LES REBELLES #006: Sarah Chiwaya
Introducing Sarah Chiwaya, a trailblazing plus-size model and influencer who has redefined beauty standards with her confidence, style, and unapologetic self-love. As a body-positive advocate, she inspires countless women to embrace their curves and live fearlessly. You may recognize her from our website, Sarah was a model for the release of our nude nets. After wrapping up on set, Sarah left a lasting impression with her dynamic energy and had us wanting to know more. So here we are, our sixth Rebelle. We're thrilled to share more about her journey, her influence, and why she's become a beloved figure in the fashion world.
What are some common misconceptions about plus-size fashion that you'd like to dispel?
That all plus size shoppers want the same thing! I always say that plus size women are not a monolith - just like with the straight size market, we have a variety of aesthetics, desires, and budgets. There are plus minimalists and plus maximalists; there are bargain shoppers and luxury collectors; there are women that want the latest trends and those that prefer classic, timeless pieces - and everything in between. So when I hear out of touch people in a boardroom say "that's not what the plus woman wants," I have to keep my mental eyeroll from becoming a physical one. Instead of relying on outdated ideas that all plus size women hate their bodies and want to conceal and camouflage, companies should be interacting with the plus community and experts, and make the same styles they are known for in a broader size range (scaled and fitted correctly, of course!)
What is your day to day routine like as an influencer? Do you have a strict am to pm schedule or are you more see where the day takes you?
I am decidedly not a morning person, but I still keep regular business hours during the week, getting up around 7:30 and starting work an hour later (once the coffee kicks in). My mornings are typically comprised of meetings, emails, and all the miscellaneous admin tasks that make up a lot of the boring behind the scenes work of being a full time influencer and freelancer. Then I usually either shoot content or head out to go to in person meetings or events. I try to spend some time at a coffee shop or coworking space every day too - there is just something about that type of atmosphere that is so conducive to getting writing done! But some days are all events or all shoots or all admin, so my standard day really does vary. I also end up working a lot of nights and weekends, just because there is simply not enough time in the day to get everything done. It's not unusual to find me watching bad reality TV at night with a glass of wine in one hand and doing work on my phone in the other.
What advice would you give to someone starting as a plus-size fashion influencer?
Make sure you have a really firm grasp on why you are doing it. If I was just doing it for the money or the "free" clothes, I would have stopped a long time ago - it takes a lot more work than it might appear to from the outside! But I started Curvily when I personally experienced how powerful stylish plus size representation could be: Seeing other plus blogger babes living their lives confidently was what started me on my self love journey. I wanted to be a part of that positive change, and I decided that if I could do the same for just one other woman, it would be worth the risk of putting myself out there online. I am really grateful to say I've been able to achieve that goal many times over. Even now, a decade later, every single time a woman tells me I helped her find her style or love her body, I feel affirmed in my choice to make this my career. It's this wonderful feeling of "oh, I am doing the work I am meant to do."
What are your future goals, both personally and professionally? Where do you see the plus-size fashion industry heading in the next 5-10 years?
Professionally, I want to continue to work on pushing for more and better plus representation in the fashion industry, particularly in New York Fashion Week. New York is supposed to be cutting edge and forward looking when it comes to fashion, so it is embarrassing to see how we've regressed lately when it comes to size diversity on the runways. Like England shouldn't be more progressive than NYC! I am also continuing my mission for more and better shoppable options in plus - inclusion on the catwalk doesn't mean as much if its just a custom one-off for one of the handful of plus supermodels. Personally, I'm going to try to do better about actually taking time off of work - though that is not easy to do when you care about it so much!
Our signature question at Les Belles. When do you feel most beautiful?
I think it has to be on the beach! I am such a water baby, and something about being in a cute swimsuit on a warm sunny day with the sound of waves in the background just feels right. I didn't always feel this at home in my body - I used to feel like I had to cover up at the beach, but unlearning internalized body shame and fatphobia has been so freeing, and now I can confidently say I am the happy beach babe I was always meant to be (as soon as the weather allows it!)
