When Christa Singleton hiked Kilimanjaro in 2016 with a group of women from WHOA Travel, she pushed her body far outside her comfort zone, reaching a height of 18,885 ft, Kilimanjaro’s iconic Stella Point.  It was an incredibly moving moment, igniting a new appreciation for her body despite being the largest hiker on the mountain.  She then vowed to come back one day to finish the last 300 ft to Uhuru Peak with another plus size woman. Much to her surprise, there were many women with plus-size figures that were ready to take on the challenge—and that’s how the Curvy Kili Crew was born.

The Curvy Kili Crew consists of 20 incredible women who are leaving their families and jobs for a week-long adventure in Africa, with the goal of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro on March 8th, International Women’s Day. As firm believers that all people are #FitToThrive, no matter their size, we couldn’t be more excited to follow along on the Curvy Kili Crew’s adventure. Below you’ll get an introduction to the whole group, but stay tuned throughout the month as we showcase their stories in the days leading up to their arrival in Tanzania and as they chronicle their journey on the mountain as the climb begins.

Want to follow along as the CurvyKiliCrew embarks on their big adventure? Follow the crew’s Instagram page here and join the Dia&Co Wellness Facebook Group to get insight on beginning your own walking or hiking journey with the expertise from CurvyKiliCrew’s leader Christa. Interested in joining future plus size adventures? Check out WHOA plus Adventures.

Photos provided by each member of the Curvy Kili Crew.

Image of Christa and header image were provided by WHOA Travel, courtesy of Allison Fleece.