Body positivity is everywhere — and while it’s spectacular that more people are accepting and loving on their bodies as they are, in the commercialization of the bopo movement, its roots in fat liberation has kind of gotten erased. The faces of inclusivity have somehow become pop stars who, for the most part, nail every beauty ideal. Hoping to extend the representation of body love so that it includes women above a size 24, Miami-based illustrator and photographer Paola Zuccaro is making art of big-bodied, brown women who adore the way they look.
For the last three years, the Venezuela-born Zuccaro has used different digital mediums — like writing, photography and graphic design — to widen the portrayal of the woman’s figure and make body positivity more inclusive.
“In Venezuela, you never see someone being happy they are fat. That’s like the worst thing you can be. And I see that in the Hispanic community in general. So I wanted to do something different and embrace who I am,” the 23-year photography student told FIERCE.
The women that Zuccaro illustrates aren’t just fat — they’re happy.
From a plump nude woman gleefully saying “I love my body as it is” to a bikini-wearing, ice cream-eating youngin’ encouraging girls to “take up space” to a fat trans woman joyously laughing as she exclaims that “trans people are not a burden,” her art creates a world where pudgy is poppin’.
Here, fat women are mermaids and bunnies who know there’s magic in their panzas.
“You rarely see illustrations of fat people, and when you do, they’re usually sad or being bullied. That doesn’t represent me. I’m fat, and I’m fine. I don’t hate myself because I’m fat,” she said.
Zuccaro tells us she likes to break stereotypes, and with her art, she is shattering the myth that being plus-size is a flaw that needs fixing.
There are few things more delicioso than pan dulce. Whether it’s served with café con leche or grabbed as a quick breakfast indulgence, it really is the perfect treat. This variety of sweet bread has become a big part of the Latinidad.
When we’re talking pan dulce, conchas, puerquitos, orejas and empanadas are just a few of the mouthwatering options. No matter which sweet bread is your fav, you can relive your first taste over and over again with every fresh bite.
Thanks to social media, we can also see the adorableness that comes with baby’s first sweet bread. Hashtags like #BabysFirstConcha or #BabySweetBread are where to go to find cute pics of babies taking their first bites of sweet pan dulce.
Here are some super cute pictures of babies eating their first pan dulce.
1. Enjoy your matching concha, preciosa.
Instagram / @alanah.aya
Just like the color pink, conchas are perfect for every occasion. This little preciosa doesn’t hold back as she takes a mighty chomp out of her pan dulce. From the looks of it, this first bite won’t be her last. Enjoy, mija.
2. Matching concha costume = GOALS.
Instagram / @gr_twins
Pan dulce-themed birthday parties are now a thing — and we really wish they were back when we were kids. What better way to celebrate your special day than to dress like your favorite food. That frosting-covered face confirms how awesome pan dulce birthdays can be.
3. You don’t need teeth to enjoy pan dulce.
Instagram / @nadyaaglae
Not having teeth doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying the goodness that is pan dulce. If you’re a babe taking your first bite, just working that sweet treat with the gums you’ve been given is good enough. Just imagine how much pan dulce this cutie will take down once he actually gets those baby teeth in.
4. Just a little nibble for now.
Instagram / @ainsley_belle_511
While some babies might go mouth-first into their conchas, this little lady prefers to nibble. In her matching concha onesie, this sweetie is more proper with her first bite. However, once she gets a taste, there’s no doubt this little conchita will go pan dulce-crazy.
5. That smile says she knows this is going to be good.
Instagram / @lapasteleriadesofia
Look at the awe on her face. Look at that little grin. This baby knows she’s got something special in front of her. This pic was taken before the big chomp but that look on her face tells us it’s coming soon.
6. Nothing beats twinning with your pan dulce.
Instagram / @gr_twins
Can you really claim conchas are your favorite food if you don’t regularly dress up like them. Twinning with your favorite pan dulce is an awesome look no matter what day it is. Top it off with a concha cake and you’ve got a party.
7. Pan dulce: the perfect party food.
Instagram / @shopoliposa
Piñatas and decorations are all well and good, but a real party needs one more ingredient — pan dulce. This little lady knows what’s up as she snacks on her vanilla concha. What’s even better is the absolutely gorgeous photoshoot she had to immortalize her first bite.
8. If you are what you eat, eat lots of conchas
Instagram / @kaylaa_baylaa1
Have you ever seen a cuter conchita in your life? The answer is obviously no. This giggly little sweet bread is just as lovable as the pan dulce that she’s dressed as. Of course, her happy face could have something to do with all that colorful sugar.
9. Sweet like pan dulce.
Instagram / @madamemariposa
Those sweet, soulful eyes and that face buried into a soft concha are guaranteed to make you say, “Awwww.” This adorable shot doesn’t need any extra props or colorful backgrounds to make us swoon. If you don’t have baby fever yet, you probably do now.
10. Waiting for the sugar to kick in like…
Instagram / @normlone
Her face is telling us a lot. Namely that this little chula is lost in the flavor of her delicious pan dulce. We can admit that this state of pre-sugar high is super relatable. At least baby will be able to enjoy a nice nap after that sugar hits.
11. When you can’t wait to get home to start digging in.
Instagram / @aandylove
Sometimes you can’t wait to get home from the panderia before you start digging into the pan dulce. This sweetheart didn’t even wait to get out of her car seat to start snacking. Also, did anyone else notice that this concha is as big as her head? That’s a big project she’s working on.
