Mekdela Ejigu on Beauty, Identity, and Inner Child Healing

Steel Roses Podcast

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Mekdela Ejigu, author of "Plus Size" and beauty justice activist, shares how her memoir connects pop culture consumption with personal experiences to reveal intersecting systems of oppression that shape our identities and perceptions.
• Started writing during political chaos to ground herself, discovering connections between media consumed and lived experiences
• Confronted racial blindspots in America through personal experience and critical analysis
• Discussed how childhood experiences become "the air we breathe for the rest of our lives"
• Explored inner child healing as a pathway to authentic happiness and fulfillment
• Examined how media portrayal of unrealistic beauty standards damages self-image
• Challenged ageist narratives that tell women they "expire" at 40
• Revealed the connection between toxic beauty products (like hair relaxers) and serious health conditions
• Advocated for beauty justice and body diversity across all institutions and media
Find Mekdela at plussizebook.com, on Twitter and TikTok @plussizebook, and on Instagram see below!
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Chapters

1. Meeting McDella Ejigu, Author and Activist (00:00:00)

2. From Chaos to Creation: Birth of a Memoir (00:02:07)

3. Confronting Racial Blindspots in America (00:05:44)

4. Media's Role in Shaping Body Image (00:11:04)

5. Healing the Inner Child's Wounds (00:16:23)

6. Ageism, Beauty Standards and Gray Hair (00:29:38)

7. Toxic Beauty Products and Health Risks (00:44:11)

8. Closing Thoughts and Contact Information (00:50:16)