Virgie Tovar

Virgie Tovar (born 1982) is an American author, activist, and cultural critic whose work centers on body liberation, fat acceptance, and challenging systemic oppression based on body size and appearance. As a prominent voice in the fat activism and body positive movements, Tovar has written extensively about the intersection of body stigma, identity, and social justice. She is the author of several influential books including 'The Politics of Resentment' and 'Hot & Heavy,' which have helped shape contemporary conversations about fatphobia, body autonomy, and the political dimensions of body acceptance. Tovar founded the Babes in the Woods retreat and has built a career around public speaking, education, and community organizing focused on dismantling weight-based discrimination and promoting radical self-acceptance. Her work draws on memoir, scholarship, and activism to challenge dominant beauty standards and medical narratives around weight and health. Through her writing, podcasting, and speaking engagements, Tovar has become a prominent intellectual and cultural figure in discussions of body liberation, disability justice, and intersectional feminism. Her activism extends to creating spaces where marginalized people—particularly fat people, queer people, and people of color—can find community, education, and affirmation.