FAT SWIM PARTIES

Swim/pool parties in fat community is a long tradition that hasn’t been recognized by the general public. With the airing of Shrill’s pool episode in 2019, suddenly everyone was saying, “What a great idea!”  So we’ve taken a look at the history of fat swim parties and are sharing this piece of history with you.

1978

The first organized and advertised fat pool party was at the NAAFA Convention Memorial Days '78 at the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge in Arlington, VA. It remains a "must have" part of NAAFA conventions/conferences into the future.

1980

Maxi Mermaids started at the Richmond Plunge in the SF Bay area. In 1982, the swim was renamed Making Waves. It moved to the Albany pool in the mid-1990s and continues today!    

Fat swim parties have become a feature of many plus-size events around the country.

1997

According to the caption in the video:

The Padded Lilies, who have twirled in front of television cameras for "The Tonight Show" and "Entertainment Tonight," meet on a sunny Sunday morning to practice. They slap sunscreen on their buxom bodies clad in fire-engine red swimsuits, and a few minutes into their routine tilt their faces up to the sky while raising multi-colored strands of tulle. 

Also in 1997, the BBW Network's Vegas Bash became the largest plus-size event venue in the country with a week filled with dances, banquets and pool parties. Since then, pool parties at bashes and other plus-size events continue to be a major draw to attendees.

In  Los Angeles, Orange County & the Inland Empire, Monica Boyd and Ronda Wood started the Size Acceptance for Empowerment Southern California (SAFE) and has been holding swim parties for many years.

March 2019

Shrill’s pool party episode airs. "Annie and Fran attend the Fat Babe Pool Party. Annie is so empowered by the experience and so furious with her boss, Gabe, that she posts a body positive article to the paper's website." 

After the airing of Shrill, plus-size pool parties/fat swims gained even more momentum with features written about the various pool parties available around the country. 

Fat swims/pool parties will continue to attract fat swimmers and partiers alike for years to come. If you find one in your area, go! It’s great to find a venue where you can play, swim, adorn your body with cute swimwear and JUMP IN!