Website fighting against body-shaming proves Carnival is for #everyBODY · Global Voices
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by <PERSON> (@abundzukohle) on Mar 21, 2019 at 12:36pm PDT
The magic of participating in Carnival celebrations, no matter where in the world they may be, is the ability to don a costume, transform yourself in the masquerade, and let loose with joyful abandon.
In most Caribbean-based Carnivals, this is called “playing mas”, but there has long been an unspoken rule that the privilege should be reserved for people — women especially — of a certain size and fitness level. For Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2019, <PERSON>, who is plus-size, decided to “play mas” regardless. She was body-shamed for it, but fought back, prompting online discussion about the issue. 1019
<PERSON> received a tremendous amount of support as a result of her courage and grace under fire.
Carnival lover <PERSON>, founder of #everyBODYplayahmas, a website dedicated to helping people of all shapes and sizes to feel confident participating in Carnival celebrations. Photo courtesy Every Body Play Ah Mas.
As it turns out, a Caribbean body-positive movement — #everyBODYplayahmas — has been available as an online resource since 2014. After being body shamed herself in a Trinidad Carnival publication, plus-size model and Carnival lover <PERSON>, who founded the site, made it her mission to “a safe space for #everyBODY to be comfortable playing mas”. Since then, she says, “#everyBODYplayahmas has grown to being a social media campaign that has reached Caribbean carnivals around the world.”
<PERSON> was heartened by the attention that <PERSON> received, saying, “Many women believe they cannot wear a costume and thanks to masqueraders like <PERSON> and our followers we can shed a different light on what true representation of masqueraders looks like.”
The website has a full listing of annual regional Carnivals, as well as affiliated events and diaspora Carnival celebrations.
Where the network finds most support, though, is in the blog section, where plus-size women share their stories and Instagram photos:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by everyBODYplayahmas (@everybodyplayahmas) on Mar 22, 2019 at 2:06pm PDT
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by everyBODYplayahmas (@everybodyplayahmas) on Mar 21, 2019 at 11:17am PDT
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by <PERSON> (@monifclarke) on Aug 7, 2017 at 10:51am PDT
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by @rantothezebra on Aug 4, 2018 at 6:34pm PDT
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Carnival Slayers™ (@carnivalslayers) on Mar 22, 2019 at 9:03am PDT
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Carnival Slayers™ (@carnivalslayers) on Mar 22, 2019 at 10:43am PDT
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Carnival Slayers™ (@carnivalslayers) on Mar 22, 2019 at 4:23am PDT 641