Kara Richardson Whitely
Founder & CEO
Bio
Kara is the Founder & CEO of The Gorgeous Agency, an outdoor adventurer and influencer, and author of the memoir Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds, which is soon to be a movie produced by and starring ‘This Is Us’ actress, Chrissy Metz.
Kara has partnered with brands like Peloton, Columbia Sportswear, L.L. Bean, Keen, and Discover Puerto Rico to showcase diversity and inclusion, and build positive brand sentiment in the plus-sized community. Her mission to encourage people of all sizes and abilities to get active outside made her a great fit for Come Alive Outside’s Board of Directors.
Kara has also presented at Pfizer, Google, Uber, Dartmouth, Purdue and many more, and has been featured in countless media outlets such as The New York Times, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS' The Talk, She Explores, and more.
Kara is a contributor to Backpacker Magazine and has been featured in:
“Kara’s authority in body diversity, grounded in both lived experience and expertise in body inclusion and weight stigma, is unparalleled.”
Ben Boyd
Peloton Interactive, SVP Global Communications
“Kara takes us where few have dared to go before: thrillingly up to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and profoundly down to the darkest depths of [binge eating]. Kara is fearlessly honest and powerfully intelligent.”
Cheryl Strayed, Author of “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Trail”
Let’s move mountains together!
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Strategy Advisor
Kara works with the world’s greatest wellness and adventure brands to build connection, movement and understanding for the 67 percent of U.S. women larger than size 12. She uses her understanding of disruptor strategy to make positive change for internal and external corporate campaigns. With monumental potential for growth in the wellness, adventure travel and outdoors sectors, the time is now to create positive sentiment for your brand amongst the plus-sized community.
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Workshops & Events
After climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro three times weighing as much as 300 pounds — a story now being made into a movie produced by and starring ‘This Is Us’ actress Chrissy Metz — Kara teaches teams of all sizes to harness the strength and resilience of this past year for the path forward. She has inspired teams and individuals to overcome obstacles and bet on their own success at companies such as Peloton, J.M. Smucker Company, Pfizer, Google and Uber.
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Social Media Influencer
Kara has partnered with brands like L.L. Bean, Columbia Sportswear, Alaska Airlines, KEEN, Explore Fairbanks and Discover Puerto Rico to showcase diversity and inclusion and build positive brand sentiment in the plus-sized community. Her unique message of resilience and tenacity paired with refreshing vulnerability about her experience as a plus-sized adventurer is well received by her highly engaged following. Her followers look to me for advice on travel, gear, clothing and more.