It’s with the utmost sadness I announce to the readers of Shedoesthecity that Fat Girl Food Squad is going on an indefinite hiatus (RIP) as of January 1st, 2016. In a heartfelt goodbye, co-founders Ama Scriver and Yuli Scheidt bid farewell to the fat babes and readers of FGFS; a sassy women’s blog championing fat, food and feminism. As for the bold, brave and cheeky women behind the food-loving squad, the ending is yet another beginning.

Back in the spring of 2013, Ama and Yuli saw a one-of-a-kind opportunity to blend fat, food and feminism in one place. It wasn’t long before fat babes across the food capitals of the world reached out to help. Fostering strong ties to the food community of Toronto, FGFS enabled women of all shapes to speak honestly about food, feminism and body positivity. Spreading the good thick word, Fat Girl Food Squad celebrated the fat girl in all of us. And we’re grateful for it.

But what’s next for the fat babes? I reached out to Ama and Yuli to find out what’s on their plate next.

AMA SCRIVER (Freelance Writer & Social Media Guru)

Ama has been writing on the Internet since 2006. For context, that’s the same year Snakes on a Plane hit theatres and Sean Paul’s “Temperature” topped the charts. I was fifteen and skipping math class. Since then, Ama has built her career on writing and can be found at #food #feminism #fat events across the city. Writing for publications such as Paste Magazine, SheKnows, and BizBash Media, Ama’s decided to build a new home on the Internet, launching a blog to do something solely for herself.

“Lots of people have asked me, ‘So what’s your blog going to be about?’ And I kinda laugh and tell them, ‘Well, exactly what FGFQ was about because well, those are the things I am passionate about and I really don’t know what else to write about.’ A lot of topics I’ll be discussing explore food + drink, beauty + style, fitness from a fat perspective, travel, self-care and feelings, feminism and body positivity.” Launching in mid-January 2016, Ama will be starting a weekly YouTube video series called, “No Fucks Friday” and a podcast with another friend called, “Absolutely No Chill.”

When Ama isn’t writing, podcasting or YouTubing, she’s spending time making her dreams become a reality. “I’m taking on more speaking engagements (i.e., teaching a course on body positivity and self-love at Venus Envy in Halifax in January) and I’m trying to be the most authentic me in 2016, which I think (so far) people have been responding well to.”

YULI SCHEIDT (Freelancer at Kindred Studio, Product Designer & Photographer)

Yuli Scheidt is a woman that is literally everywhere, all the time. When she’s not working 9-5 as a Product Designer, she’s taking headshots, blogging, attending events and travelling. Last month, Yuli was spotlighted in CBC News giving women a career leg-up with a free headshot. This is one of the handful of projects she’s currently working on, all of which are rooted in the FGFS theme of fat babes, feminism and finger lickin’ good food.

With the ending of the blog weeks away, Yuli has since launched a freelance collective called Kindred Studio. Offering identity, print design, digital design, development, art direction and styling for brands, it’s a team that can give you everything from labels, imprints, shops, makers and people. “There are really no limits to what we’ll take on. We already have an on-going client who we’re doing social strategy for and I’ll be rolling in reduced rate and sliding scale priced headshots as a service in the new year.” As for everything else, the multi-tasking wonder woman will continue on the path of the three Fs; food, fat and feminism. Exploring the experience of being fat and travelling, Scheidt has also launched a new side-project called Fat Babe Travels; a cool project that carries the same charm and aesthetic as FGFS, but with more travel.

As for the other babes and contributors of the blog (including SDTC’s Kirthan Aujlay and Megan Stulberg), Yuli is set to re-code the squad’s bio pages with current, ongoing and new projects. All available right here.

While December passes us by in the chaos of holiday shopping and family time, don’t forget to check out FGFS’ fondest memories during the week of December 28th. Rest assured, the website will remain up to commemorate the hard work and good times of the fat babe squad.

RIP Fat Girl Food Squad, we’ll miss you dearly.
2013-2016