As women, confidence is one of the most important tools we carry. It can make us feel beautiful, give us a greater sense of self-worth, and empower us and those around us. While building self-confidence can be challenging, having the support of a diverse, inclusive, and encouraging community of women can help us feel good inside and out. In its latest Freedom campaign, Canada’s leading plus-size fashion retailer, Penningtons, celebrates and supports all women — exactly how they are. The company believes that women should feel free from worry, free from judgment, and completely and unapologetically themselves.
“In speaking directly to our customers, we recognized the opportunity to refresh and modernize our brand image,” says Kathy Tsolakos, Director of Marketing at Penningtons. “Our customers wanted to see more diversity in our marketing, just like they see diversity in our clothing.” With this in mind, Penningtons has created a fierce community of loyal customers called #PennGals. “Our goal is to create a community that embodies inclusivity, authenticity, and freedom,” says Tsolakos. “It’s a space where every woman can be their true self and where every woman can feel free.”
“Our goal is to create a community that embodies inclusivity, authenticity, and freedom,” says Tsolakos. “It’s a space where every woman can be their true self and where every woman can feel free.”
To help spread its message, Penningtons is partnering with three influential Canadian #PennGals: body positivity activist and TikTok star Alicia McCarvell, musician and actress Mélissa Bédard, and beauty guru Stephanie Valentine (known as Glamzilla).
“We wanted to share stories of the women who embody our brand values,” says Tsolakos. “We’re so excited and proud to have Alicia, Mélissa, and Stephanie as ambassadors of our community. Each one has a unique story of empowerment and freedom to share.”
Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, McCarvell tackles important topics of body image, self-love, and self-worth with a sense of humor. From workout routines to updates on her relationship, she’s relatable and inspiring.
Haitian-born and Quebec-based Bédard is a singer who advocates for women’s empowerment, drawing her audience in with her infectious personality.
Valentine is a Filipino-Latina-Canadian beauty creator who showcases her passion with unedited and unfiltered content. She’s championing making the beauty industry a positive and safe space for everyone.
In the coming year, Penningtons is looking to expand its #PennGals community to be more diverse and inclusive, with more collaborators sharing their stories, their inspirations, and what makes them feel free. The brand is also encouraging young women to connect with one another by posting their favorite outfits, sharing meaningful stories, and attempting the latest TikTok dances using the #PennGals hashtag.
“We’re creating a safe and positive space where you can seek inspiration, feel supported, and uplift others,” says Tsolakos. “It’s all about being free and being yourself.”
Melissa, Stephanie & Alicia share what it means to be a #PENNGal and their insight on how women can feel more confident and free in their skin.
Mélissa Bédard
What does it mean to be a #PENNGal?
To me, these are women who embrace the principle of body positivity. They use their voices to express themselves and educate other women and share their true, authentic stories, free of hate and judgment.
They support, uplift, and defend each other. They are strong and inspire each other.
To me, that’s what being #PENNGal is all about.
What advice would you give to other women to feel more confident and free in their skin?
Stop listening and worrying about other people’s comments. Listen more to that little inner voice that drives you!
There is a morning exercise that I really like. I have taken the habit of writing positive and inspiring words in my mirror at night. Words that I force myself to read out loud in the morning when I look in the mirror. Try it! It feels good!
My advice would also be to follow 100% #bodypositive Instagram accounts. Positive accounts showing real women’s bodies, both beautiful and imperfect. Women who look like us. We’re tired of the overly perfect and retouched images of influencers that can taint the representation we have of women’s bodies. This is about putting some reality in your Instagram feed. I invite you to follow the Instagram accounts of my new friends from the “Liberté/Freedom” campaign: Stephanie Valentine @glamzilla and Alicia McCarvell @aliciamccarvell
I also like the inspiring posts from @bienavecmoncorps, a non-profit organization that wants to help you feel better about your body and have more confidence in yourself.
What excites you most about the ‘Freedom’ campaign?
It’s definitely the fact of making a difference with women, in accepting ourselves as we truly are. It’s also the bond of sisterhood (a word we don’t use enough ) that it creates. A stronger bond of belonging between curvy women. It’s a beautiful message of hope.
Stephanie Valentine aka Glamzilla
What does it mean to be a #PENNGal?
Being a #PENNGal means CELEBRATION for me. It’s a celebration of my body and bodies like mine as well as bodies that aren’t like mine.
What advice would you give to other women to feel more confident and free in their skin?
If you want to feel more confident and free in your own skin self-acceptance is the most important skill you will need to learn. It isn’t about being body-positive and thinking every inch of your body is beautiful. But instead, it’s about accepting that you aren’t perfect and that you are enough just the way you are.
What excites you most about the ‘Freedom’ campaign?
I think this campaign inspires people to set themselves free from whatever is holding them down. For me, it was a reminder that I am fierce and fabulous and a reassurance that I am on the right path and exactly where I am supposed to be. Just like you.
Alicia McCarvell
What does it mean to be a #PENNGal?
Personally it is a dream come true. Penningtons was the one and only place that made me feel free to dress my body the way I wanted even when I was struggling with loving it. To be representing them, and to be a #PENNGal means showing others that they are free to dress and be themselves, always.
What advice would you give to other women to feel more confident and free in their skin?
The advice I would give to anyone trying to feel more confident and free in their skin is to understand the value that their body holds. When I separated who I was and what I brought to this world from my body – I learned to respect the vessel that helped me house all the incredible things about myself. When you realize that you can’t be any of the best things about yourself, without your body – you quickly learn how to love it and respect it. Choosing clothing that showcased who I was on the inside, was one of the biggest steps in my self-love journey.
What excites you most about the ‘Freedom’ campaign?
Honestly, the message. This idea that we are free as people to be ourselves, is so important. It took me 29 years to understand my worth, and I want others to watch this campaign and feel empowered to step into who they are wholeheartedly and confidently.
