Toronto-ON CANADAAugust 15, 2008 Women Writing Out About Body Image! An anthology in the works is already creating quite a buzz from celebrities and locals alike --Phat Girls in Search of a Pretty World: Hot Lil' Fat Chicks Speakin' Out!

explores the world of women's body image, weight issues and an entire spectrum of other factors like racial difference, disability, eating problems, media/entertainment influences, job discrimination, sexuality, fat stereotypes etc. that continue to impact women's body image. "Let's face it. When you look in the mirror, how we feel about what we see can impact every aspect of our lives. Our perceptions of ourselves, also molded through our interactions with others, can truly define our ultimate outcomes...what we see as achievable goals for ourselves," says editor of the anthology and Toronto International Body Image Film/Arts Festival Director, Jill Andrew. "The North American average is size 14 for women and yet we continue to see "plus women" added only as "specialty" tokens every once in a while in magazines and on-air when there's a special section on "plus". This shouldn't be seen as special, it should simply just be," explains Andrew.The anthology, currently accepting submissions, thanks the Ontario Arts Council for its financial support. For more information visit www.jillandrewmedia.com or www.curvycatwalk.com. Available for interviews: Jill Andrew, anthology editor and various contributors from Phat Girls... Pictures available upon request.
Jill Andrew Bio:Jill Andrew CYW, BA (Hons.), BEd, MA (Sept ’08), is an award-winning journalist who still enjoys livening things up as an educator, women’s/youth advocate, entrepreneur, fashionable events host and public speaker throughout the city. Audiences have included: MTV Canada, TDSB, BMO Financial Group, Women's Health in Women's Hands, Youth in Motion, Diaspora Dialogues, Toronto Public Library, Young People's Press, Black Cap, Canadian University Press, Harbourfront Centre, Mosaic Diversity Conference, IEEE, Centre for Education and Training, Miss Canada Plus, ChaCha, York University, The Bay, Clearly Speaking, Women on the Move etc. Jill was recently selected as the Canadian online expert contributor to Carolyn Kepcher's (from NBC's hit series The Apprentice) Carolyn & Co. Media, LLC's Finding What Matters. On Sept 12, 2008 Jill will Chair and speak at the 2008 Mosaic Corporate Diversity Conference held at the Sheraton Hotel. Jill will be discussing Gender, Communication & the Workplace, Women’s Networking 101, achieving a Healthy Work/Life Balance and Feminism & Why this "F" word is good for the office! Other keynote speakers will include "Pinball" Clemons and Minister of Immigration & Citizenship, the Honourable Michael Chan. Jill is the founder and producer of Curvy Catwalk— Canada’s first and only bi-annual "plus size" fashion fundraiser increasing body image/eating problems awareness and funds for Sheena’s Place & NEDIC (National Eating Disorder Information Centre). Annually on December 24, Jill also organizes with friends and media/activist colleagues the JAM (Jill Andrew Media) For Hope Homelessness Initiative providing food and clothing necessities to those in need. Jill’s on-air and print appearances have included Metro News,Toronto Star, NOW Magazine, Passion Magazine, Sway, Vervegirl Magazine, GRAND, City TV, OMNI, Rogers Daytime, CP24, CBC Radio, Global, ET Canada, HGTV, MTV and more. Jill is a member of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) where she has won two national awards for Best Editorial and Best Column, the Black Business Professional Association (BBPA) and the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF) Vanguard Philanthropy Cabinet among others. Jill’s board seats include Toronto International Deaf Film & Arts Festival (TIDFAF, Media Relations) and Community One (Community Outreach & Fundraising), formerly LGCA Foundation. Jill is completing her Women & Gender Studies Masters degree at the University of Toronto and plans on enjoying a future career both on and off air as a television host and national women's issues columnist. She is also the recipient of the 2008 Michele Landsberg Award. The national award, presented by the Canadian Women’s Foundation (www.cdnwomen.org), recognizes young women 30 and under who are outstanding feminists in the area of media and/or activism. Jill is also the recent winner of a 2008 Endless Possibilities African-Canadian Women's Achievement Award. Jill's creative projects include an anthology she is editing on women's body image Phat Girls in Search of a Pretty World: Hot Lil' Fat Chicks Speakin' Out! (Informal Publishing Advisor: Sumach Press; Partial dev’t funding courtesy of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), BITE ME! Monologues and facilitating body image/media awareness workshops. She is also creating the Toronto International Body Image Film/Arts Festival (TIBIF). Jill resides in Toronto, ON Canada loves life, absolutely adores cats and one day plans to host her own television talk show. For more visit www.jillandrewmedia.com or www.curvycatwalk.com.