coming, and successful this contest, that to me seems like my takeoff. We’re solely going up from right here.”

drockett@chicagotribune.com