BODY positivity takes hard work and dedication, but one plus-size influencer is trying to make that path easier for other women.
The confident content creator is a role model – and she might as well be a swimwear model, too, since she rocks a bikini.
Nikki Garza is an influencer who posts positive and body confidence contentCredit: TikTok/itsnikki
Garza reminded her followers they were ‘safe’ to be themselves with herCredit: TikTok/itsnikki
Self-described “plus-size baddie” Nikki Garza posts encouraging clips to her TikTok page to help other women build confidence.
In one clip, Garza made an unapologetic case for baring it all in a bikini, no matter what trolls say.
Posing in a lilac bikini, Garza grinned and gave her stomach a gentle pat before mouthing along to a viral TikTok song.
“If feeling comfortable in your body is hard,” she wrote, “you’re safe with me.”
Garza spread her arms and nodded before placing her hands over her heart.
She pledged her support to followers in the video description, writing, “Body confidence is a journey. I’m here to help.”
In a different video, Garza stood in a bright coral bikini on a green screen beach backdrop.
She mimed herself shouting down a troll on the beach, then turning to encourage a woman wearing a bikini for the first time.
“You got the confidence to wear something out of your comfort zone?” she wrote in the caption. “CONGRATULATIONS.”
Garza left no room at all for argument, and her followers were grateful.
Garza is unafraid to be seen in swimwear and encourages other women tooCredit: TikTok/itsnikki
She even mimed herself squealing in delight at another woman’s confidenceCredit: TikTok/itsnikki
“I feel so safe to share my body journey because of creators like you,” a fellow influencer wrote in the comments. “Thank you for all you do.”
Other women said that Garza’s positivity helped them reclaim their agency after lifetimes of cruel comments.
“Growing up I was bullied relentlessly, called Godzilla,” one person admitted. “You have been such a huge inspiration and help.”
Some opened up about the internalized stigma they saw in friends and family about their own bodies.
“My biggest critic besides myself is my mom, who’s also plus sized,” one woman said. “She acts like me wanting to show off my figure is wrong.”
“Just had baby number four. Struggling with traumatic birth and feeling disgusted with my body,” a mom wrote. “I really needed to see this.”
Dozens of people called Garza gorgeous and beautiful, saying her confidence radiated through her skin.
Her fans viewed Garza’s content as emblematic of positive, wide-scale change in the body positivity movement.
“I love that we are embracing all bodies,” a commenter wrote. “I grew up in the 80s and 90s and I love seeing the progress.”