Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Sneed. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elizabeth, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I started Curvy Surfer Girl in June of 2020 after years of struggling to find surf gear and visual representation within the surf and water sport industry.

For the longest time I struggled to believe in myself but after the loss of my job due to the pandemic I’d finally decided I had nothing left to lose.

Thanks to the emotional and financial support of several key friends in my life I launched my online movement and company Curvy Surfer Girl hiring several talented photographers to capture my vision.

I always felt it was too overwhelming a task to own and operate a business but looking back it’s something I wish I had done much sooner.

As a business owner especially one where my passion intersects my business and serves a higher purpose has been extraordinarily rewarding.

I’ve been led to countless other incredible business men and women, connected with people in my community, and am not limited to what others expect of me but am truly limitless in my own potential of creativeness, flexibility, and freedom.

My greatest piece of advice is to believe in yourself and allow others to encourage and mentor you along the way. If you have a great and bold idea for a business chances are it’s probably worth pursuing and who knows it might even end up changing the world or an industry!

Elizabeth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Elizabeth, founder of the women’s body positive surfing movement, curvy surfer girl (CSG) in June 2020.

At the time of this account the surf industry had never showcased women in diverse bodies.

After my decade long career in government relations & grassroots campaigning, I decided to shift my skills towards changing the surf & ocean sports industry to be more inclusive.

I took bold risks, hired photographers to capture my vision, strategized for months, analyzed trends, studied the corporate industry giants, hand selected & mentored women who’ve never modeled to create my vision, & radically committed by all means to the success of building a predominantly women based community to leverage our collective voice for positive & lasting change.

In 2021 & 2022 three of the corporate surf giants began implementing body positive imagery & marketing into their practices and even launched the modeling careers of several Curvy Surfer Girls.

In April of 2023 in partnership with Jolyn Clothing we launched the most size inclusive line of performance swimwear to date widely commercially available ranging from sizes XS-4X.

I’ve worked with more than half a dozen swim brands to create more size inclusive performance swim wear for women in ocean sports and countless other brands on creative campaigns that highlight surfing, freediving, and the ocean lifestyle from a body positive perspective.

My mission & vision in 2024 is to be BOLD AF!

As the founder & leader of this movement I take pride in knowing the ocean sports industry follows OUR lead.

My goal remains the same to showcase diverse women & bodies in ocean spaces accomplishing great things.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Curvy Surfer Girl is constantly illustrating in one way or another the idea of pivoting.

There is no greater demonstration than this than my own pivot from a career as a government relations professional turned content creator surfer.

Throughout my time on social media I have consistently highlighted the significance of remaining flexible. Whether learning to surf, losing or gaining weight, changing professions, or finding your voice.

Pivoting and remaining flexible in a fast changing world gives you a competitive edge!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I started surfing at 27.

I was landlocked my entire life, was seasick & vomiting multiple sessions the 1st year, experienced exercise induced migraines, PTSD from a near ocean drowning resulting in panic attacks, painful arthritis in my knees & feet, severe imposter syndrome/lack of self esteem in ocean sports, started & continued surfing at my heaviest weight & through multiple weight fluctuations, and much more.

Yet here I am nearly 7 years later!

Let me be your light at the end of the tunnel, IT IS DOABLE!

Don’t ever give up on yourself especially when it gets the hardest. You CAN do this and if you’re already doing it keep going, keep smiling, & keep defying your own expectations and before you know it you might just defy the worlds expectations of you too!

Contact Info:

• Website: Curvysurfergirl.com
• Instagram: @curvysurfergirl
• Facebook: @curvysurfergirl
• Youtube: @curvysurfergirl
• Tiktok: @curvysurfergirl

Image Credits
Caroline Carniel Image 1 Taylor Dewy Second set for Jolyn Clothing Curvy Surfer Girl Collab