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@jennybruso on Instagram

It was 1997 and I was in tenth grade.—That’s the scene, anyway. This photo of me is actually from 2010 bc I have this shitty habit of getting rid of old photos of myself. Like, if there’s no photos, those times are no longer real.—There was a new girl at school who looked like a boy and I was very, VERY intrigued by her. I didn’t know what my sexuality was yet because I was so disconnected from my body I didn’t know who or what I was into. I was obsessed with anything and anyone that could be read as “gay,” but thought maybe I was just a really dedicated ally. LOL. She had a homemade patch on her backpack with the words “Bikini Kill.” My parents had just gotten the internet so I looked those words up on AOL and found out they were a riot grrrl band. WTF was “riot grrrl?” I really wanted this new girl to think I was cool so I went to the record store and bought two Bikini Kill cds, The Singles and the CD Version of the First Two Records. They completely flattened me. Of course, I instantly became a riot grrrl even though riot grrrl was already kind of dead. My friends and I started a Riot Grrrl San Diego chapter and booked girl punk shows and made zines. I moved to Portland as soon as I could, without ever having spent time there, because I knew my favorite riot grrrl bands and artists still lived there. My first tattoo (above) was a BK lyric. It’s a really shitty tattoo, but all of my tattoos are shitty. That girl never thought I was cool. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ TONIGHT I GET TO SEE BIKINI KILL!!! It’s their first tour in over TWENTY YEARS. Shout out to the miles I cashed in for a free plane ticket to Los Angeles, @sarahswingset for getting me a ticket to the show, @failureprincess who inspired me to share my BK story and @admiralleidbear for giving me her entire beautiful house for a couple of days. And to @typewritertroubadour because you were such a big part of those formative days. Maybe you’ll be there tonight? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #bikinikill #bikinikillreunion

Sorry, Portland. I’m never coming home.

Announcement! This July, I’m doing a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu via the Salkantay Trail in Peru. I’M THRILLED! I have never done anything remotely like this. I grew up in San Diego, California, so I’ve been on a few trips in Mexico, but I’ve never traveled this far out of the country. I’ve also never backpacked for more than three nights and definitely not with mostly a bunch of strangers. My world has always been super small due to mental health struggles and not having money. It feels so good to imagine and experience something greater. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Biggest fear: altitude. The highest point of the trail is nearly 16,000ft. Today, I started working out in an altitude training gym, @evolution_healthcare_fitness. I hope to go 3-4 times a week even though I have tons of work travel the next couple of months. I know I can do this! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Fitness talk: it sucks. It makes me put my fingers in my ears and go LALALALALALA! I don’t love the fitness industry and it’s shitty ass daddy the diet industry. I’m still figuring out how I want to document this whole experience. I have A LOT to say already. I’ll keep the gym selfies to a minimum. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The @curvykilicrew is the reason why I am entertaining the very possibility of doing something like this. Their trek opened my world. I will be doing this trip with @WHOAtravel, who offer tons of expeditions for women, including #WHOAplus, which is specifically for plus-size women! I also want to give GIANT thanks and my first born child to @merrell, the reason why this broke B even gets to do this 😭😭😭 [CRIES IN FAT PERSON] ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #WHOAtravel #WHOAplusPeru2019 #trainsoican #createyourtrail #merrell #merrellambassador #curvykilicrew #fatandoutdoorsy #mybodytookmehere #unlikelyhikers #itakethelongway #machupicchu #salkantay #salkantaytrek

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is looking gorgeous already. The best time to go is prob in a week or two. Thanks for the lovely walk @femmepal 🌸✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📍Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Portland, Oregon. This is Chinook, Cowlitz, Clackamas+ land. #crystalspringsrhododendrongarden ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #unlikelyhikers #mybodytookmehere #fatandoutdoorsy #itakethelongway

@UnlikelyHikers on Instagram

HEY PORTLAND, OREGON! Do you know about Resilience Outdoor Conference? I would absolutely be there if I was in town. GO! May 1st - 5th. Visit link in our stories or wilddiversity.com to register! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Resilience Outdoor Conference is about decolonizing outdoor education for People of Color & the LGBTQ communities. We strive to provide support that is centered around our community and fosters a meaningful foundation for diversity. It is an investment in community knowledge expansion in outdoor education that supports growth today and tomorrow. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tag #unlikelyhikers or #unlikelyhiker to be featured! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ [Image description: 2 graphics - 1) photo collage of 12 diverse outdoorists who will be leading workshops with text indicating dates of the conference and the words “resilience outdoor conference - decolonizing outdoor education for BIPOC & LGBTQ.” 2) logo image of pika eating grainy things with same text as other graphic.]

“We are a somewhat newly blended family, and we've been using our time in nature to strengthen our bonds. We have discovered that being in the outdoors always brings us closer to each other. It's always a good time when we hit the trail, and we intend to keep the family adventures going.” -@i.justwanna.be #trailingjenned ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Location: South Mountains State Park, North Carolina. This is of: ᎠᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), Catawba+ land. #southmountainsstatepark ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tag #unlikelyhikers or #unlikelyhiker to be featured! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ [Image description: 4 people walking on wide trail appearing to be doing a little hike-in camping. The sun is shining brightly casting shadows and lighting up pruned leafy hedges.]

“Climbing Kilimanjaro with the @CurvyKiliCrew was the adventure I needed to finally feel like I was the badass hiker I have always been. I didn't need to prove anything to them, I just had to hike with them. Getting up everyday with a bunch of women that had bodies similar to mine and just hiking was a simple exercise that many other outdoorsy people have experienced and probably never thought twice about. Thoughts of being the biggest or the slowest did not need to cross my mind. The mountain never cared how fast I hiked or what I looked like. She took up space and was revered for it. She taught me that I should too. What a gift was this group and what a gift was the mountain and the people of Tanzania who shared her with us. I am beyond grateful.” -Andrea | @adventuring_athena & @amplemovement ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Pronouns: she/her ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Location: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa. #kilimanjaro #curvikilicrew ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tag #unlikelyhikers or #unlikelyhiker to be featured! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ [Image description: person standing at trailhead sign for Rongai Gate on her first day on Kilimanjaro. She’s smiling proudly with a camera around her neck. There is a covered shelter in the background amongst spindly, leafy tall trees with the sun shining through where it can.]

CHICAGO, IL - Saturday, May 4th! You better come hike with me! Tell your friends & family, give them a tag! Share this post and LET’S HIKE! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This special event wouldn’t be happening without @REI’s support. We’ll have some refreshments and PRIZES at the end! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ RSVP on the blog for full details: jennybruso.com (link in our profile and “story highlights.”) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ DATE: Saturday, May 4th TIME: 9am LOCATION: Waterfall Glen STATS: under 4 miles, under 300 feet gain. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #unlikelyhikers #unlikelyhiker #optoutside #forceofnature #mybodytookmehere

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New section: Plus Size Activewear

Posted on February 12, 2019March 1, 2019 by Jenny Bruso

For all seasons! Up to 6x! GO NOW xo

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