Pole Dancing Gear For Plus Size Women

It's a not-so-secret dream of mine to unleash my inner siren on the pole. When I first met makeup artist Azaza Rodriguez, I got so inspired how she radiated passion for pole dancing and how she disproves the notion that fat women can't do it. Her energies are simply contagious!

Up to now, I haven't acted on this desire to take up pole dancing class. Well, there are realities like proximity to my residence and/or workplace, budget constraints and practice clothes. See, looking for pole dancing gear can be a real challenge for plus size women. Since this workout paves the way for strength, flexibility and grace, any aspiring pole dancer need practice clothes that fit well, feel comfortable and look chic at the same time. If it’s too tight, you can’t move freely and, worse, get conscious of your “muffin top”. If it’s too loose, you end up showing your underwear. But we all know that most outfit brands cater to smaller cup sizes and waistlines.

When she started pole dancing, Azaza showed up in class wearing the ever staple t-shirt and cycling shorts. As she progressed in pole dancing, she decided to let go of the sleeves and pant legs for the ideal skin-to-pole contact. She then opted for sports bra from Sassa, but her chest needed maximum support during the routines.

Emee Macabales is fortunate to fit in XL-sized sports bras from local brands like Sassa, Body Mix, So-En and foreign ones like Forever21 and Nike. However, finding pole shorts or booty shorts proved to be more challenging. Most of her purchases from Coco Cabana from SM Department Store and Eskina were found by luck. Sometimes, she had to resort to high-waisted or board shorts-looking bottoms.

Both Azaza and Emee were happy to discover tankini bottoms and side-string shorts. With its adjustable strings and breathable fabric, they can execute spins, inverts and other moves with ease.

                               Azaza in action! Stellar on Broadway photo by Shane Bellare.

Singer/songwriter/plus size model Kat Lopez Cansing was glad to find this pole shorts from online shop beamaz1ng. She raves how it fits her perfectly and how it prevents the unsightly “camel toe”.

For mother-of-two Nics, she had her share of alterations for sports bra from Everlast and 168 as well as pole shorts from Body Music and Sassa for a better fit. Eventually, she had her fitness gears custom-made since she prefers her pole shorts spandex and garter-free. This may sound like an expensive option, but she finds it more satisfactory as she gets to choose the color and design. Also, she wears stirrup leg warmers to relax her leg muscles during warm-ups and conditioning.

Photos from Nics

Here's hoping fitness brands and aspiring plus size brands alike would take notice of our consideration.

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This entry appeared on ThePOC.net's Beauty & Fashion section. Check it out here. 

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[Bikini] Postcards from the Philippines

It doesn't really take a migratory bird to act on this all-important impulse to take advantage of the summer heat. With about 7,100 islands to explore and with our God-given bronze beauties, it is NOT right for us to remain exposed to the artificial light and stressors in the workplace. Follow where the summer breeze leads us and spread the ♫♪ summer lovin' ♪♫!

Ooops, I forgot. There's this unavoidable display of skinny celebrities in bikini along EDSA and continued circulation of magazines with cover girls in nothing but skimpy outfits and smirk by now. Recently, I unearthed this Blair Bitch postcard that reads NO FAT PEOPLE ALLOWED! What else could dampen the spirit and the urge to don a bikini, right?

That Blair Bitch postcard.

Cheer up, girl. As Danah put it, everybody is a bikini body, because no one should dictate which ones are allowed to wear one and which ones are not.

In response to the abovementioned postcard, here's a slideshow of my favorite beach moments in swimwear, kaftan...and whatever my self-esteem and/or budget allowed me to wear that time. I'm glad this journey to body acceptance is documented with our local shores in the background

Postcard from White Beach, Puerto Galera, 2005.
Tankini top and matching shorts from SM Department Store.


Postcard from Olango Island, Cebu, 2005. With Fristine.


Postcard from Splash Island, Laguna, 2005.
Haltered top from Landmark Department Store, purple sarong from Edzelove.


Postcard from Sagada, 2005.
Tankini top from SPF.


Postcard from Coco Beach, Puerto Galera, 2006.
Haltered tankini top from Speedo, off-shoulder top as cover-up from ukay ukay shop.


Postcard from Talipanan, Puerto Galera, 2006.
Striped tube top from Blued.


Postcard from White Beach, Puerto Galera, 2006.


Postcard from Mansud Wall, Davao, 2006.


Postcard from Pagsanjan, Laguna, 2007.


Postcard from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, 2008.
Red tube top from Dorothy Perkins to conceal my two-piece bikini.


Postcard from Pamilacan Island, Bohol, 2008
Tankini top and bikini from Wet Shop.



Postcard from Anawangin, Zambales, 2009. With my traveling doll, Raya.
White kaftan from Coco Cabaña. Underneath: the same tankini and bikini worn in Bohol.


Postcard from White Island, Camiguin, 2009.
Haltered tankini from Speedo and light blue kaftan.


Postcard from Cagayan de Oro, 2009. [Getting ready to go whitewater rafting with friends]
Haltered tankini from Speedo, swimming skirt and floral kaftan from my friend's tiangge store in St. Francis Square.


Postcard from Zambales, 2010.
Tie-dyed tank top and printed bikini [not seen much in this photo].


Postcard from Vigan, 2010.
That overused polka dotted tankini top and bikini from Wet Shop.


Postcard from Boracay, 2010.
One-piece swimwear from Speedo.


Postcard from Sabtang Island, Batanes, 2011.
Recycling that swimwear worn in Boracay.


Postcard from Sabtang Island, Batanes, 2011.
Kaftan from H&M.

Yeah, yeah, I need a sponsor for my swimwear. =P

Body acceptance is one helluva journey. Up to now, I fall victim to those moments. I still sometimes feel too unpretty and too huge to get half-naked in the beach. Worse, I even feel unprepared for whatever other beach bums would say about my body and the excess balls that go with it.

But then again, why worry over what strangers would think? Sure, we have family and bosses and other people to please, but should we really bring such thinking in our escapes? The beach is our runway, too. This summer, let's shed those inhibitions and leave them behind before boarding the bus or the plane. Summer lovin' starts from within!