The Rise of Mid-Sized Creators
written by Madison Adore
The search for community is an embedded part of the human condition. Whether consciously or unconsciously, many of us find ourselves seeking out people that make us feel safe, seen, and worthy. We live in a society that thrives and profits off of othering, by setting a standard of what should and shouldn’t be ‘normal’ and ‘acceptable.’ For many, that means conforming; for safety, for peace, for happiness. For others, conforming is not an option nor a desire. For some of us, those that are Black, Queer, Trans, Midsized, Plus-Sized, living with a disability, and other marginalized persons, our identities may or can not be hidden. Our differences are worn with pride on full display, our safety is not guaranteed. There is so much beauty in the diversity, in the intersectionality of these and people of other identities.
The pandemic opened a door for a new age of social media fame and influence, especially in body diversity. Before the pandemic, opening up social media and only seeing white models and influencers with slender frames was the norm. High fashion, and even accessible fashion, marketed to one body type, it was the status quo. One that was never acceptable to begin with. We have been conditioned to pine after trends and styles that catered only to one body type. To expect to be disappointed by the clothes that we buy because they were unlikely to fit how the seller advertised. The detriments of unhealthy body expectations for models went beyond just the consumers of this media. Life for those models who had to maintain unreasonable lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits were also deeply affected. The mistreatment of these models was not only normalized but broadcasted. America’s Next Top Model (a show that had no business airing in the first place) showed us for years just how toxic this industry is for anyone who chooses to be a part of it.
Despite the overwhelming majority of media and marketing catering to one body type, many of us that do not fit the bill have found ways to express ourselves and experiment with fashion. I live in New York City and every day I see people that find ways to express themselves in unique and inspirational ways. Without even realizing it, I find myself feeling connected to and supported by the well-dressed strangers on the subway. Those strangers and my own community inspire me to express myself boldly and unapologetically through fashion despite the doubts that rise up. Before the pandemic I only found representation in the subway, or the bagel shop, or in the communities of friends that I have built. But once the world shut down, I, like many others, found myself alone behind closed doors with little motivation to even get dressed everyday. I was left with few options for community and meaningful interaction at a time where I was at my lowest point. One way I have always been empowered was through my style and fashion. But with my parents questioning me on the days where I even put on jeans, I was unmotivated. Even worse, I was unsupported. I did not have my friends to compliment me or empower me with their presence. When I was on the receiving end of a judgy stare in the barren grocery store there was no one to counteract my self-doubting thoughts. So me and my six-foot frame traded in platform boots and mini skirts for athletic clothes and big t-shirts (maybe this will help me feel motivated to exercise?).
TikTok gave me some enjoyment at the beginning of the pandemic, but as the months dragged on I was one dance trend from ripping all of my hair out. I felt even more isolated by my phone, by the dismal lack of representation found across all social media platforms. For a while, the only people that could summon the gusto to post on social media were the rich and famous, from the safety of their private islands. But then, rather suddenly, things began to change.
Suddenly people began posting from their bedrooms with messy hair and angry skin just like mine. My for you page and explore page were dominated by trans folks, plus-size fashionistas, nerdy black women just like myself - where was this coming from? They were hilarious, they were relatable, they were intelligent, they were unfiltered. Seemingly overnight, popular content shifted from choreographed dances, flat tummy teas, and waist shaping exercises to people’s journeys starting hormone therapy, natural hair stories, and grief journeys. Whether through #guttok or #pcosawareness things got really real really quick in a way that most of us found incredibly refreshing. I learned more about my body and health as a woman during the pandemic than I did in all the 21 years leading up to it.
As social media fame was lent out to more diverse creators, I started to realize that I wanted to see these real people more often. I found that I could engage with people’s stories and relate to others on both complex and trivial issues. Whether it was Remi Bader’s (@remibader) realistic try-on hauls or Lizzo’s food journey as a vegan, I finally felt empowered and seen again. One ‘trend’ that was born out of this reclaiming of social media was mid-size fashion. I remember when I first stumbled upon the content of a self-described ‘mid-sized fashion influencer.’ I remember the shock I felt when I realized that there was virtually no content geared towards people who are midsized. It was something I never thought about before, but from the first time I heard the phrase I realized how necessary it was. For me, there was no going back to sensationalizing the lack of body diversity of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Now it’s about finding brands that source models of all different shapes and sizes (@bigbudpress). It’s about shopping at online stores that don’t edit out stretch marks and skin imperfections (@asos). It’s about tuning in for the Savage X Fenty fashion show with popcorn and snacks.
