This year marks the second annual Australian Women In Music Awards (AWMAs).
A conference and awards show held in Brisbane (across two days) celebrating the breadth and depth of female contribution to the nation’s music industry, among the esteemed panel of 2019 speakers is indie-pop sweetheart and body positivity mogul, Amy Sheppard.
Amy is a powerhouse in her own right – the 24-year-old is the front-woman and co-creative force behind Sheppard.
Earlier this year, Amy sparked a viral body positivity movement aptly named #KISSMYFATASS. If you’ve seen #KISSMYFATASS, you’ve probably seen Amy. Her trademark turquoise tresses make her easy to recognise, and her undeniable boss-bitch energy make her impossible to forget.
Amy’s quick uptake as a social media influencer started more or less by accident. “It initially started on Instagram with me sharing more realistic photos.
“I have been known to share all parts of my life, not just my music. . . I was sick of having to pretend that I was always having a great day: looking good, feeling good, at my peak. . . I guess I wanted to be a more realistic role model for young women.”
After growing tired of feeling the pressure to manipulate her pictures, Amy made the decision to leave her bikini-clad body unapologetically unedited.
“It was amazing to see all of these other fans and all of these other women standing up in support. . . I guess I hit my goal in inspiring other women because I am no longer comparing myself to other women on Instagram, but I’m receiving ‘thank you’ messages and expressions of support from women everywhere.”
Next month, Amy will be part of a panel of speakers for the new ‘Image Making’ forum at the AWMAs. ‘Image Making’ recognises the individuals who have fought to break down the double standards surrounding gender, race and sexuality, as well as the overall representation and sexualisation of women’s bodies in the media.
Amy’s ideology, success, and overarching ethos make her a prime candidate for the ‘Image Making’ panel. On her involvement in the forum, and AWMA in general, Amy remarks how “privileged” she feels to be a part of something so inclusive.
“I’m so honoured to be given a platform and share my story, and the struggles that I’ve faced with body image within my personal life, as well as within the music industry. I hope to inspire other women and other up and coming musicians.”
Her success in advocating for more realistic portrayals of women’s bodies has solidified Sheppard’s position in the modern pop-music scene. With the success of the #KISSMYFATASS movement, Sheppard recently released a song with the same title.
“The song's been getting quite a lot of radio play, and I couldn’t have really picked that it would do so well, but I’m glad that it was received nicely and that it's helping women.”
In their immediate future, Sheppard have another song coming out in October with a video clip inbound too. “It's set to be epic,” Amy says.
As for Amy herself, she is taking it day-by-day with the #KISSMYFATASS movement. “It's not something that’s going to end just because the single has run its course; it's going to be a life-long commitment of being honest with my following and trying to be the best role model that I can be. . . I’m not quite sure what that’s going to look like, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out along the way.”
