My Beautiful Fluff: A Decade of Self-Love, Community, and Purpose
Brittany Washington sits at her computer in the early morning hours. She’s on day 17 of a 30-day content challenge, taking any energy she can spare before and after work to film videos, write blog posts, and take product photos. But consistency is important when running a business. Brittany pushes herself to be intentional and creative, which is why her business is now celebrating its 10th anniversary.
My Beautiful Fluff launched in 2015 with one purpose – building a community of support and strength by creating products that encourage self-love and body positivity. “I started with a credit card, a dream, and a lot of determination,” she says. Since then, Brittany’s dream has grown into a multi-faceted empire that includes events, clothing, products, blogs, and welcoming spaces where women are encouraged and celebrated for who they are.
For Brittany, building her business means showing up every day with the same motivation: create products and spaces where women feel empowered and can see themselves reflected and celebrated. Her coined phrase, “fluff-approved,” means that every item developed and sold reflects this ideal. A product must feel authentic to the mission to move forward.
Designs Rooted in Self-Love
My Beautiful Fluff’s product lines include apparel, journals, coloring books, and more – every item thoughtfully created to help customers feel honored and worthy as they are in the moment. Brittany says she looks specifically for pieces that “reflect the need and experiences of our community” and bring empowerment and representation to her customers.
The biggest impact she’s seen, however, is the community itself that has grown out of the brand. Often, Brittany travels to vend at community events and markets like Navy Pier. Those moments are some of her favorites, she says. “I get to see people interact with the products, color in the books, and share their stories.” Staying connected to her customers keeps Brittany grounded in the mission of her work.
Growing up in a plus-sized body, Brittany says she struggled to see herself represented in fashion and the media. She remembers feeling like the person she saw in the mirror was “not enough.” When the idea came along to change that mindset for herself and future little girls, she took it. “I dreamed of having a plus-sized clothing boutique, to help girls like me look at our products and feel ‘I belong here too.’ Self-love isn’t a single moment where everything magically changes. It’s the small choices we make every day to treat ourselves with kindness and respect.” To stay true to her guiding principles, intentionality and representation remain at the heart of each product design.
That work asks a lot of her, even on days when her health doesn’t move at the speed of her business.
Building a Brand in Vulnerability and Healing
Brittany lives with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, and experiences regular migraines. These painful, chronic illnesses can slow her down, but Brittany firmly notes, “those experiences have made the mission stronger.” Her business thrives because she became mindful of pacing herself, of building with purpose, and allowing herself to have support along the way.
While navigating a full-time job, motherhood, and growing My Beautiful Fluff, she’s had steadfast collaboration from family. Her husband, Jacques, and her son pack orders, help tear down vending booths after events, and are her strongest supporters on days when she doesn’t feel her best. “I’ve had to learn to give myself grace and accept that rest is sometimes part of the process.”
Being vulnerable and accepting that slowing down is ok helps keep Brittany centered on her mission. The work My Beautiful Fluff represents is meaningful, and that can be honored and respected by taking time to focus on health. Brittany encourages this in others through blogs on her website about her personal struggles and giving space on the site for other women to share their stories. She explains, “When someone reads a blog post or attends one of our events and says, ‘I thought I was the only one who felt this way,’ it reminds me why the work matters.”
Harnessing Resources into Tangible Growth
Like most small business owners growing their brand while maintaining a “day job,” early on Brittany funneled every dollar she could afford from savings and product sales to reinvest in My Beautiful Fluff. The business grew beyond her initial resources, and she stood in a moment of decision – try to simply sustain what she’d built or find a way to grow and meet her customers where they needed her. Without additional financial support, Brittany knew My Beautiful Fluff couldn’t reach its full potential. That’s when Royal Neighbors’ Lift Women’s Foundation provided a transformational opportunity.
Through the Foundation’s support, Brittany was able to build on the momentum her business had gained and expand. She invested in product development to bring fresh ideas that were previously only visions into tangible offerings – more inclusive, large sample sizes for her clothing and a body-positive coloring book. “The coloring book project ended up being incredibly meaningful,” Brittany says, “because it gave our community a creative and relaxing way to slow down and practice self-love.”
The Lift Women’s Foundation’s support helped Brittany unlock growth that proved to make a long-lasting impact. The coloring book has since inspired additional books and journals that celebrate body confidence and self-expression, and several products are available through major online retailers.
To other women entrepreneurs making their dreams into legacies, Brittany says: “Don’t give up and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Building a business can feel lonely, especially when you’re funding it yourself or facing personal challenges along the way. Programs like Lift Women’s Foundation exist because people believe in the power of women entrepreneurs. Sometimes the hardest part is simply believing that your story and your business deserve that support. Keep showing up for your dream, even when the path forward isn’t clear.”
Legacy and Long-Term Vision
Today, Brittany works “first shift” at her full-time job, then goes home for “second shift” to help her son with Spanish homework, plan social media posts and blogs, prepare and ship orders, and respond to her community. Ten years later, the days are still long, but Brittany’s determination and support keep her working to build her legacy. In the future, Brittany hopes to expand the business further to include in-person spaces, retreats, and special events that reflect her drive to help women like her feel their best.
Throughout Brittany’s business journey, she has kept an unwavering belief that My Beautiful Fluff can be more than a store – it’s a movement. Brittany credits her community for keeping her going through every challenge and roadblock. The women on her path bring perspective and encouragement that have inspired her products and her path. The coloring book is made from images of real women in Brittany’s life; sizing and styles of clothing are refined with feedback from her community; stories women share at events and through blogs help turn ideas into new merchandise in her online store.
Sealing up a box of her latest merchandise to send off to a customer, Brittany reflects, “If My Beautiful Fluff can help someone else feel seen, confident, and worthy, then every step of this journey has been worth it.”