12. Conchas are serious business.
Instagram / @lamonarcabakery
Although this little preciosa has a serious look on her face, those puffed out cheeks give away her secret. They’re stuffed with yummy concha. She’s obviously contemplating which piece of pan dulce she should take down next.
13. Go ahead and take a big bite, mija!
Instagram / @tres.marias.and.mama
For her “Coco”-themed birthday party, this little cutie has everything from flower crowns to guitars to complete that mood. Of course that means she also has the ultimate treat, pan dulce. We wonder if she waited to blow out the candles before she dug in.
14. We know that feeling, baby girl.
Instagram / @rlocreativedesign
That feeling when the pan dulce hits that sweet craving just right. This little cutie looks like she’s experiencing just a bit of euphoria with that first bite. The matching concha tee and pink tutu really complete this adorable look.
15. Her face says it all.
Instagram / @little_mia_sanchez
As perfect as pan dulce is, it’s also pretty messy. However, that mess is just proof that you’re thoroughly enjoying that sweet treat. This baby isn’t at all worried about the sugary mess on her face; she’s got her eyes on the prize.
16. Never too young for pan.
Instagram / @mrs.sotelo.official_
While many babies have pan dulce parties for their first or second birthdays, this little lady just couldn’t wait. As a celebration for her nine month b-day, she not only had a taste of delicious pan dulce, she also had a little photoshoot to commemorate it. After all, you’re never too young for this sweetness.
17. Now that’s a mouthful!
Instagram / @truegrumpybaby
Some babies nibble, some take a practice bite before they jump in. This baby isn’t afraid to take the plunge and go at it with a big ol’ bite. We hope he approaches every challenge in his life with the same bravery and commitment.
18. La Princesa de Conchas.
Instagram / @concha_bunny
First of all, we LOVE this look. Secondly, this little princesa looks absolutely in love with that sweet bread. No doubt, this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship between conchas and this little cutie pie.
19. The look of true love.
Instagram / @iscjuanita
This sweet smile can only mean one thing: this little one is in love with pan dulce. The sweet simplicity of her first bites is what this list is all about. It’s a reminder of what pan dulce is all about: sugar, bread, and all things good in this world.
On Wednesday, in San Diego, Venezuela, a country with one of the largest oil supplies in the world and the poorest, hungriest populations, woke up to black water pouring out of their taps. After weeks of power outages and months of water supply problems, residents are reporting a thick, dark liquid that reporting looks like oil, or black water coming out of their sinks and showers. There are also reports that the water smells like sewage, and some believe that the water lines are damaged and have been contaminated.
Black water running from taps in a country in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis and political upheaval is another major blow to every day citizens where food, medical supplies, and practically all other basic needs are scarce. Thirteen thousand doctors have left Venezuela in the past four years, jobs are scarce, and the country has one of the world’s highest crime rates. More than three million Venezuelan’s have left the country since 2015.Many have fled to nearby Columbia and many to the United States.
President Nicolas Maduro
blames the US backed opposition leader Juan Guadio for launching cyber
attacks on the country’s power and water systems, while Guadio blames Maduro,
who has been the country’s leader since 2013, of neglecting its infrastructure.
The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, cites Maduro’s socialism which he says
has resulted in years and years of neglect to Venezuela’s energy system, saying,
in a speech on March 11 that “socialism
is a recipe for economic ruin.”
Meanwhile residents of San Diego are unable to bath or find clean water, and citizens all over Venezuela have had to resort to searching local drains and sewers for water to drink.
People collect water from an open pipe above Venezuela's polluted Guaire River during rolling blackouts as growing chaos takes hold in the country. #Venezuelapic.twitter.com/km8Kf8tkkJ
Many in the US are turning to Twitter for Venezuelan citizen news on the conditions in their country.
While the black water streaming from taps is a new development, people have been unable to get the needs met in hospitals for months. Sarita Cancion couldn’t help pointing out yesterday’s American concerns over the Instagram outage while people have been dying in hospitals during the most recent energy blackout.
Twitter
Is U.S.-backed Guaidó sabotaging Venezuela and the Maduro government, or has Maduro neglected the country and its people?
Many suffering in Venezuela are optimistic about Guaidó and what he could bring as the leader of the country. Some are concerned that Guaidó is only being supported by the Trump administration because of US interests in the countries vast oil reserves. Guaidó has vowed to open the reserves after Chavez and Maduro have kept them nationalized.
Twitter
Carlos Lasek, who recorded a video of black water coming from a tap in San Diego, Venezuela, blames Chavismo, or Chavez-style governance adopted by Maduro, for the situation there.
Twitter
“You ask for water, they give you bullets.”
Widespread protests have been reported in Venezuelan cities and reports of Venezuelan police forces attempting to block protesters. The man in this video accuses armed Maduro supporters and the National Bolivarian Police of trying to stop protesters for exercising their constitutional rights, saying “While we have not power; we have no water; we don’t have the basic public services of any normal country in this world, and we are here raising our voices to ask them to stop, to demand them to stop, to give us minimal conditions. And here they are armed to the teeth with weapons and with a anti-riot gear and everything that they shouldn’t answer the people with. Let everyone in this world know, that you ask them for water, they give you bullets.”
Some on Twitter are not trying to get involved in the politics. Some are just trying to send help.
Twitter
Due to the confusing rhetoric on both sides, it’s easy to get confused when trying to figure out if Maduro is failing his people because he’s greedy or because he’s a socialist. And it’s difficult to fully understand whether Guaidó can bring about positive economic change for the country by opening its oil reserves for profits, or if the US only supports him because they could make profits too. What is true is that is that the majority of people in Venezuela need help now.