My name is Ellah, I’m a fashion design student from Botswana based at Nottingham School of Art & Design. My practice explores body image, identity, and the representation of plus-size bodies through experimental garment construction and textile manipulation. My current project, The Beauty of Expansion, challenges negative perceptions of bodily change by celebrating features such as stretch marks, folds, and softness. I work with techniques such as pleating, gathering, and structured fabrics to translate the idea of physical expansion into form, balancing softness with tension to reflect the complexity of the body. My work is informed by personal experience and aims to shift perspectives within fashion, encouraging inclusivity and acceptance. After my course, I hope to continue developing my practice within the fashion industry, contributing to more diverse and honest representations of the body.