Community Spotlight: We're so excited to present Kelly Ray 💖
Hi Kelly! Can you please introduce yourself?
I’m Kelly Ray, based in Nashville, and I work in business development and marketing. I’m passionate about all things creative: painting, crafting, hosting, and expressing myself through fashion, photography, and music. There’s something magical about bringing something into the world that didn’t exist before, whether it’s art, community, or even just a feeling. Creating has always felt deeply tied to who I am, and it feels like part of my purpose in life.
What messages did you receive growing up about bodies, beauty, and worth? How did those messages shape you?
I grew up outside of Dallas in the early 2000s, surrounded by so much messaging that told girls they needed to shrink themselves to be accepted. It created a lot of self-doubt and made it hard to fully trust myself or take up space creatively. But moving to Nashville for college changed everything for me. Being in a city filled with artists, dreamers, and people unapologetically expressing themselves gave me permission to reconnect with who I actually was underneath all of that noise. Nashville helped me tap into my creative purpose and not just through fashion or art, but through community, storytelling, and learning that there’s power in being fully seen as yourself.
You’ve talked about creativity and getting dressed, almost feeling like a superpower. What does that mean to you?
I often credit having super limited options for clothes in my size with sparking my creativity- it’s like those shows where chefs have 4 ingredients and make award winning dishes. I would find things in the men’s section and repurpose it or get it tailored to work for my body and style. In recent years I’ve been able to finally find things that fit me that I don’t have to “make work” and it’s opened up a whole new world of self expression!
If you had a mantra, what would it be?
Live each day as someone my 4th grade self would run towards to feel safe and seen.
What would 4th grade Kelly think of current Kelly?
She would think I am the COOLEST! I am confident, strong and make friends everywhere I go. She would be in awe of my closet- that’s for sure! I wish I could go back and tell her how great life will be, not because of others, but because of the work she put in to make it happen.
You created a Little Free Library in your driveway, which is such a beautiful act of community care. What made you want to do that?
My childhood was surrounded by a lot of volatility, and reading became a form of escape for me very early on. That connection to books has stayed with me into adulthood. Creating my Little Free Library has given me the opportunity to know my neighbors more deeply and build real community around me. Mutual aid is so important!
What kinds of stories do you wish plus-size people could see represented more often in media?
I would love to see more plus size protagonists that are complex, multi-faceted people whose entire narrative isn’t about their weight or changing themselves. I am so much more than just my body and would love to see characters like me represented without outdated weight-related tropes.
How do you hope your social media content helps others feel seen, heard, or celebrated?
I remember seeing Hayley Herms on Instagram for the first time and it lit a spark inside me I hadn’t really seen my body represented in that way before, and it made me much more intentional about curating my feed with creators who looked like me and inspired me through the way they dressed, expressed themselves, and moved through the world with confidence. Representation matters so deeply, and I would love to be that source of inspiration for other people who also deserve to see themselves reflected in the media they consume.
Can you tell us about your experience with Viva Voce in Nashville?
It was MAGIC! Being in a room of people that are actively advocating for diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry was so powerful. To know that these incredible women are not only working for more accessible fashion, but also going above and beyond to prioritize sustainability, quality and inclusion was so empowering.
What do you hope people feel the first time they discover Viva Voce?
I hope people feel seen, heard, and genuinely loved the first time they discover Viva Voce. When I found it, I felt so moved just knowing there was a seat at the table for me. Now I get to help build a longer table so even more people can join, and that’s given me such a deep sense of hope and purpose.
If you had a megaphone and the whole world was listening, what message would you share?
I would tell people that there is no prize for making yourself smaller. You do not have to earn visibility, joy, creativity, love, or community by becoming more palatable first. The world becomes so much more beautiful when people feel safe enough to show up as themselves. I think we owe it to each other to create spaces where people feel seen, included, and worthy exactly as they are.