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Discussing Carnival with Friends and Family

As an African American woman not brought up in the culture, I have found myself having some very… interesting interactions with friends, and even some family members that really don’t understand carnival outside what they see in my photos or on social media otherwise. Some of my interactions were very exciting, and heart-warming. Some? Not so much, and some just downright offensive and awkward. You will find my reflections of these experiences below. Perhaps this will inspire you to consider how you will approach these situations in the future, especially if you decide that playing mas is going to be a regular occurrence for you.
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AWM Spotlight: Crystal Wallace

Curvy carnival queens, we honor you! Next up in the AWM spotlight is Crystal Walace, founder of The Curve Experience. Read about how she was inspired to create this platform, her thought s on curvy-girl inclusion and how TCE is not just for plus-sized women.
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A professional. A masquerader.

September 19th will mark my 18th year of military service. This is a reflection of my experiences with body shaming, self-discovery in mas, and how I began to be comfortable about my life as a professional and a masquerader.