Leading up to the pandemic the rise of plus-sized fashion allowed midsize fashion to get a foot in the door. Women like Ashley Graham and Tess Holliday were few and far between prior to the pandemic. Their indisputable success and worldwide fame allowed for mid-sized and plus-sized influencers to take the stage during the pandemic. From Ashley Graham’s cover on Sports Illustrated, to Lizzo on the cover of Vogue, and Tess Holliday’s cover on Cosmopolitan these women are some those that are at the forefront of the body positivity movement that made all of this possible. I would be seriously remiss if I failed to acknowledge the power of these women.
Now for the good part. In my search to find some of these mid-sized fashion influencers I stumbled across some of the loveliest women. Women that made me fangirl and swoon at their distinctive fashion choices. And it was just fashion that made me swoon. Tati Vidal’s (@tati.vidal_) kickboxing videos made me feel like I could take over the world. And her beautiful curly hair made me realize it was probably time for a deep condition. Jazzmine Carthon (@jazzminecarthon) strutting down the Project Runway runway (no pun intended) almost brought me to tears thinking about my childhood binging of that show with my mom. Ali Tate Cutler’s (@ali_tate_cutler) video on Instagram censoring the use of words that describe female reproductive organs made me justifiably angry. Abi Nunn’s (@itsabinunn) glorious cowboy boots made me realize that there’s never a bad time to dress like a funky cowgirl and dance through the streets listening to “These Boots are Made for Walking” by Nancy Sinatra. I hope you can feel how empowered I am by these women.
The experience of scrolling through these women’s pages was uplifting but the lengths that I had to go to find them was honestly kind of depressing. I combed through hashtags, read articles, asked friends and still came up with what I think is a pretty short list of mid-sized fashion influencers. It was also difficult to find midsized fashion creators that catered to a more laid back and casual aesthetic. More than that, despite the women I found being complete stars, most of them don’t have as big of a following as they deserve. Their videos on TikTok have less views than I would expect, their content is not pushed to for you page as often. This is not at all a reflection of the effort and intention they put into their content, quite the opposite (run, do not walk, to check out Robyn’s Instagram and TikTok for clear cut evidence of this @midsizemillennial). As much as I love to hate on social media platforms, we are all to blame for this lack of interaction. These platforms use algorithms (that are alarmingly accurate), so that you are largely in control of what you see. I wasn’t seeing many mid-sized creators before this blog because I wasn’t interacting with the ones that did come to my feed. The same sentiment goes for Queer creators, Black creators, and creators who are differently abled. So take the plunge with me to seek out these and other diverse creators. So check out the list of creators below, like their content, hell, leave a comment if you are really feeling them. Like I said, a little can go a long way.
Mid-Sized Influencers/Models
| Name | Type | ID |
|---|---|---|
| Robyn | @midsizemillenial | |
| Bianca Krigovsky | @biancakrigovsky | |
| Tati Vidal | @tati.vidal_ | |
| Remi Bader | Instagram & TikTok | @remibader |
| Jazzmine Carthon | @jazzminecarathon | |
| Lindsey J Pressley | Instagram & TikTok | @lindseyjpressley |
| Holly Ah-Thion | Instagram & TikTok | @imhollyfrances |
| Ali Tate Cutler | @ali_tate_cutler | |
| Karina | @styleidealist | |
| Noelle Downing | @noelledowning | |
| Courtney Quinn | @colomecourtney | |
| Abi Nunn | @itsabinunn | |
| Lois Opoku | @loisopoku | |
| Charlotte Emily Price | @charlotteemilyprice | |
| Chloe Pavlou | @styledby.chloe | |
| Abi Nunn | @itsabinunn | |
| Lois Opoku | @loisopoku | |
| Charlotte Emily Price | @charlotteemilyprice | |
| Chloe Pavlou | @styledby.chloe |