They told her to sit to the side. Wear all black. Don't take up too much space. So she wore a golden dress to the Emmys — and won.

Shannon Malone DeBenedictis is a two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who's worked alongside James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Netflix, Disney+, and National Geographic. But for years, she made herself small in an industry that wanted her to disappear.

In this episode, Shannon opens up about what it's really like navigating Hollywood as a plus-size woman, the blunt comment from a colleague that changed everything, and why she's done apologizing for who she is. Now through her company Paddlin' Creative, she helps women step into their voice and tell powerful stories that move people.

If you've ever felt like you're too much — or not enough — press play.

 Connect with Shannon: paddlincreative.com