Grammy Award–winning singer and Alief native Lizzo has recently started a new fashion venture that aims to improve body image for women of all sizes. Yitty (which comes from a childhood nickname given to her by an aunt) is a new line of inclusive shapewear distributed by the founders of Fabletics, Kate Hudson’s wildly popular fashion line. 

Long the subject of public scrutiny and criticism, primarily because of her size, the 34-year-old star has “spent the entirety of my life trying to change the way that I look or reshape my body,” she shared in a statement at Yitty’s launch. “I felt this pressure of constantly being told through what I saw on television or what I saw other women do to their bodies, that my body wasn’t good enough and I had to inflict some sort of pain upon it to fit into an archetype or a standard of beauty.” 

Because of that, body positivity has become a central issue for Lizzo, even incorporating the sensitive topic into her music. With raw and honest lyrics on songs like “My Skin” and “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo has been writing about her frustrations with society’s perception of body image for most of her career. Her 2021 single “Rumors,” with Cardi B, addresses how much the criticism she faces often has nothing to do with her talent at all, but instead is simply racist or body shaming. Like the time she was called out for wearing revealing clothing at an NBA game—something that other, smaller stars are often celebrated for. 

When considering a new line of activewear, Lizzo said she grew tired of seeing “sad, restrictive shapewear that literally no one wanted to wear.” With Yitty, “I decided to take on the challenge of allowing women to feel unapologetically good about themselves again.”

Through Yitty, Lizzo is channeling her message of self-empowerment, using a shapewear brand to help women feel more comfortable in their skin and confident in life. It helps that shapewear is a fashion trend on the rise, seeing a rapid increase in sales of late, with the likes of Kim Kardashian’s Skims, and Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty. However, in typical form, Lizzo is taking a more revolutionary approach, with clothing sets made for any size, and adding pops of color to a typically monochromatic design category. She’s not only trailblazing shapewear but unapologetically asserting herself into an industry that has perpetually shunned fuller-sized women. Even in its infancy, Yitty reinforced the importance of taking up space even if it made others uncomfortable. 

Yitty features flattering bodysuits, smoothing shorts, and unitards with sizes ranging from 6X–XS. But what’s so transformative about the waist-cinching garments are the colors. The line is colorful and outspoken—much like Lizzo herself. This isn’t your grandma’s girdle. This is vibrant, colorful, active clothing that compliments every shape and is made for everyday outerwear.

Lizzo has also put her money where her mouth is. She isn’t just the face of Yitty, she is engaged in every aspect of the brand, from selecting fabrics and patterns to trying on many designs herself. The marketing behind Yitty is another factor that differentiates the brand. Advertised as inner and outerwear, Yitty garments are designed to be worn in public, and with confidence, which goes hand in hand with Lizzo’s already body-positive messages. 

So far, Lizzo’s vision is paying off. Launched in April 2022, Yitty has already seen an overwhelmingly positive response. “We’re starting to see the shift in people’s mindset around shapewear—people are accepting and embracing shapewear as outerwear and the idea of being upfront about wearing shapewear, versus trying to hide it,” Lizzo said.  

Through her bold art and actions, Lizzo has become a beacon of healthy body imagery for women around the world. And through her work she’s been able to amplify issues and spark conversations around body image and fatphobia. With her new venture, she’s shifting the narrative—promoting body positivity and simultaneously defying the current standards of beauty.

Yitty garments can be purchased at Yitty.com. They can also be found on the Fabletics website, as well as at any of the 76 Fabletics stores in Houston.