Loving ourselves can be really tough, especially for teenagers. This writer is not a teenager but is very familiar with what it felt like and still feels like not loving my body all the time. That is, unfortunately, because society leads a lot of young women to believe their worth is only determined by their size. That’s why I wished a film like Empire Waist existed when I was growing up.
Empire Waist, Claire Ayoub’s debut feature film, follows Lenore Miller, an overweight, insecure teen whose talent for fashion is discovered by her confident, plus-sized classmate Kayla. This forces Lenore into the spotlight and the path of bullies and new friends. Lenore’s father, Mark, is her biggest cheerleader, but her image-conscious mother’s fears and Lenore’s own insecurities prevent her from wearing her designs.
We already love this concept because there can never be too many films about body positivity. Especially in this day and age. Young girls need a movie like this that can help them feel seen. It’s important for teens to learn to love themselves. And even adults could use the reminders too.
Starring in Empire Waist is Mia Kaplan as Lenore, Rainn Wilson plays Lenore’s father, Missi Pyle stars as her mother, and newcomer Jemima Yevu plays her friend Kayla. Also starring are Jolene Purdy, Daisy Washington, Holly McDowell, Tabyana Ali, newcomer Kassandra Tellez, Isabella Pisacane, Aric Floyd, and fashion designer Joe Ando-Hirsh. The film was written and directed by Ayoub. Empire Waist was produced by Wayfarer Studios and is being distributed worldwide by Blue Fox Entertainment.
Empire Waist will be released this September, and it has already generated a lot of buzz since hitting the film festival circuit a few months ago. It even nabbed several awards, including Best Empowerment Film and Best Social Impact Film at the Sedona International Film Festival, Best Feature at the Coney Island Film Festival, and Wavemaker Award: Best Future Fave Feature at the Seattle International Film Festival.
No official trailer for Empire Waist has been released at this time, but we are keeping our eyes open for one and will be sure to share it here once it is available.
Empire Waist heads to theaters across the U.S. and Canada on September 27th.
