Kelly Shibari to Speak at USC’s Body Love Week

LOS ANGELES—Kelly Shibari will speak with students at the University of Southern California’s Body Love Week tomorrow, November 5. Kelly will field questions regarding her career in the adult entertainment industry as a plus-size performer and model, as well as share her insights on navigating plus-size relationships, body confidence, media messages, and how to combat size-based bullying.  “I’m incredibly honored to be invited to speak with the students of USC,” said Kelly. “Learning how to gain confidence, in a world filled with constant and repetitive negative media messages in regards to size, is something all men and women should learn and embrace as early as possible. I’m honored to be a part of Body Love Week, and look forward to interacting with the students who attend and participate in the workshop.” Kelly’s presentation, “Sexy du Plus: How to Feed & Care for Your Inner Sexy,” will take place on the USC campus at THH 114 from 7-8:30 p.m. The workshop is limited to USC students, and is sponsored by Condomman and Shibari Wands, who will be providing giveaways; in addition, workshop attendees will enjoy free cupcakes courtesy of Sprinkles Cupcakes.  “Body Love Week is an annual week-long series of programs put on by the WSA,” said Shyann Murphy, Co-Executive Director of USC Women’s Student Assembly, which sponsors the annual event. “The intention of Body Love Week is to provide a space for students on our campus to talk about body positivity and hopefully find some acceptance and body love. We are so excited to have Kelly, because it is inspiring to see a woman with such a strong and unapologetic sense of radical self love." USC’s annual Body Love Week kicked off yesterday, and continues all week. For a schedule of events, click here.  “The concept of body positivity isn't new, and yet there are still very few environments where women are encouraged to look beyond unrealistic perceptions of beauty and practice self acceptance,” added Tandia Elijio, Director of Body Love Initiatives. “I believe Kelly's ‘Sexy Du Plus’ workshop, along with the other Body Love Week events, will serve to help create a space where students will be challenged to examine and move beyond their sexual inhibitions. Rebuilding body image isn't something that happens overnight. This event is about starting the discussion, and allowing people to know that they aren't alone in these struggles. WSA also hopes that, through these activities, students view these topics in new light and feel empowered to make a change." Kelly Shibari was recently honored with a repeat win for Best BBW Performer at the 22nd Annual NightMoves Awards, as well as its Triple Play Award, awarded to an adult industry member exhibiting success in three or more fields. In Shibari’s case, the award honors her work as a performer, director/producer, and public relations/marketing specialist for the adult industry. The plus-size beauty’s performance can also be seen in New Sensation’s Best BBW Release-winning film, Big Girls Are Sexy 4, released by Digital Sin parent company New Sensations. The multiple award-winning BBW adult star and sexual figurehead for chubby Asian girls everywhere made sexy pop culture media site Fleshbot’s Top Ten Crush Object List in early 2014. The list includes adult performers Bonnie Rotten and Asa Akira, as well as mainstream icons Miley Cyrus, Tina Fey, Emily Ratajkowski, and Lizzy Caplan. The Japanese performer with hazel green eyes, featured as the cover model for the September homepage at SheVibe.com, continues to push the boundaries, and win the hearts, of what mainstream adult consumers have long been told was sexy. Kelly’s groundbreaking stint as the first plus-size model on the cover of a major men's magazine, on Penthouse Forum’s June 2014 issue, garnered immediate and positive mainstream media coverage from Huffington Post, Nerve, The Daily Beast, Examiner, and others. The plus-size performer’s collaboration on the first-ever sex education film for people of size, Jessica Drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex: Plus Size, with Wicked Pictures and its contract star, writer, producer, and director, Jessica Drake, received rave reviews and sold out of its initial run. Kelly is passionate about introducing body positive messages into the media spotlight. The highly accessible Kelly regularly chats with fans and industry peers via her social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook.