Dr. Katia Arroyo doesn’t believe in shrinking the body. Not in my body, not in my voice, and certainly not in my purpose. But before we get into her story, we need to share a little more about this series and its importance.
Curvy Boss Spotlight is a storytelling feature series dedicated to increasing the number of plus-size professionals whose work deserves recognition. From psychologists and educators to founders, executives, and creators, this ongoing series centers expertise, leadership, and lived experience to highlight the many ways plus-size people are shaping the industry beyond fashion and social media.
Each spotlight goes deeper than a highlight reel, offering a quote-forward, narrative perspective on how these leaders emerge, occupy space, and redefine success in their own unique ways.
Curvy Boss Spotlights Dr. Katia Arroyo
Psychologists, trauma-informed educators, and reflective psychology and relational trauma therapistDr. Katia Arroyo Carrion has built her research around presence, embodiment, and nervous system safety. Her approach to healing is grounded, relatable, and deeply human, especially for people who have been historically ignored in the traditional mental health field.
This Curvy Boss Spotlight highlights plus-size professionals who deserve recognition for their work, from educators and executives to the founders and creators shaping their fields. and Works by Dr. Katia Arroyo We will do just that and reimagine authority, professionalism, and leadership.
Show up without flinching
For Dr. Katia Arroyo, showing up starts long before she gets into a treatment session or hits “publish” on educational content. Her days are intentionally paced and designed to support regulation and presence.
“My typical day is about balancing structure and harmony,” she says. “My work as a psychologist requires presence, regulation, and deep listening, so I’m conscious about how I spend my day.”
She starts by grounding herself, checking in with her body, and setting clear internal boundaries regarding how much energy she gives and where. That orientation extends to how she understands confidence itself.
“Showing up doesn’t mean acting confident,” she explains. “It’s about fully inhabiting your space.”
As a curvaceous Latina woman in a professional space, my embodiment required undoing the deeply ingrained message of taking up less room.
“Owning your space means letting go of the idea that you need to occupy less space physically, emotionally, and intellectually,” she says. “We allow people to see themselves without overexplaining or cowering.”
Whether she’s in the therapy room or moving through the world, her presence is rooted in self-trust rather than recognition, a shift she describes as both grounding and liberating.
Redefining professionalism in her own words
One of the most persistent challenges that Dr. Katia Arroyo has faced is the narrow and often unspoken expectations of what professionalism should look like.
“As a plus-size, curvaceous Latina woman, I was told, directly or indirectly, that unless I fit into a narrow Barbie-doll image, I would never be successful or taken seriously,” she shares.
Early in her career, that pressure manifested itself in everything from the way she dressed to the amount of space she took up.
“There was pressure to shrink physically, stylistically and emotionally in order to be seen as believable,” she says.
Over time, she realized that conforming was not only unsustainable, but also incompatible with the work she wanted to do.
“My work requires authenticity, presence, and trustworthiness, not aesthetic identity,” explains Dr. Katia Arroyo. “I valued my expertise, cultural identity, and lived experience and made my visibility part of the job rather than something to hide.”
What once felt like a barrier is now a point of connection and strength.
“Showing up fully and unapologetically has become an act of both self-respect and resistance,” she says. “My difference allows me to connect deeply, challenge outdated norms, and create spaces for others to feel seen, safe, and represented.”
Representation as authority, not just visibility.
For most of her life and career, Dr. Katia Arroyo didn’t see herself reflected in the spaces she wanted to be in.
“Representation for plus-size women was either non-existent or very narrow,” she explains. “Visibility existed, but it was often limited to models and creators, and rarely extended to professional and clinical areas.”
She hadn’t seen many plus-size Latina women publicly trusted as experts, educators, and leaders. That absence shaped her understanding of what expression could and should mean.
“For me, representation means showing up not just as a body, but as a voice, an expert, a source of knowledge,” she says.
Her visibility as a psychologist is very intentional. It’s about expanding the narrative of who has authority and who is respected.
“I wanted to help expand the narrative to show that plus-size women are more than just aesthetic symbols, they can be trusted experts, leaders, and healers,” she says.
Making mental health more accessible and humane
Dr. Katia Arroyo’s platform is rooted in accessibility. Through her expansion to Instagram and TikTok, she focuses on making psychoeducation less scary and more approachable.
“My goal is to help people understand their experiences without shame,” she says. “Especially for people who have traditionally felt unseen or misunderstood in the mental health space.”
She shares trauma-informed education about the nervous system, emotional regulation, and body trust in a grounded and human way. The same commitment to access is guiding her next project.
“I am developing a membership-based space designed for people who are unable to attend therapy due to financial, cultural, or logistical barriers,” she explains. “We provide resources and guided content that people can participate in at their own pace and more affordably.”
At the heart of this research is the belief that healing should not be exclusive.
“Inspiring others is about expanding access and expression,” she says. “Mental health support doesn’t have to go in one direction.”
Style that supports your presence
When it comes to professional style, Dr. Katia Arroyo approaches it the same way she approaches healing: with intention.
“Professional style starts with comfort and fit, not trends,” she says. “When your clothes fit snugly, you can live in the moment without feeling distracted or self-conscious.”
Tailoring is one of the most underrated tools for plus-size professionals, she points out. She also focuses on balance, pairing structured pieces with soft fabrics to feel sophisticated yet grounded.
“Letting go of the idea that professional attire had to hide my body was a big change,” she says. “When you wear clothes that align with how you want to feel: grounded, capable, and visible, it shows in the way you carry yourself.”
Her philosophy is simple but powerful.
“The best style hack is to wear clothes that support you, not compete with who you are.”
Dr. Katia Arroyo’s future plans
Looking ahead, Dr. Katia Arroyo is focused on deepening impact, not expanding for expansion’s sake. While expanding her educational platform, she explores the relationship between trauma, physicality, and fashion.
“How we inhabit our bodies, how we dress, and how we make ourselves visible are deeply connected to safety, self-trust, and healing,” she explains.
For her, fashion is another path back to the body, another way to occupy space with purpose.
She describes herself in three words: quirky, down-to-earth, and embodied. And when she celebrates her victories, she quietly spends time with her family, friends, and pets.
If she could host a dream dinner, Frida Kahlo would undoubtedly be at the table. Kahlo’s relationship with pain, identity, and self-expression continues to resonate deeply with Dr. Katia Arroyo’s own work on embodiment and visibility.
A final word
Her advice for those stepping into their purpose is clear and thoughtful.
“Don’t wait until you’re completely confident in taking up space,” she says. “Clarity and confidence often come after you get started.”
“There’s no need to be cowering or overexplaining or seeming like something that’s already been approved,” she added. “When you show up in alignment with yourself, you create space for others to do the same.”
Would you like to be featured next?
Do you know a plus-size professional doing powerful work, or are you one yourself? Curvy Boss Spotlight is always focused on industry founders, executives, educators, clinicians, creatives, and leaders who are building, leading, and making an impact with intention. If your work center is making an impact on innovation and expression, we want to hear from you.
In addition to Curvy Boss Spotlight, The Curvy Fashionista includes: plus size influencers and creators similarly plus size modelBecause expression is important in every lane. Whether you’re shaping culture, creating content, or appearing in front of the camera, there’s a space for your story here.
Source: The Curvy Fashionista – thecurvyfashionista.com
