Despite Hollywood’s longtime beauty standards, where hourglass waistlines and thigh gaps were seen as the golden rule of glitz and glamour, the term “fly” didn’t stop at a size 8 when full-figured women stepped onto the scene. Thanks to the ’90s and early 2000s, sitcoms with plus size female leads paved the way for some of our fluffy sisters in fashion today.
Contrary to pop culture’s portrayal, the waymakers of style went far beyond magazine spreads and high-end runways. The Godmothers of entertainment spearheaded many trends now engraved in fat culture. From feature films to television shows, bigger ladies fostered an insurmountable lane by rocking wardrobes with sex appeal and societal bravery. Through clothing (alone), these audacious individuals made statements that we’ve all aspired to live by. In a field based on “pretty privilege” and superficiality, actresses on the voluptuous end of the spectrum were forced to overcome weight-bias guidelines, role limitations, and stereotypical classifications. However, with every line acted, thread worn, and shoe strutted, they defied the industry-driven stigmas that big girls don’t belong on-screen.
With blockbusters like Bringing Down the House and Phat Girlz, legends Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique carved an avenue that rightfully thrust chubbier women to the forefront of mainstream media. They made girls like us feel seen, heard, and most of all… respected in a world that often tries to hide us under the muzzle of America’s perpetual anti-fat agenda.
Simply put, we are the IT GIRLS, too. As we navigate the most joyous time of the year in our jammies, it’s only right that we pay homage to series commanded by “us,” for “us.”
Sitcoms with Plus Size Female Leads Who Taught Us We Could Be Fierce, Fine, & Fat
1. The Parkers
Created by Ralph Farquhar, Sara V. Finney, and Vida Spears, The Parkers centered on the lives of ever-so-spunky mother-and-daughter duo Nikki and Kim Parker, who attended Santa Monica College. The five-season UPN production, which served as a spin-off to Moesha, aired from 1999 to 2004 and saw actress/comedienne Mo’Nique in the head role as Kim’s (portrayed by Countess Vaughn) mother/college mate.
Viewers instantly favored Nikki’s comedic personality and fashionable flair in every episode. However, the depiction of her “obsessive” crush on Professor Oglevee (played by Dorien Wilson) is now a controversial topic on social media today, as they feel it feeds into the “desperation” tag many place upon larger women. The show also captured Nikki’s tell-it-like-it-is friend, Andell (the late Yvette Wilson), a fellow plus size woman who was a restaurant owner.
2. Living Single
Living Single, developed by Yvette Lee Bowser, debuted on Fox in 1993 and ended in 1998. The phenomenon followed the personal and professional day-to-day of six friends living in New York City. However, fans mainly fixated on the four women in the cast: Khadijah James (Queen Latifah), Synclaire James-Jones (Kim Coles), Regina “Regine” Hunter (Kim Fields), and Maxine Shaw (Erika Alexander). Khadijah, a magazine editor/publisher, was iconically known for her urban pizzazz, take-charge nature, and sassy remarks. Over three decades after its initial airing, she is still one of the most talked-about characters of Living Single.
3. Eve
Rapper Eve entered the television arena with her self-titled UPN sitcom in 2003 before its conclusion in 2006. Created by Meg DeLoatch, the fictitious hit chronicled groups of friends of the opposite sex as they navigated the Y2K era’s dating pool. Along with its title actress (Eve), who took on the role of fashion designer Shelly Williams, the comedy starred Jason Winston George (as Jeremiah Thurgood), Brian Hooks (as Nick Delaney), Ali Landry (as Rita Lefleur), Sean Maguire (as Donovan Brink), and the late Natalie Desselle-Reid (as Janie Egins). Desselle-Reid’s character, Janie, served as Shelly’s married sidekick who she often taps for advice. The character rose to prominence for being the “voice of reason” and the relatable friend.
4. Drop Dead Diva
Josh Berman’s Drop Dead Diva series premiered on Lifetime in 2009 and ran until 2014. The legal fantasy was led by Brooke Elliott, who took on the top role of Jane Bingum. Jane is a badass, plus size attorney whose body is inhabited by the soul of a shallow-minded fashion model, Deborah “Deb” Dobkins (Brooke D’Orsay). At the time of the debut, Elliott’s classy performance broke new ground for the network, as it explored self-acceptance and set the table for dialogue about body image. To this day, it is one of the most memorable shows to grace the channel.
5. Good Girls
Good Girls was a dramedy created by Jenna Bans for NBC. The satire production focused on three suburban mothers who (after hitting financial troubles) rob a supermarket and later find themselves tangled up with a crime boss. Amid the two sisters, Elizabeth “Beth” Boland (played by Christina Hendricks) and Annie Marks (played by Mae Whitman), is Ruby Hill (actress/comedienne Retta), the thicker “supermommy” of the crew. Ruby is Beth’s waitressing best friend who (though hesitant) stops at nothing to pay for her ill daughter’s medical expenses. Throughout her character development, avid watchers witness Ruby’s boldness, which shines as big and bright as her beauty.
Each of these sitcoms with plus size female leads represented the epitome of what it means to (truly) stand in your “plushness” and embrace every mark, roll, and love… unapologetically. Because of them, we’re no longer convincing ourselves that we only hold a place in the background. We deserve the main stage!
Which of these were your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
