Florence Given (born 1998) is a British

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

, writer,

feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...

social activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

, and influencer.

Life and career

Given attended

Plymouth College of Art Arts University Plymouth is an independent university-sector Higher Education (HE) provider located in Plymouth in South West England. The former Plymouth College of Art was officially granted university status in 2022. In April 2019 the s ...

from age 16 to 18 before moving from

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in 2017 to study at the

London College of Fashion The London College of Fashion is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, in London, England. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses, study abroad courses and business-training in fashion, make-up, beauty-therap ...

. In 2018, she launched a petition to cancel the ''Netflix'' series Insatiable, which she accused of

fat-shaming Social stigma of obesity is broadly defined as bias or discriminatory behaviors targeted at overweight and obese individuals because of their weight. Such social stigmas can span one's entire life, as long as excess weight is present, starting ...

, gaining over 300,000 signatures. Given uses social media platforms, such as

Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...

, to raise awareness of issues of sexuality, race and gender. Given's first book, '' Women Don't Owe You Pretty'', was published on 11 June 2020. It explores ideas in contemporary

feminism Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...

. Given's second book, ''Girl Crush'', was published in August 2022. A fiction book, it follows the bisexual woman Eartha after she goes viral on the internet. It topped the ''Sunday Times'' Bestseller List. Her podcast ''Exactly'' launched in January 2022. With guests including

Munroe Bergdorf Munroe Bergdorf ( Beaumont; born 11 September 1987) is an English model and activist. She has walked several catwalks for brands including Gypsy Sport at both London and NYC Fashion Weeks. Bergdorf was the first transgender model in the UK for L ...

Sofie Hagen Sofie Hagen is a London-based Danish comedian, author, podcaster, fashion designer, and fat acceptance campaigner. She has toured with comedy shows, released a book and hosted and co-hosted a number of podcasts. Biography Sofie Hagen was bor ...

and

Jameela Jamil Jameela Alia Jamil (born 25 February 1986) is a British actress and presenter. She began her career on Channel 4, where she hosted a pop culture series in the T4 strand from 2009 until 2012. She then became the radio host of ''The Official Cha ...

, Given discusses sex, relationships and social media. It won the gold award for Best Marketing Campaign at the 2022 British Podcast Awards.

Influences

Given has cited model and activist

and fashion writer

Chidera Eggerue Chidera Eggerue (pen name, The Slumflower) is a British Nigerian writer and fashion blogger. She is best known for her book, ''What a Time to Be Alone'', and the online campaign #SaggyBoobsMatter. Early life Eggerue was raised in Southeast Londo ...

as influences. Eggerue criticized Given's first book, ''Women Don't Owe You Pretty'', as unusually similar to her own books in style and prose content. She argued that this was an instance of ideas from the black community being appropriated by white authors for profit.

Recognition

Given won ''

Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Food and drink * Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo" History * Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953 Hotels and resorts * Cosmopoli ...

''s UK Influencer of the Year 2019 for her work on women's mental health. Irish magazine ''Her'' listed her among its Women of the Year 2019.

References

External links

Official web siteOfficial InstagramYouTube interview as part of the Positive Chain series
{{DEFAULTSORT:Given, Florence 1998 births Living people British illustrators British women in business Fashion influencers People educated at Plymouth High School for Girls 21st-century British women artists 21st-century British women writers

Life and career

Influences

Recognition

References

Further reading

External links