As well as talking about style and body love, I really want to celebrate awesome things that fat babes do. Just because you’re plus size it doesn’t mean that you can’t be talented, successful, intelligent, athletic … or just plain kickass.
Meet Hannah Gough aka Miss Glamour LaRue. Model, early childhood educator, Miss Pinup New Zealand 2015 finalist and Miss Publicity winner, derby girl and fat babe. In the world of roller derby, she skates for Northland Nightmares Hells Wives and is known as Glamerzon. She laced up her skates and answered a few questions for me.
How did you get involved in roller derby?
As a teenager I had been heavily involved in roller hockey, when I stopped playing I never found a sport that held my attention. One day I was chatting to one of my old team mates and he was telling me about this game called roller derby and how I should look into it because he thought it would be perfect for me. I didn’t really take it on board until a friend of mine took me to a game and from the moment that first whistle blew I was hooked – the following Thursday I was out at the training venue ready to learn!
What is your favourite thing about derby?
Derby is the thing that gets me out of bed in the morning and gets me through the day. I love opening my skate bag and breathing in that smell of week old unaired sweaty gear mixed with the sweet smell of deep heat and anything else that is floating around in the bottom of the bag. Once I put the gear on and lace up those skates, I transform from the sweet and innocent teacher to the Glamerzon that is a threat on the track. I like to think of myself as a double threat – I can block and am learning the ins and outs of being a jammer. My team mates and derby fans refer to a certain asset as the “Glammer Hammer”.
How does it feel when you’re skating?
When I am skating I feel like I am free! The noise of my wheels rolling over the track puts a smile on my face. I could have had the worst day ever, but the moment that I put those skates on and start skating, I feel like all the problems disappear for a brief moment and I can just skate!
Derby requires a lot of physical fitness and strength, how do you make sure that you’re at your physical best?
So much strength! We train as a team three times a week and I have a goal this year to become a jammer, so I have been hitting the gym every day in order to push my body and be a strong force on the track.
How does your derby persona differ from your everyday self?
This is a good question, I have been asked this many times. I often say that when you get a derby name it’s hard to tell if you grow into your derby name or if your derby names becomes you. I feel that I have always been Glamerzon, however I just needed encouragement to let it surface. I love that I bring an aspect of glam to the track – my pink sparkly helmet is true representation of that! However I am competitive – we can be the best of friends, but the moment we step on the track and you are on the other team, it’s on! Once we’re off the track, it’s back to all smiles and laughs. I feel that in some ways I am the same person off the track – bubbly, positive and driven.
Has derby changed the way that you feel about yourself and your body?
Derby has completely changed everything about me! I have gained the most amazing group of friends – I wouldn’t even class them as friends, I class them as family – they have my back both on and off the track. They have been my emotional support through a relationship breakup, through my studies and through the highs and lows of life – they have been the driving force in my personal growth and learning to love me for who I am. I would not be standing here the confident woman I am now without derby and my team! My confidence has skyrocketed since I have become involved in roller derby, parts of my body that I hated are now some of my biggest assets! The “Glammer Hammer” is what my team and opposition have named my butt, this part of my body that I use to be so ashamed of is now one of my favourites!
Interested in roller derby? Find out about Northland Nightmares Hells Wives’ upcoming bouts here, or find out more about how you can get involved here.
PS If you’re a fat babe who does amazing things and would like to be featured on my blog, or if there is someone you’d love me to feature, I want to hear from you!
Miss Glamour LaRue looks fabulous and ready to kick some a–! I have cast my vote for her in the NZ Pin Up Contest.