A Fresh Story, season 2, episode 18

Model, entrepreneur, and opera singer, Alex Frankel grew up in San Francisco, where the definition of “hotness” was dictated by “beautiful” people in popular magazines and TV shows. His entire childhood, he felt trapped in his fat body and hated how he looked. That was until he realized what he had been taught his whole life was a lie. Hotness was more than perfect abs and bulging biceps, it was an attitude. And that he had! 

Fast forward, and now Alex is a successful plus-size model with Wilhelmina, and a body acceptance advocate and role model to fat guys all around the world. He created the Hot Fat Guy Club to dispel the myths around diet culture, fatphobia, and other fat-people stereotypes. He wanted a community where people are celebrated, not shamed, for their body type.

We has an amazing conversation with Alex, about everything from his career as a professional opera singer, his entrepreneur journey founding The Hot Fat Guy Club, childhood bullying and how it changes us on a cellular level, his pandemic pivots in the entertainment industry, relationships, his foray into the big and tall modeling industry, toxic masculinity, raising sons in today’s cultural climate, body image and mindset - and so, so much more. Alex is brilliant, hysterically funny, compassionate, and out to change the world for the better with The Hot Fat Guy Club. We know you’ll enjoy this conversation about fresh starts, using your voice, and finding your way back to loving yourself.

You can follow Alex on Instagram, TikTok, and learn more about The Hot Fat Guy Club!