Attending Goldrush 2026, a two-day EDM music festival, helped me realize a truth I've been trying to accept for years: Every body is beautiful.
I'm plus-size, and with that, I've been working on loving myself no matter how I look. I recently started medication to help manage some chronic illnesses that impact my weight, and as a result, I'm losing weight.
I intentionally waited to start these medications until I was at a point where I'd love my body no matter how I looked. However, after starting them in August, I've felt my self-esteem go down significantly.
Then I went to my first rave.
Before Goldrush, the only knowledge I had going into rave culture was that there would be loud music, lots of people and clothing that made booty shorts seem conservative.
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The first night of the rave, I wore jean shorts and a tight fitting tank top. I looked cute, but it was more skin than I usually show in public, and I was a little more conscious of that than usual as I set foot into Rawhide.
Then I started looking around, and while I saw all the vibrant outfits of the ravers, the different body types were what stood out the most. Seeing such a vast array of different body types made me feel comfortable in my own skin.
The second night of the festival, I wore jean shorts again, but this time with fishnets and a cropped, low-cut halter top. Even with my stomach and chest out, I felt very comfortable.
I felt hot, I felt cute, I felt sexy. I felt like me.
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I've certainly felt all of those feelings before but never to that extent. I don't often dress as femininely as I did due to my gender dysphoria. But being surrounded by so many people made me feel euphoric about how I dressed.
I could wear a halter top and fishnets without feeling like I was too much of a "girl." The outfit was just that: an outfit.
Throughout both nights, I'd get complimented by random strangers, which was weird to me as I've always been the one to compliment strangers for their hair, makeup or outfit.
Being surrounded by body diversity made me feel so welcome in a place that was so new.
I'm not new to music spaces. I'm a musician and an avid concert-goer, but I've never had an experience like Goldrush.
Although I'd heard online about how loving and accepting rave culture is, experiencing it in person was a different ballgame.
Rave culture is built on PLUR: peace, love, unity and respect, and that philosophy can be expressed through traditions.
Some ravers trade kandi bracelets with each other. Another tradition is "sprouting," when someone clips a tiny leaf or charm onto someone else, often used as a way to compliment a fellow raver's outfit or vibe.
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As a baby raver, I wanted to get sprouted by someone. I got a free sprout from the BeatBox-sponsored stage, but I wanted to be sprouted personally.
On the second night, it happened twice: one time for my outfit and the other for my vibe.
Getting the sprouts made me feel so confident. A small clip can mean so much.
The weekend after Goldrush, I brought a friend to her first rave. Even though this local rave was far smaller than my first, I had the same experience there.
Once again, there were people of different ages, unique styles, totally different body types — all dancing and enjoying themselves without a care in the world.
Going to raves makes me feel like I don't have to hide. They remind me that it's OK that I have some extra "fluff," that I'm allowed to wear what I want and that I could accept the sprout without a second thought.
I can let myself be seen, and I can let being seen feel good.
Edited by Sam Troester, Carsten Oyer, Grace Lawrence, Kate Gore and Senna James.
Reach the reporter at jhamil33@asu.edu and follow @jhamilton_media on X.
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Jen Hamilton is a photographer and Echo reporter at The State Press. They've also worked with Blaze Radio production and Cronkite News as a volunteer. This is their third semester with The State Press.
