Shaping the Future Shaping the Future digital FINAL X | Page 52

M E E T AYA N N A
VIP
A Q&A SESSION WITH AYANNA, ONE OF OUR
FEATURED GUESTS FOR SHAPING OF THE FUTURE
1. Tell us about yourself? Who you are? Any
accomplishments should be added.
My name is Ayanna Lafayette and I am a senior at Southern
University Laboratory School. I want to pursue a career as
a fashion stylist. Being invited to J. Bolin’s fashion Boot
Camp has given me a foundation to jump-start my career
in fashion. I have also been asked to host a fashion styling
class with a local boutique and because of that I am now
being featured in AROA Magazine and am also styling the
models for this months cover.
2. Tell us about your most memorable experience
of being body shamed? How did it make you feel?
How did you handle that?
I don’t believe I have a most memorable one but being
body shamed as a whole is terrible. When I was younger it
would honestly tear me apart because hearing things from
my peers would make me feel like I was not beautiful or
good enough. As I’ve gotten older, it doesn’t bother me as
much because I’ve gained so much confidence throughout
the years so my mindset on being criticized is they’d still
talk if I was skinny.
3. If you influence the world’s view on plus size
teens, what would you say?
I would say that beauty is in each and every person. It
doesn’t matter their shape or size. It’s honestly about what’s
within; it’s much deeper than what your eyes can see.
4. What is something being plus sized has taught
you?
I can do the same thing a size two girl can do. There’s
nothing that can stop me from being who I am because of
my size.
5. What’s a great experience from being plus
sized?
People as a whole love the way I carry myself. I enjoy
giving other plus sized girls fashion advice.
6. How would you stop body shaming?
Body shaming has been going on forever so stopping it
would be impossible but you can inform people on how
harmful it is and reminding them that they are just as
capable as the next. No one is better than anyone else. God
made us different to show our uniqueness in the world.
8.What message would you like the world to take
away from the “Shaping the Future issue?”
The message I want people to get out of “ Shaping the
Future “ is that being bigger than the next girl doesn’t
make you any less beautiful. I want young ladies to gain
confidence from this issue. I want them to do things out
of their comfort zone because they saw these beautiful
young ladies embracing their sizes. For the young males, I
want them to know that a plus size woman are equally as
beautiful as a skinny woman.
9. If you were standing in front of a crowd of plus
size teens, what would you tell them?
I would tell them to try something that they’ve always
feared to do because of their size. I would remind them of
their beauty and to embrace themselves. You are exactly the
way God wanted you.
FOLLOW HER ON INSTAGRAM
@ayyannaa_