Lizzo was a teenager who tried so hard to be accepted as a girl.

The now-superstar would wear body girdles and skin-tight corsets to school, contorting the shape of her body — an experience she said was incredibly uncomfortable for a preteen.

In a Zoom interview, the Detroit-born singer, 33, said that it was “a very painful and shameful experience” because she grew up in a society in which anyone who was conscious of their existence was made to ashamed about how they looked.

Lizzo claims that she eventually gave up wearing girdles. She embraced her plus size body and laughed. “I stopped wearing bras even. To liberate myself, and to find self-love as well as body positivity, I took the journey to the opposite side.

Lizzo began to experiment with her own formwear.

She said, “I had fun making different silhouettes, shapes, and looks. Then I realized it wasn’t a bad thing, as long as my body is not hurt.”

Next month, Lizzo will launch her own shapewear line — called Yitty, after a childhood nickname for the singer, whose actual name is Melissa — through a partnership with the athletic apparel maker Fabletics.

The line marks Lizzo’s first business venture, beyond her work in music and entertainment (she also stars in a reality dance competition series streaming on Amazon Prime Video), and her personal investments.

This retailer is aiming to take the gap between high-end apparel brands like Adidas and Nike by offering a wide range of gym gear and lounge wear. LululemonYou will find lower-priced labels than what is available at Target.

Fabletics VIP Members pay a monthly fee towards their clothing, much like a subscription. However, they can choose to skip a month so that credits don’t accumulate.

Ressler explained, “We’re famous for prints and different colorways…we’re also known for taking risks within the space.” And that’s exactly what we plan to do with Lizzo, the Yitty brand.

Ressler stated that shapewear items are often worn under women’s clothing. However, they don’t have to be limited to just neutrals. That’s where Yitty is going to stand out from other brands already on the market — by offering options in bold neon colors and patterned fabrics.

“Others that have come into the category — and have made a big difference, no doubt about it — it’s still a lot of the same old,” he said. “We’re taking risks.”

Ressler responded to a question about how big Yitty might grow over the years, saying that they are thinking in billions and not millions.

Celebrities are already showcasing the shapewear category.

Kim Kardashian’s Skims label of underwear was launched shortly before the Covid pandemic. now valued at $3.2 billionIt is now double the size of a year ago. Skims began in 2019 with a limited selection of formwear, but has since expanded to include pajamas and lounge wear as well as swimsuits.

Rihanna, singer and lingerie designer Savage X Fenty has had a great run. It caters to every body type. The company is reportedly mulling an initial public offering at a valuation of over $3 billion. Savage X Fenty’s representative declined to comment.

Fabletics was last year reportedly eyeing its own IPOThe company refused to discuss the process. TechStyle Fashion Group, the company’s previous holding, split off Savage X Fenty and JF Brands in 2019. JF Brands also included JustFab Fashion Group and ShoeDazzle in 2020. Fabletics Inc. was then created, which is now the parent company to Yitty and Fabletics.

Fabletics did not comment on the relationship between Lizzo and the retailer.