Kelly Shibari Garners BBW Performer of the Year AVN Awards Nom

LOS ANGELES—Kelly Shibari has received a BBW Performer of the Year nomination for the 2014 AVN Awards. It is the first year ever for AVN to recognize BBW performers in a stand-alone category. Taking place at The Joint in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 18, 2014, the AVN Awards celebrates the best of the best in the adult entertainment. “This category has been a long time coming, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the nomination,” said Shibari. “I have been consistently humbled by the many opportunities presented to me in this past year, and know I am incredibly lucky to have been able to branch out in so many ways. “Without the continued work of every single BBW performer in this industry, this category would have never been created," she continued. "It’s because of all of us, and the companies taking a chance on creating BBW content over the years, that this category now exists. As a non-traditional performer in this industry, this is a milestone that certainly does not go unnoticed. On behalf of all plus size performers who love what we do, I thank AVN for not only the nomination, but for the consideration that went into creating the BBW Performer of the Year category.” Kelly’s performances this year are an extension of her continued work in adult entertainment. From notable sex performances in Evil Angel’s Evil BBW Gold 1 and 2, as well as a non-sex performance as the Japanese-speaking mother to Asa Akira in Wicked Pictures’ Summer Loving, and additional releases throughout the year, the Japanese performer with hazel eyes has pushed the boundaries and won the hearts of what mainstream adult consumers have long been told was sexy. Awarded 2013 BBW Performer of the Year by both Exxxotica and the 21st Annual NightMoves Awards, Shibari is a true hyphenate. Her personal project, Kelly Shibari Is Overloaded, was nominated for industry awards last year, as well as a Feminist Porn Award, and garnered a NightMoves Best BBW Release award. The plus size performer not only entertains fans in front of the camera; she has also produced the Feminist Porn Award-winning PaddedKINK, which celebrates kinksters of size. Holding the distinct honor of being the only plus-sized performer ever molded for a Fleshlight, Kelly currently is the face of harness company SpareParts Hardwear’s plus size line. As a BBW model/performer, Kelly is also passionate about introducing body positive messages into the media spotlight. Her article on plus size sexuality and pornography on Jane Pratt’s SAY MEDIA site, xojane, was one of the site’s most popular articles. Kelly has written for several adult industry sites, and was a featured guest editor for ex-Gawker Media site Fleshbot's Kelly Shibari Week, and currently contributes to sexuality website Gasm.org. A proponent of “intelligent hedonism,” Kelly speaks on college campuses on how to intelligently navigate female sexuality, negative media messages about size, and bullying, all while developing self-confidence and inner strength. The 2014 AVN Awards Show will be hosted by Chanel Preston and Wicked Pictures contract star Samantha Saint. For nearly three decades, the AVN Awards show, dubbed "the Oscars of adult" by Entertainment Weekly, has been the adult industry’s biggest night and the award itself, the industry’s highest honor. With a stylish red carpet pre-show and lavish star-studded ceremony, AVN celebrates outstanding achievements in “the business of pleasure.” Fans interested in attending the 2014 AVN Award Show may purchase standard and Golden Tickets here. Follow Kelly Shibari on Twitter here.