Fashion People Podcast Summary: "Everyone’s Favorite Influencer"

Episode Information:

• Title: Everyone’s Favorite Influencer
• Host: Lauren Sherman, Puck Correspondent
• Guest: Katie Storino, Owner of MegaBabe, Body Acceptance Advocate, Author of Sunny Side Up
• Release Date: July 4, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging episode of Fashion People, Lauren Sherman welcomes Katie Storino, a dynamic figure in the beauty and fashion industry. Katie is celebrated as the founder of the successful beauty brand MegaBabe, a passionate advocate for body acceptance, and the author of her latest novel, Sunny Side Up. The episode delves deep into Katie's journey, her entrepreneurial ventures, and her perspectives on evolving body image trends and the impact of GLP1 drugs.

Katie Storino’s Journey into the Fashion Industry

Lauren Sherman begins by exploring Katie's entry into the fashion world.

[08:13] Lauren Sherman: "How did you get into the fashion industry? What was your way in?"

Katie Storino shares her diverse pathway:

[10:04] Katie Storino: "I came into the fashion industry in a couple of different ways. I started on the PR side with my own PR company working with smaller, woman-owned accessory brands. Additionally, I ventured into editorial through my blog, 12ish Style, which I launched in 2014 to address the lack of representation for plus-size women in fashion."

She emphasizes the importance of representation:

[16:05] Katie Storino: "I wanted to provide the example and see that there was a need for that other than my own brain. When Man Repeller did a story about me, the comments were all like, 'I never see my body on any of these places. So thank you.'"

Building the MegaBabe Brand

Lauren transitions the conversation to Katie’s entrepreneurial success with MegaBabe.

[17:50] Lauren Sherman: "When did you launch MegaBabe in that journey? Like five years in or…"

[17:51] Katie Storino: "Like two years in. I was very clear and careful to try not to make it an influencer brand because I wanted the products to stand by themselves."

MegaBabe's Product Development: Katie discusses the inception of MegaBabe, focusing on creating non-toxic, stylish products that address common issues like thigh chafing and underarm sweat without compromising on aesthetics.

[18:43] Lauren Sherman: "Can you kind of give the logline for MegaBabe? What it is?"

[18:43] Katie Storino: "I developed it because I was always looking for chafe solutions that were not made for men, that were not toxic, and that were cute. I wanted something people were proud to carry."

Marketing and Expansion: Katie highlights MegaBabe's strategic growth from a direct-to-consumer model to being featured in major retailers.

[22:38] Katie Storino: "For the first year, we were direct to consumer. Then Ulta took a chance on us, followed by Target, Walmart, Boots UK, and recently CVS."

Lauren praises the brand’s self-funded success:

[23:06] Lauren Sherman: "Good thing you're not in Rite Aid because they've gone through bankruptcy twice and now their shelves are not full. That's amazing."

Content Creation and Social Media Influence

The discussion shifts to Katie’s role as a content creator and her initiatives on social media to promote body acceptance.

"Super Size the Look" Series:

[30:34] Katie Storino: "Super Size the Look started because getting new content every day is hard. It shows women they can wear the styles that inspire them, regardless of their size."

Advocacy for Body Acceptance: Katie emphasizes the importance of showcasing diverse body types in fashion media.

[33:53] Lauren Sherman: "One thing that smaller brands have expressed to me is…"

[34:34] Katie Storino: "Brands like Rachel Antonoff and Tanya Taylor have committed to extended sizing, which is a huge step forward."

Impact of GLP1 Drugs on Body Image and the Fashion Industry

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the rise of GLP1 drugs and their multifaceted impact.

[54:48] Katie Storino: "One misconception is that being thin means you don't need body acceptance anymore. Most women are dissatisfied with their body image, regardless of size."

Psychological and Societal Implications: Katie explains how GLP1 drugs, while beneficial for health, introduce new challenges in body image and societal expectations.

[58:28] Katie Storino: "People who lose a substantial amount of weight with these drugs may develop new insecurities, trading one set of body issues for another."

She further elaborates on the complexity of this issue:

[58:30] Katie Storino: "Our food system keeps us craving more, and our bodies have evolved to become larger, making this a complicated issue."

Challenges and Progress in Fashion Sizing Inclusivity

Lauren and Katie discuss the ongoing struggles and advancements in achieving true size inclusivity in the fashion industry.

[35:06] Lauren Sherman: "Brands often grade up from too small of a model, which doesn't work body-wise."

[35:16] Katie Storino: "We pushed sizing up, and now you can find a size 16 at most brands, which is a huge deal, even if it's not fully inclusive."

Katie underscores the persistent gap between consumer needs and brand offerings:

[38:21] Katie Storino: "Our brand is the only self-funded brand in the deodorant aisle among billion-dollar brands at Target. We're really fighting the David and Goliath battle."

Katie’s Book: Sunny Side Up

Lauren explores Katie’s new novel, which intertwines her personal experiences with broader themes of body acceptance.

[39:31] Lauren Sherman: "How did you weave your business history and personal experiences into the novel?"

[41:03] Katie Storino: "I wanted to create a character who is already confident but needs new friends and conversations to improve her life. Sunny Side Up is fun, steamy, and packed with body acceptance messaging."

Katie proudly connects her literary work with her entrepreneurial ventures:

[41:08] Katie Storino: "I had the character launch a swimsuit line in the book and then created the real-life line with Kitty and Vibe to match the book."

Personal Anecdotes and Hair Conversations

The conversation takes a lighter turn as Lauren and Katie share personal stories about their hair and friendships within the industry, adding a relatable and personable touch to the episode.

[42:12] Katie Storino: "My hair is straighter and has a bit of poof to it, unlike Lauren's recent bob cut inspired by a mid-life crisis."

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Lauren and Katie reflect on the importance of body acceptance in today's society and the ongoing challenges posed by new trends and technologies like GLP1 drugs. Katie expresses her hope that Sunny Side Up will inspire and uplift readers, and she hints at potential future adaptations of her book into film or television.

[61:51] Lauren Sherman: "Congratulations on everything. I really admire you, as do millions of other people, and I appreciate you taking the time."

[61:51] Katie Storino: "Thank you."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Katie Storino on Creating MegaBabe:

  [18:43] "I wanted to make something that people were proud to carry and something that worked."

• Katie on Body Acceptance Misconceptions:

  [54:48] "Most women are dissatisfied with their body image, regardless of size."

• Katie Discussing GLP1 Impact:

  [58:28] "People who lose a substantial amount of weight with these drugs may develop new insecurities, trading one set of body issues for another."

• Katie on Fashion Sizing:

  [35:16] "We pushed sizing up, and now you can find a size 16 at most brands, which is a huge deal."

• Lauren on Personal Growth:

  [60:09] "I am much more insecure about my body now than I was when I was much fatter because I didn't fix the issues internally."

Final Thoughts

In this episode of Fashion People, Katie Storino offers an insightful look into her multifaceted role as an entrepreneur, advocate, and author. Her candid discussions on body acceptance, the challenges of maintaining a self-funded business, and the societal impacts of emerging health trends like GLP1 drugs provide valuable perspectives for listeners interested in the intersection of fashion, beauty, and personal well-being. Katie's authenticity and dedication to empowering individuals of all sizes resonate throughout the conversation, making this episode a must-listen for those passionate about inclusive fashion and positive body image.