VS Grenier ~ Award-Winning Author, Speaker & Podcaster

LaNiyah Bailey is a 6‐year‐old author with a message for children like her – just because you are bigger than other kid, that doesn’t mean that people have the right to bully you. In her debut book, Not FAT Because I Wanna Be , LaNiyah details the struggle of Jessica, a fictional girl who has an underlying medical issue that causes her to gain weight. Bullied by her peers, Jessica learns to accept her body and eventually opens up about her condition to her classmates. LaNiyah is not only speaking to other children through her book, but has become an advocate for anti‐bullying organizations. With a message that words can hurt and that not all weight gain is due to an unhealthy lifestyle, LaNiyah hopes her book will enlighten and entertain her young readers. “ I just wish this book can help other kids like me...and I wish it can help people see that [even though] you might be big that you are not unhealthy or… a monster like people may make you feel.” VS: I want to thank you L

Six ‐ year ‐ old author, LaNiyah Bailey, released her debut book, Not FAT Because I Wanna Be in April 2010. In her book, LaNiyah details the struggle of Jessica, a fictional girl who has an underlying medical issue that causes her to gain weight. Bullied by her peers, Jessica learns to accept her body and eventually opens up about her condition to her classmates. What I love about this book is my family can relate to Jessica, and LaNiyah and her family’s struggles. Despite eating a healthy diet, which includes vegetables, salads and fruits for over the last two years, LaNiyah has been bullied by her peers for both the size of her stomach and the amount of time she spends in the bathroom. My son also had this same problem in his early school years. The reason? An enlarged colon…just like LaNiyah. When her doctor discovered her enlarged colon, LaNiyah immediately started medication and an exercise program with a personal trainer. Because of the diagnosis and treatment, LaNiyah felt be