Ready to give some harmful tropes a TKO?
The “fat friend” is the character archetype, usually a woman, who gets sidelined in favor of a more conventionally attractive main character.
Sometimes, they are purposefully made to appear as overweight and unkempt as possible to emphasize the trope, but most of the time, they aren’t really that fat or unhealthy. This only reinforces our impossible and toxic beauty standards and fosters new generations of women held back by body dysmorphia.
That being said, harmful stereotypes aren’t just placed on women. Men are also given the “funny fat friend” roles, though they tend to always “get the girl” anyway, while women in those roles rarely have romantic interests.
In recent years, it has become more common to see men disparaged about their height, as if they somehow lack in the same way a curvier heroine is seen lacking.
Are we done yet?
Super Fat Friend is a tapestry of beloved themes and genres, threading together the boxing- and faith-driven vigilantism of Daredevil, the Slavic feminine badassery of Black Widow, and the backdrop of Los Angeles's underworld, with some Korean drama tension and culture woven in.
Concept Sketches by the author
Story Synopsis
Sabrina Stolarz is an expert avoidant. Whether it’s fleeing her home city of Chicago after a traumatic loss, hiding her curvy frame beneath modest layers of clothing, or masking her feelings for a handsome history teacher, Sabrina can bob and weave through life in ways that would make even Sugar Ray Robinson drop his jaw.
Now living quietly as a school librarian in Los Angeles, Sabrina finally feels gloriously concealed. But after her only close friend gets attacked on a night out, she feels called to action to find the perpetrators.
Reeling from the adrenaline high of reviving her boxing skills and fighting crime on the streets, Sabrina is drawn into a world of elevated gang activity, trafficking, and becoming an in-feed sensation. When she encounters another vigilante on an equal bent for revenge, the gloves really start to come off.
A Warning About Content
Though I am a Christian who happens to be a writer, I don’t write squeaky-clean “Christian Fiction.” I write people and situations as they are without being overly graphic or gratuitous. There will sometimes be language or disturbing sequences, as well as heavy topics related to crime and assault, but there will always be hope and light to guide it.
about the author
Alexis J. has been writing poetry, prose, and screenplays since she was in the second grade, and was convinced she’d be the next Steven Spielberg by age twelve. Though her goals have changed since then, her creativity has never stopped growing.
Beyond her own screenplays, novels, poetry, and other works, she has expanded her scope to include marketing campaign concepts, advertising, social media copy, blogs, essays, and more. Her strengths lie in helping others find their authentic voice, or as her company tagline puts it, “Find your way with words.” She helps others add nuance and depth to their work, drawing on years of experience with multicultural groups and content creators. With a BA in Film Production and an MFA in Creative Writing, Alexis can work across multiple areas of the arts and entertainment and support creators.
Alexis was born in Arizona and has lived in four states across the Western United States. Super Fat Friend was inspired by her time living in Los Angeles, her Polish roots, her experiences with grief, and being a gal with curves in the 21st century.
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