“I couldn’t dance in front because it drew a lot of attention”, Thais Carla talks about prejudice and empowerment

It is not new that prejudice against fat people gains space in discussions on social networks. But this is not just a virtual battle. Women like the ballerina Thais Carla have already felt the pain of being diminished by their physical shape. Thankfully, many of them manage to break down barriers and develop a self-love that gives them the strength to resist and fight for the acceptance of the body as it is.

Inspired by these women, the awesome.club decided to show the story of the dancer, businesswoman, mother and influencer who uses her reach in the media to help rescue the self-esteem of her more than two million followers. Follow with us the trajectory of Thais Carla.

The passion for dance started at the age of 4. At that time, Thais Carla’s sister, who was older, attended the neighborhood gym and the little girl wanted to accompany her. The dancer, who was already chubby since childhood, remembers that her mother was happy and saw in the ballet a way for her daughter to lose weight.

Thus, from the age of 4 to 14, the carioca studied classical ballet and jazz. Dance training was up to eight hours a day. And the effort was worth it! At 17, she took the audience to a frenzy in the painting Se Vira nos 30 on Domingão do Faustão.

It was there that his career gained national prominence. Thais was part of the permanent staff of the Legendários program for four years and was still a dancer for the powerful Anitta. But things didn’t happen with this apparent ease in the life of this carioca, no. The main reason is due to the fact that she is a fat woman.

The dancer arrived on TV breaking through a series of barriers and prejudices. Thais remembers that, at the time she participated in Domingão, people asked who she looked up to to start dancing. And she always replied: “Guys, not anyone. Do you know any fat dancers”? By the way, do you know any successful fat people? There is not.”

Did not have! Until she arrived showing that limitation does not come from fat but from prejudice. And she managed, over the years, not only her own projection, but the visibility of a cause that reaches more than 60% of Brazilian women.

The barrier of discrimination could have made the dancer give up this job. At age 13, when she went to a renowned jazz dance and jazz theatrical academy, she felt very offended. “I couldn’t dance to slow music, because you could see the imperfections of the movement, I couldn’t dance in front, because it drew too much attention. I was never in the front row.”

Thankfully, her love for dance was greater than this obstacle and helped her to better understand and accept her own body, following her career path with discipline and determination.

Even with daily dance classes and training, Thais didn’t lose weight. But in reality, that was never her intention. She says that she has always had a very positive relationship with her own body. Even so, the pressure from society for the “ideal weight” is so great that she even tried to lose weight, even with the help of medication, when she was younger.

“I decided to lose weight, took medicine, tried to vomit, did everything I could to lose weight. I couldn’t and I realized it wasn’t worth it. The thing was to be myself, accept myself as I was and live my life.”

At this moment, the dancer realized that it was not worth belittling herself for the sake of other people. “I saw that I was beautiful, contrary to what others thought, and that the mirror was my best friend”, she adds.

Thais Carla is married to Israel Reis and has two daughters: Maria and Eva. The dancer told on the program Encontro com Fátima Bernardes that the couple already suffered a lot of prejudice, sometimes veiled, at the beginning of the relationship. “My whole life was pure judgment. But I show you, you don’t have to be the thinnest person in the world to be happy.”

Today, she has become an influencer, has built a career as a businesswoman and likes to use social media to share moments from these two universes with her followers. It is not uncommon to find publications in which the dancer appears in relaxed moments with her husband and daughters.

Building a family and going through two pregnancies was a process that raised some doubts, as with all future mothers. But, in the case of Thais Carla, the apprehension was intensified by the issues with the body.

When she announced her second pregnancy, she confessed that she was afraid she wouldn’t make it because she was much heavier than when she got pregnant the first time. Again, she was a voice of empowerment, showing that it is possible. “I had doubts about myself and my body about having another baby. So, I’m here to prove once again that we can.”, she celebrated.

She is always “on” for business and partnerships. And, of course, in the best girl boss style! Employing in the fashion products segment, she talks about the challenges that fat people face in order to dress comfortably and tastefully.

“I always had a hard time getting clothes, even a simple T-shirt was hard to find. I want to make phrases of empowerment, self-esteem, in a unique piece that can be used in many ways, for us who are fat. It’s really sad that you want to dress well and you can’t because there’s no store your size.”

What is not lacking on Thais Carla’s social networks are comments of gratitude, with reports of how the dancer and influencer was and is important for the rescue of the self-esteem of countless fans and followers throughout her trajectory in the media.

Publications in which she shows off her body and shows how well resolved she is in her condition as a fat woman always receive comments in which internet users confess how inspiring her example was, like this: “You are a light in hearts… to love who I am, to accept myself in the right way and being happier every day… Keep shining in people’s lives.”

The dancer’s name on her Instagram profile already says what she came for: Thais Carla ♡ Militância Gorda. This is how it conducts all its activities on the Internet and in other communication vehicles. When he participated in the Encontro program, he made a point of highlighting: “I want to educate people’s eyes so that they realize that you can be yes, and that, before the body, you have to have a happy soul, be a fulfilled person”.

And his performance goes beyond speech. She works against discrimination, creates partnerships with companies that are aligned with the cause of the fat woman and her challenges. And seeks justice against prejudice. So much so that she was the protagonist of the first direct conviction for a crime of fatphobia against a comedian who published a video with images of Thais and prejudiced comments about her condition as a fat woman.

The influencer wants to use her media reach to help women like her recognize their own worth. “They say fat people can’t work and they’re not very successful people. But I never got it into my head that ‘I can’t do it because I’m fat’. On the contrary, I will be, yes, happy the way I am and I will get everything I want in my life.”

What an inspiring story! Have you ever needed a “little push” to realize your real qualities? Tell us who was the person who helped you rescue your self-esteem and take the opportunity to tag that beautiful friend who deserves to be more valued!