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US author, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, joins Zoe Ball to chat about her debut adult novel, 'Big Girl'

She talks about growing up in Harlem in the 90s, the music scene and culture at that time and how 'fatphobia' and 'diet culture' weren't really a thing back then.

Zoe asks about her writing journey, her inspirations and most treasured books too - as well as learning more about the development of her characters and ideas.

Big Girl centres around Malaya , growing up in 90s Harlem, struggling to fit into a world that makes no room for her. She’s funny, creative and smart, but all people see – even those who love her – is her size. At eight, she is forced to go to Weight Watchers; at twelve, her parents fear she’ll be taken from them; by sixteen, a gastric bypass is discussed.

On good days, Malaya braids bright colours into her hair, turns up Biggie Smalls on her Walkman, and strides through Harlem, his words galvanising her; on bad days, she doesn’t leave her bed other than for furtive trips for the forbidden food that will comfort her – for a while.