Every week at The Curvy Fashionista, we shine a light on plus size professionals redefining what leadership looks like and feels like. This series isn’t about the plus size influencers or indie plus size designers (though we love them too). It’s about the bold professionals, powerhouses, and change-makers building their careers behind the scenes, breaking barriers, and doing it with style, like Grace Varney. Because you cannot be what you cannot see.
Last time, we featured the vibrant Tiffany Heard of Hues of Africa, a travel curator and author championing Black culture and exploration around the globe. This week, we meet a powerhouse in the world of insurance tech and personal style, someone who is unapologetically herself in every room she enters: Grace Varney.
Grace Varney: Building Systems by Day, Styling Confidence by Night
Grace Varney didn’t chart a straight path to success and she’s the first to say it. “My professional journey has been unexpected,” she tells us. After graduating with an English degree in 2007 (in the middle of a recession), she found herself adjudicating unemployment claims before pivoting into the insurance tech world. Thirteen years later, she’s managing a team at Optavise and making corporate systems run smoother for the people who rely on them most.
But that’s just part of Grace’s story.
On the side? She’s a bold and brilliant plus size personal stylist who recently completed Law Roach’s Image Architecture course, styled NYFW attendees, and now serves as Volunteer Coordinator for Magic City Fashion Week. “I specialize in helping plus size women find their style and confidence,” she says. “That has brought me more joy than I thought possible.”
How Grace Shows Up in Two Worlds
As a corporate leader working remotely, Grace still makes it a point to show up as her full self. “I bring joy, compassion, and support to my team,” she says. “My job is to fight their battles with them, listen, and strategize. Without them, my work has no meaning.”
In her styling work, she shifts the spotlight. “My personal style is loud,” she admits with a smile. “But when I’m with clients, I tone it down so they can take up all the space. I become their cheerleader, sounding board, and guide.”
Confidence in Tech and Textiles
Being a fat, queer woman in a male-dominated tech space hasn’t been easy. Grace has faced misogyny, fatphobia, and harassment, even leaving her job briefly before returning stronger than ever. “Moving from Alabama to New York gave me the permission to exist in my skin,” she shares. “Now I bring that energy back to the South and try to give that same permission to others.”
Confidence, for her, is this: “Saying what you mean, existing in your body without caveats, and doing what you want, without apologies.”
How does she build it? “Limiting social media, shutting down unsolicited opinions, surrounding myself with loving people, and uplifting others. A smile and a compliment cost nothing.”
Plus Size Style Wisdom from Grace Varney
Grace’s top styling tip? Accessorize and tailor like a pro.
“We don’t have as many options, so accessories become your superpower,” she says. “And don’t wait to lose weight to find your style. Start now. Wear what feels good.”
She also advises stepping outside your comfort zone one event at a time. “If something makes you nervous, wear it just once. Let someone see you. That’s how confidence grows.”
Her final gem? “Get a tailor. It’s not as expensive as you think, and it’ll take your look from okay to polished and professional.”
What’s Next for Grace Varney
Grace is clear about what comes next. “I’m staying in my corporate role, but all of my outside energy is focused on my styling business.”
She’s learning to sew, aiming to expand her skills to tailoring, upcycling, and garment construction. She’s working on her website, developing a presentation for local organizations, and targeting her spot at the next Eloquii NYFW runway. And? She wants to add 15 new clients in the next 12 months.
Yes, she’s doing all this while managing a full-time team. Grace is the definition of a Curvy Boss.
Celebration Looks Like…
Dinner and drinks with friends. Coming home to her dog and three cats. A big bed and a good book. Grace doesn’t just work hard, she celebrates fully, too.
And if she could share that dinner table with anyone?
- Law Roach
- Lady Gaga
- Beth Ditto
We’d love to be a fly on the wall.
Know a Curvy Boss Like Grace Varney?
We feature plus size professionals just like Grace every week right here at The Curvy Fashionista. If you know someone creating change and leading with style, we want to know them!
Because bold, fat, talented professionals deserve the spotlight. And Grace Varney is just one example of what brilliance looks like when we take up space!
This article, Curvy Boss Spotlight: Grace Varney on Tech, Style, and Bold Confidence first appeared on The Curvy Fashionista and is written by Editorial Staff.
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