6 AAPI Influencers and Activists You’ll Love To Follow
Pics of @onna.fille, @curvesbecomeher, @fashionpenpals, @kristenwong, @strength_and_shanti and @noellevenegas from IG
By Laurel Dickman (@laureldickmanwrites)
“If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”
Of the many plus-size identities out there, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are some of the least represented larger bodies in plus size media. From the barely chubby Margaret Cho in All-American Girl (1994) to constant self-loathing and size-denigration of Mindy Kaling’s Dr. Lahiri in The Mindy Project (2012), when we do get characters larger than a Size 4, they hate their bodies and are the butt of every body image joke.
While Instagram may often be filled with toxic trolls, the fat lib community has done wonders to balance the hatred and self-loathing through gorgeous (and fashionable!) acts of rebellion. Check out these AAPI influencers that you’ll want to follow for sure.
Pic of Janina Austria @onna.fille
If you’re looking for adorable cottage core or kawaii inspiration, Janina Austria is soon to be your favorite. An art student in SoCal, Janina has been creating upbeat, whimsical looks (often inspired by film and books) for the kid in all of us.
Pic of Aarti Olivia Dubey @curvesbecomeher
Aarti (they/them) has been living fabulously (and fashionably) as a blogger in Singapore. A mental health therapist turned fat and mental health activist, Aarti has been leading the fight against fatphobia and ableism since 2018 and has recently come out as non-binary.
Pic of Nina Asay @fashionpenpals
Nina isn’t just a Filipina fashion influencer, she helms the Celebrate Your Body Fashion Show with the historic Kearney Street Workshop, the longest-standing AAPI organization in America. KSW was at the forefront of the Asian American Movement in the 1970s and still continues to be a powerful force of progress in SF and beyond.
Pic of Kristen Wong @kristenwong
Kristen explores plus-size identity and queerness through creating gorgeous body-positive art - both in front of and behind the lens, as well as behind the pen and other mediums. A fellow at Headlands Center for the Arts in Sausalito, Wong continues to explore and create provocative art here on the Pacific coast.
Pic of Monica DeChaine @strengthandshanti
St. Petersburg’s Monica DeChaine is leading the charge in the local body-positive and fat acceptance movement through their inclusive body work, Love My Fat Asana. After spending years as a massage therapist, Monica intimately knows the needs of plus-size bodies and minds and aims to provide comfort, relaxation, and love to both.
Pic of Noelle Venegas @noellevenegas
Noelle delivers some of the best plus-size fashion out there with some of the most beautiful editorial visions. As a SoCal party planner, this gorgeous influencer knows how to create some truly unforgettable moments, both fashion and events.
PIc of Laurel Dickman, a young, fat womxn with red hair and wearing a fatkini.
Laurel Dickman is a plus-size writer and model in Berkeley, California where she resides with her husband and kitties. You can find her work across platforms like HuffPo, Ravishly, Wear Your Voice, and more. Follow her as @laureldickmanwrites on IG and check out laureldickman.com.
OPINION DISCLAIMER: Any views or opinions stated in the NAAFA Community Voices Blog are personal and belong solely to the blog author. They do not represent the views or opinions of NAAFA or the people, institutions or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.