What do you do if you're a successful up-and-coming Black queer poet with an awards ceremony to go to, but the fashion world is known for being fatphobic and not making dresses that look good on plus-size women?
You hit up Lizzo on social media to borrow a dress, of course.
That is exactly what Atlanta-based poet, essayist and writer Aurelle Marie did when she learned she would be attending a ceremony to honor her as one of OUT 100's LGBTQ+ Literary and Publishing Stars of the year.
Marie's first poetry collection Gumbo Ya Ya hit the shelves this year and earned quite a few honors. The poems are in Marie's own words "about growing up fat, Black and queer in the South."
But they needed an appropriate outfit.
Enter the magic of TikTok.
Marie posted a TikTok explaining their award ceremony and dress issues, hoping their plea would make it to Lizzo somehow and they might be heard.
You can see Marie's TikTok here:
She shared:
"I can’t find anything that is big bitch and red carpet ready!"
"The audacity you've marked in your career has helped me step out and be audacious myself."
People congratulated Marie and tagged in Lizzo with pleas to let Marie borrow a dress.
@byrdyyy/TikTok
@noirediamonds/TikTok
@psalm40girl/TikTok
@yuriyurionigiri/TikTok
And Lizzo came through!
The singer sent Marie not her dress from the Emmy's, but rather from the AMAs.
But Marie wasn't picky.
They made another TikTok unboxing the dress and trying it on.
As the update video filtered back out to people's For You Pages on TikTok, reactions came streaming in.
As Marie goes through about 15 emotions in the video—excitement, elation, confidence—there was a lot to react to.
@brandonvand/TikTok
@kiingcleopatra/TikTok & @auriellebewritin/TikTok
@penelope.1986/TikTok
@kneekollt/TikTok
Even the TikTok account commented.
@tiktok/TikTok
One commentor jokingly remarked on Marie's lack of excitement.
@yourdeiguide/TikTok
To be fair, wouldn't you be that excited?
Marie looks amazing in the dress and will go on to rock that awards ceremony coming up.
@lpeterp/Bluesky
@FPWellman/X
@bobsbeatgmail.com5/Threads