There is a quiet, persistent erasure that lives in the margins of fashion and mediaโwhere plus-size bodies are still treated as niche, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identities are flattened into stereotypes. But in that space of plus size AAPI influencers, something powerful has been blooming.
Across digital platforms, fashion campaigns, and grassroots movements, a growing group of plus size AAPI influencers and activists have carved out a vibrant, visible presence. Their work is not just about fashionโitโs about embodiment, belonging, and breaking generational silences. Itโs about reclaiming joy in the face of invisibility.
These creators challenge the tired narratives that tell AAPI people to be small, quiet, and compliant. They honor their heritage while expressing themselves boldly, colorfully, and without apology. Their presence reminds us that fat liberation, cultural pride, and self-love are deeply connectedโand beautifully expressed.
This list doesnโt just highlight style or social reach. It honors the impact of showing up fully in a world that isnโt always built to hold you. These are the plus size AAPI influencers you need to knowโnot just because theyโre trendsetters, but because theyโre changemakers.
As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, we offer this list as both tribute and invitation: to follow, to learn, to support, and to celebrate these trailblazers not just this month, but always.
10 Plus Size AAPI Influencers and Activists to Celebrate in 2025
Lauren Chan, a Chinese and Middle Eastern model, designer, and LGBTQ+ advocate, continues to break barriers in fashion. In 2025, she made history as the first out lesbian to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit solo. As the founder of Henning, a luxury brand for professional plus-size women, Lauren remains a leading voice at the intersection of size, queerness, and cultural identity.
Jaanvi Omkar Hate, an Indian plus-size model and cultural influencer, blends tradition and activism with elegance. Known for her viral saree series and her titles as Mrs. Asia International Plus Size and Maharashtraโs Supermodel, Jaanvi is proof that heritage and self-love canโand shouldโcoexist beautifully.
Bishamber Das, the UKโs first Asian plus-size model, uses her British-Indian and Malaysian heritage to challenge cultural and size-based stereotypes. From pageants to global campaigns and her fashion line, Girl Like Me, Bishamberโs work champions South Asian women and demands that fashion make room for bigger, browner bodiesโwithout apology.
Sakshi Sindwani, the vibrant Indian fashion creator and model, is redefining beauty on a global stage. From her joyful, high-style Instagram feed to her headline-making red carpet debut at Cannes in 2025 with L'Orรฉal, Sakshi is unapologetically taking up space and showing South Asian plus-size representation in full, technicolor glory.
Yumi Nu, the Japanese-Dutch model, musician, and designer, continues to expand her legacy with the launch of NU 22, a size-inclusive, elevated fashion line that blends minimalist cool with streetwear ease. As a former Sports Illustrated cover star and founder, Yumi is building a world where plus-size Asian bodies are not only seenโtheyโre styled with intention and power.
Amanda Yao, a Chinese fashion designer and body positivity advocate, is helping lead the size-inclusive movement in China. Her brand Yue Design offers bold, vibrant styles that challenge traditional ideas about what plus-size women "should" wear. Amanda's message, often shared on Xiaohongshu, is clear: reject body anxiety, and dress for joy.
Nabela Noor, a Bangladeshi-American content creator, entrepreneur, and advocate, continues to inspire with her lifestyle brand Love & Noor and her dedication to self-love at every size. Through her social media presence, writing, and advocacy, she invites plus-size South Asian women into a world where softness is strength and beauty is boundless.
Did you find a few new folks to follow?
These plus size AAPI influencers are not just showing upโtheyโre shifting culture. Their work exists at the crossroads of fashion and activism, community and creativity, softness and resistance. They are rewriting beauty standards, fighting invisibility, and showing the world what representation really looks like when itโs rooted in authenticity and pride.
But celebration isnโt enough if itโs only seasonal. Giving these women their flowers means more than applauseโit means amplification, investment, collaboration, and consistent credit. It means citing their work, supporting their brands, and making space for the nuance they bring to conversations around body, race, and identity.
We are no longer treating plus-size AAPI bodies as an afterthoughtโor worse, a contradictionโ and these trailblazers are reminding us that visibility is power, and that power looks damn good in a size 22.
Let this list be more than recognition. Let it be a reminder: theyโve always been here. Itโs time the world caught up.
Who are your favorite AAPI plus size influencers?! We are always looking for more folks to follow and get inspired by!
