{"id":132255,"date":"2025-11-13T03:13:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T03:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/132255\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T03:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T03:13:07","slug":"queer-eyes-tan-france-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/132255\/","title":{"rendered":"Queer Eye’s Tan France Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you\u2019ve been a fan of his on Queer Eye over the past nine years or you\u2019ve seen him in one of his many other media gigs (he most recently hosted the Selling Sunset reunion on Netflix), Tan France<\/a> has long been an advocate for representation, both on the TV screen and off. So, when Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind GLP-1 medication<\/a> Zepbound<\/a>, asked him to front their new campaign, Changing the Thread<\/a>, which is helping to \u201cunthread the bias\u201d associated with obesity<\/a>, he was quick to say yes. Here, the TV personality and fashion expert shares more about his personal experience with obesity, why the campaign is important and what\u2019s next in his life as his final chapter of Queer Eye comes to a close.<\/p>\n

What can you share about your personal experience with bias and stigma around obesity? <\/p>\n

\u201cMy whole life I\u2019ve had experience with obesity in my family. When Lilly asked me to join this campaign, it\u2019s because of the work I\u2019ve done on Queer Eye, which is probably all they knew, however, my siblings have lived with obesity, and my extended family. There\u2019s like 140 of us in one tiny town in England. So many of my family members have lived with obesity almost their entire lives, and I think that really helped the way I approach every one of our heroes on Queer Eye. I\u2019ve always seen clothing as such a tool, and something that everyone deserves to enjoy without shame or apology. Living with siblings who have had to experience that made me an easy yes for me when Lilly asked me to join this campaign and really be an advocate for those people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"tan How is the conversation around obesity changing as GLP-1 medications become mainstream? <\/p>\n

\u201cThere has been a big shift, and it\u2019s something I\u2019m really happy to see. I do think it\u2019s time to reframe the conversation, especially with how we talk about obesity and replacing that bias and stigma with openness and understanding. Until recently, there hasn\u2019t been understanding and people think \u2018you chose this.\u2019 The Changing the Thread movement makes it very clear that for people living with obesity, it wasn\u2019t a choice, and there are options for them<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tell me more about the Changing the Thread movement. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a free exhibit in New York this Friday and Saturday where you will see pieces of clothing\u2014it\u2019s beautiful\u2014from people who have lived with obesity. The clothing is embroidered with their real, untold stories of what they\u2019ve experienced. Most of it is clothing that has helped them hide away, and we want people to come join this movement and feel like they don\u2019t have to hide away. We want them to feel like they can express themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"zepbound How does fashion play a role in someone\u2019s self-expression and progress throughout their weight-loss journey? <\/p>\n

\u201cMy sibling has told me that it\u2019s so nice to not have to feel like the clothing their purchasing is meant to make sure no one can see them. They said it\u2019s nice to be able to purchase things that just let them feel like I can express themselves. If that\u2019s the greatest thing that this [GLP-1 weight loss] can achieve, then god I want my siblings to feel like I feel, which is not trying to hide. I\u2019m proud of who I am; why wouldn\u2019t I display myself? That\u2019s important to me.<\/p>\n

As far as I\u2019m concerned, the trend should always be, first and foremost, self-expression. I do think we\u2019ve seen more of that in the past five years, and I think it\u2019s encouraged by social media to wear what feels right for you and your body. It\u2019s never really been about trends for me; it what\u2019s make you feels wonderful and beautiful. I come from a culture where our clothes are quite different, and half my life is spent not in Western clothes. Our version of what\u2019s trendy is different from what\u2019s trendy in the West. Trends come and go, and I would like for them to go more than they come.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019re closing the Queer Eye chapter of your life with the 10th and final season airing next year. What does that feel like? <\/p>\n

\u201cIt really is bittersweet. It\u2019s bitter because it\u2019s been my job for nine years, 10 seasons. It\u2019s strange to think that this thing that\u2019s been such a constant in my life, and changed my life, is no longer going to be. But it\u2019s also sweet to think that there are so many months out of the year where I get to explore something else. I get to try something new, and that\u2019s really exciting for me. I love what we\u2019ve done on Queer Eye and I\u2019m so proud of it, but I\u2019m excited to see what\u2019s next.\u201d<\/p>\n

And what is next for you? <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are two things really. I run a production company called French Tuck Media where we make TV shows, and we start filming our first two next year. [France tells me he\u2019ll be behind the scenes, not on camera.] I\u2019m also really hoping to lean more into this space. The Changing the Thread campaign has really done something to me. It\u2019s made me feel like I want to share more of these stories moving forward, and hopefully in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n