Can we talk about Carnival? If you know me, then you know I’m a first generation Jamaican American. Being born to two Jamaican parents and growing up in a household of Caribbean traditions and culture was and still is very important to me.
Honestly, I don’t know who I would be without my deep connections to my parents homeland and the culture I was raised in; it genuinely makes me who I am.
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One part of Caribbean culture that I’ve grown to love and appreciate more as I got older was carnival. Carnival is one of the most anticipated times of the year in the Caribbean as well as certain parts of South America, Europe, and North America.
Just imagine a mass of people, dancing, whining, chipping and jumping, covered in beautiful jewels, costumes, and feathers, paint, powder, rum in hand, and the sounds of soca, calypso, and dancehall blaring through band speakers.
It’s a time to feel your body from the inside out, embrace your femininity, and let loose; whatever that means to you!
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a little Carnival history…
A quick carnival history lesson: Carnival was started hundreds of years ago when followers of the Catholic religion in Italy started the tradition of holding festival right before the first day of Lent; Lent being when Catholics would give up meat – hence the name “carnival” (cahneeval) which meant “farewell to meat and flesh.”
Eventually this tradition reached France and Portugal and later the Caribbean after Columbus enslaved the African and Caribbean people throughout the diaspora from 1836-1917.
The African and Caribbean brought their own traditions to the festival such as parading in villages wearing masks, costumes and singing as it was said to bring good luck and fortune, heal their troubles, and usher relatives who’ve passed (spirits) into the next world.
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J’ouvert, another pivotal piece of the festival, celebrates enslaved peoples freedom. J’ouvert, meaning day break, is a way for Caribbean people to celebrate the freedom of our ancestors and laying claims that our culture and bodies belong to us; not slave masters or people for consumption.
carnival freedom
It was during my first time playing mas during Carnival in Barbados, known as Crop Over, that I felt my most free and liberated. My body was able to move and just be with no cares other than celebrating who I was, my culture, my ancestry, and what it meant to be free.
My body was HOME.
Carnival, and the Caribbean overall, is a place where I have seen my plus size body fully embraced, celebrated, decorated, and enamored. Even though there are still many bands who fail to include plus size people in their band launches and costumes; we are still here naming our space and owning our place!
With Miami Carnival on our heels and returning in October 2021 (I CAN’T WAIT!), I had to take some time and spotlight the scene.
The events are liberating and I want to highlight 6 plus size aka FLUFFY (Caribbean term of endearment of plus size women) women who are owning this event and helping to create online carnival spaces to uplift ALL body types and sizes!
7 Fun and Statement making Plus Size Carnival Looks!
Alexis is a Guyanese feter from Philly. She highlights traveling, playing mas, and celebrating plus size bodies at Carnival. Her passion is for all plus size women to travel the world fearlessly.
Miskha is a carnival and bad gyal from the island of Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. Not only has she created a large platform to celebrate fuller body types during carnival seasons but she also runs her own online boutique, fluffyandsassy.com.
Miskha celebrates the culture an spirit of carnival all year because she believes, “This culture will never die! Carnival is pure unadulterated joy!”
MiMi LaFlare Designs truly embraces the inclusivity of carnival. Born out of her love for carnival and her personal experience of being on every end of the weight spectrum, MiMi has created a line where everyone is welcomed. She creates Monday wear and specialized carnival options for everyone looking for something unique.
Ivy aka FluffyCarnivalGyal is a proud “rolly polly,” a Caribbean term for big girl, a soca and playing mas junkie, and and overall appreciater of Caribbean culture.
Ivy uses her platform to celebrate all Caribbean islands, sharing history lessons, celebrating carnival, and calling out fatphobia and misogynoir in carnival bands and the culture. She does NOT miss!
Shanese is identifies as an Afro Indigenous Kwe hailing from Trinidad & Grenada. Not only is she a writer, consultant, and teacher but she’s also a content creator centering Caribbean cultures and people, including her love of Carnival and feteing!
EveryBodyPlayAhMas is an IG page, ran by Nadelle who is from Dominica and also the former 2019 face of Toronto Carnival!
On this page she’s curated, that I have also had the pleasure of being featured on, she creates a body positive environment that showcases and celebrates the body diversity that is Caribbean Carnivals!
If you’re looking for the page that spotlights all shapes and sizes of bodies in Carnival, this is the page to follow!
Naming dancing to Soca, Dancehall, and Afrobeats as her resistance, Toni curates and creates space for Carnival to be celebrated! Not only is she celebrating all aspects of Caribbean culture on her page; she's dropping Caribbean history, sharing the best places for plus size carnival must haves, and taking you all with her one fete at a time!
I hope you loved this list of bold women wukking up in Carnival! Want to continue learning more about carnival, playing mas, and the culture?
Check out some terms to know here.
This should answer MOST of your carnival questions, but I’m sure not all. But ask away!!!
Are there any plus size carnival bloggers, influencers, or Caribbean centered pages you follow that highlights plus size people? Let us know!
We look forward to learning about them too.
I luv this article. This is more history that our young people need to know. Such interesting meanings and connections to their ancestors. The Canboulay really struck me as something that would be interesting to teach them. We have Mardi Gras where I live but the children here NEED to know there is another carnival that is even better!
Not ONE mention of Trinidad and Tobago? Come on now!!!
love it!
I am of Cuban and Mexican decent and I have been asked to be in a Carnivale themed float. I am plus size but I can’t find anywhere that makes amazing costumes? help.