Amanda LaCount is #BreakingTheStereotype and inspiring dancers of all sizes. Special thanks to Dance Spirit.
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00:00As soon as I dance, people are so shocked.
00:03I'm like, oh, I'm going to prove you wrong in five seconds.
00:23My name's Amanda LeCow, and f-pretty, I'm unexpected.
00:27Proving people wrong is my favorite hobby, and it's true.
00:31I can do it forever, and I will do it forever, because people are always going to think that
00:35plus-size people can't dance or be successful.
00:38My hashtag, hashtag breaking the stereotype, is all about inspiring people.
00:43I want to show other kids my age especially that it's okay if you're different,
00:48it's okay if you're unique, because at the end of the day, it makes you stand out,
00:52and people will notice you.
00:58I think when my old dance teacher in Colorado said that my body type didn't fit his vision
01:10for his team, that kind of started the kind of snowball effect of my body positivity movement,
01:17because at that time, I did get very, very sad and very down on myself,
01:22but it kind of lit a fire under my butt to prove him wrong.
01:27I would come and drive 16 hours from Colorado to L.A. every single weekend
01:32to practice, to rehearse, and then to perform.
01:35Then I would drive back and have to go to school the next morning.
01:46I'm on the cover of Dance Spirit Magazine, which is a really big deal for me,
01:49because they've never had anyone maybe over a size 8 on the cover.
01:54So to be kind of the first real plus-size person on a dance magazine is really cool to me.
02:01This just really makes me happy because I know kids will look at this and be inspired
02:05to do what they love and to not let anyone dictate their future and what they want to do with their life,
02:12because if I would have listened to all the people that said I could do it, I wouldn't be here today.
02:20Deep down, I knew that I was confident and I was beautiful and all these different things,
02:25but it's really hard being surrounded by all these people that are so loved for what they look like
02:30and so admired for their shape or figure and all that,
02:34and then I'm here just feeling so bad about myself.
02:37So it was really hard to get confident in my body and letting people see what I look like,
02:45but today I am not scared at all anymore.
02:49When I go into dance class, I'm not concerned about what they're thinking about me,
02:52because at the end of the day, I'm there to train, I'm there to get better,
02:55I'm there for myself and not for other people.
02:57It's me and I'm 100% myself, and I think that's something to be proud of.