You definitely recognise La’Shaunae from her Ronan McKenzie-shot Universal Standard campaign, where she stood, majestic, in a white tank, knickers, and socks. Her work – which ranges from modelling to design (her first love) – is all about creating representation for fat black women, whether that’s through images of herself, or the wider-fit shoe collection she created with Jeffrey Campbell.
Being unseen, and deemed unfit for fashion, is something La’Shaunae is driven to challenge. “If you have a platform and a voice and face inequalities for whatever reason, I think you should be transparent with these things and acknowledge them and not stay silent just because the world tells you that you’re ‘too much’ or ‘ruining things’ for yourself, because there is a person right now thankful for your voice,” she says.
As for what’s next, La’Shaunae wants to book a magazine cover – or at least to see another fat black girl doing the same. “I’m dying to see more of that joy,” she says, “Also, seeing gorgeous people wearing the things I’ve created: seeing them worn (everywhere from) grocery stores to Vogue!”
Tom Rasmussen