-by Merybell Nabilah Reynoso

A few days ago, someone asked me why as a potter and artist, I focus mostly on fat and diverse bodies. It was an interesting question. It made me go back to that exact moment when my relationship with my own body shifted and changed.

I was in my early twenties, majoring in comms and visual arts, and I was a member of a Masters swimming club for young adults. On one occasion, we went to a fancy gym in Santo Domingo, my hometown, for a charity sports event. We were supposed to swim as much as we could to fundraise for this charity.

For some reason, a pageant director/recruiter for Miss Universe happened to be there. I bumped into her as I headed to the bathroom to put on my swimming gear before the event. I saw her looking at me, so I said hi to her and she said hi back. It was all small talk at the beginning; she seemed nice. She went on to ask me how many metres I planned to swim. Are you swimming too? I asked.

She was only there because she was touring with Miss Dominican Republic Universe. Nice, I said in Spanish. She smiled. Then she took one look at me, those top-down looks, kind of when you are seizing someone, checking them out, which tends to be very uncomfortable for those at the receiving end.

You know, she said, you could also participate in the pageant. You’ve got such a beautiful face, and I’ve made other gorditas like yourself into the famous runner-up misses. We can change that body of yours in six months or less, I think. How would you like that? I stared at her, confused. What was wrong with my body, and why was it bad to be “a gordita”?

I just stood there and nodded. She gave me her card with a bb pin QR code. I thanked her and said I’d write to her. I put on my cap and my goggles, and on my way out to the pool, I ripped her card in two.

Check out Merybell’s artworks at Paquita Ceramica. She recently launched her art brand featuring small batch and handmade ceramics & sculptures. Check out her spring / summer collection Cuerpxs available for purchase.

Merybell (she/hers) is an anthropologist, artist, writer, human rights activist and mental health advocate from the Dominican Republic. Her work currently explores fat and queer Caribbean pleasure, bodies, neurosis, mental health, the paradox of non-places, the Cosmos, and is influenced by many artists, photographers, writers and thinkers. She is based in Mexico City and also works in the Human Rights sector. You can also reach out to her here.

MERYBELL NABILAH REYNOSO: MUSINGS ON WHY I SCULPT FAT BODIES

A few days ago, someone asked me why as a potter and artist, I focus mostly on fat and diverse bodies. It was an interesting question. It made me go back to that exact moment when my relationship with my own body shifted and changed.