More Than an Influencer
Ah, Influencers. Some people love them, some people hate them but regardless of how you feel, you have to respect them. If you are a brand that hasn’t hopped on this influencer train, well then you might want to hop on because influencers and influencer marketing are truly the moment.
You may be asking yourself “What the heck is influencer marketing?” Influencer marketing, in essence, is “a type of social media marketing that uses endorsements and product mentions from individuals with a dedicated social following and are seen as experts within their niche (influencers).” Influencer marketing is effective because these social influencers have created trust between their followers. As a result, their followers tend to look at them as credible resources when it comes to the products they use or mention. So now you may be saying “Great, but don’t you have to be Kardashian level status to have any actual impact on your following?” Well, yes and no. Of course, having the incredible following of Kim Kardashian or Kylie Jenner would be extremely beneficial in reaching a wider audience. But you don’t have to have celebrity status to make your mark in the influencer world. Influencers range from Celebrity, mega, macro, micro, nano, and niche influencers. Regardless of the influencer type, every one is capable of making a significant impact on an audience. Truly, anyone who has claimed thought leadership in a niche holds the power to reach an audience through social media and ultimately, become an influencer.
With COVID-19 changing our lives completely, it also played a role in transforming influencer collaboration. With social distancing and stay-at-home mandates in place, people were stuck indoors reaching to social media as a source of entertainment and relief. Influencers are used to creating content at home, so indoors, many focused on topics like fitness, hobbies, fashion, food, and health. Before 2020, most influencer marketing was presented through Instagram but with the launch of TikTok, we have seen the number of influencers and influencer collaborations soar.
One influencer who has a substantial Insta following has taken to TikTok and channeled her brand through successful videos and storytelling. Rosey Blair, known as @roseybeeme on Instagram and TikTok, is a fashion influencer who focuses on plus-size style. Rosey is a #bodypositivity advocate and describes herself as a style-blogger, lover of pop culture, and a failed actor. On Instagram, we see her eye-catching style through curated photos and her humor shine on TikTok through her “Fat Characters in Film” series. Rosey is sure of herself and tells it like it is. She has no problem calling out fatphobia and injustice on all fronts. Rosey has established a substantial following of online individuals who are not only drawn to her style but drawn to her freshness as well.
Plus-size women don’t have the same opportunities to shop in stores like straight-size individuals. Many brands either don’t have extended sizing or refuse to place them in their brick-and-mortar stores. With so few brands carrying fashionable plus-size options, it is extremely difficult to find clothing that not only fits (which is the first problem) but also challenging to find products that are fashionable as well.
One brand that has created plus-size options that once was strictly a straight-size resource, is Anthropologie. Unlike many notable, iconic brands, Anthropologie has generated some stylish clothing pieces for plus-size women. Instead of creating concealing, and albeit unflattering apparel, Anthropologie does not shy away from creating pieces that accentuate bigger bodies.
For the longest time, all of Anthropologie’s audience has been thin, straight-sized women. With the success of their A+ line, now more than ever is the perfect time to bring more plus-size inclusivity on their socials. With Rosey devoting her page to finding plus-size resources for her followers, she proves to be the perfect influencer for Anthropologie. Plus-size women deserve better when it comes to shopping for fashionable clothes. With so few resources doing the good work of being inclusive, Anthropologie sets itself apart with high-fashion, statement pieces for women of all shapes and sizes. Rosey Blair understands this struggle and she has shown her candidness on this topic through her socials, which is why she has such a rich following from plus-size women.
Anthropologie would not only benefit from Rosey’s authentic platform, but they would be creating space for people who don’t have the same influencer opportunities as others; In this case, those who are thinner, straight-sized, and can easily shop in all sections of any store. Size inclusivity is important, and while I know this, you know this, and Rosey Blair knows this, it is still something that must be fought for and represented. Anthropologie, the choice is yours, but there is only one right choice; and Rosey Blaire is the answer.