Gordita: Built Like This by Daisy “Draizys” Ruiz

Gordita: Built Like This is an autobiographical comic by Daisy “Draizys” Ruiz, published by the award-winning publisher Black Josei Press. In this 28-page color comic, we follow Gordita, a young Mexican-American teenager who lives in The Bronx. She’s judged for having no ass by classmates, strangers, and even family. Gordita struggles with low self-esteem and body dysmorphia. But, through her friendships with other girls who are also getting bullied, and a mentorship with her guidance counselor, Gordita, begins to speak up for herself and see that she is more than just her body. 

Daisy shared Gordita’s influences with Casita Maria, “[It] reimagines my experiences and surroundings through a lens of enchantment. My work persists to see the beauty and magic of everyday life in the hood despite the grim realities of low-income living. My illustrations often tap into the nostalgia of the early 2000s, capturing the fashion, music, and aura of my youth. I use my illustrations to tell the story of nuanced moments of my upbringing in the Bronx, narrating experiences of body shaming in adolescence and the search for acceptance within white-dominated alternative interests.”

Daisy started this comic as a 6-page black and white comic called "Built Like Spongebob" which was created for, and displayed at, NYU's exhibition, ¡Oye! Cuéntame un Cuento. Daisy’s first solo exhibit in Casita Maria in The Bronx featured pages from Gordita as well (and was even visited by AOC). The comic has already been featured in Polygon’s must-read comics of the rest of 2022, Telemundo, The Bronx Daily, and BronxNet. 

*Contains some dialogue in Spanish!

*This is the PG-13 edition that contains some cuss words

Book Specs:

• 8.5 x 11 inches 
• 28 pages
• Full color
• Saddle stitch 

Published by Black Josei Press