Carnival Empowered Me to Love My Curves Long Before Body Positivity Was a ‘Trend’
Caribbean culture didn’t just play a vital role in my upbringing. It’s practically embedded in my veins and continues to help shape the woman I am today. As the child of a Trinidadian mother and Kittitian father, I grew up watching the Caribana parade in Toronto, Canada, where the procession of women dancing freely in complex masks and bejeweled costumes became the highlight of my summers. I knew that eventually, the second-hand joy I felt merely watching from the sidelines would no longer suffice. I wanted in.
Carnival remains the backbone of Caribbean identity not only in Canada but across the globe. In most places, celebrations take place over 1-3 days, with...
