IN CONVERSATION WITH DANI DMC

interview by JANA LETONJA

Renowned plus-sized model and fashion and lifestyle influencer Dani DMC is a rebel against society by nature and is a firm believer that confidence is the gateway to true freedom. She utilizes her social media platforms to push her message to her ‘Confidence Crew’ and empower and encourage women to love themselves unconditionally and step into unapologetic confidence.

 You’ve built a successful career as a plus-size model and confidence activist. What inspired you to start this journey, and how did you first break into the fashion industry?

I feel like it would sound so cool to say I had dreamed of this career since I was a little girl and I made my dreams come true, but that was not my reality at all. When I was younger, there was no representation at all for bigger bodies. We were never included in the day to day discussion of fashion and beauty, let alone looked up to as public figures. Once I got introduced to the plus-size modeling industry in 2017, that was reason enough for me to pursue this career and play my part in changing the narrative for bigger bodies. Once I had been modeling for a year, it became desperately clear how many issues there still were in the fashion world. This pushed me to start a YouTube channel, where I could not only inspire women with my confidence, style, and body, but also my voice and message.

As someone who challenges societal norms, what were some of the biggest obstacles you faced in the modeling world, and how did you overcome them?

I think what I faced in the modeling industry was similar to what I had experienced throughout my life. It was just magnified. I faced a lot of rejection and my body was constantly on display for others to analyze and pass judgement on. My body was often airbrushed and in some cases, even completely altered to look much smaller. Just like any industry, there is an agenda set by the higher ups of every company/brand and everyone is striving for perfection and aesthetics in the fashion world. The reality is, many don’t believe bigger bodies fit into that. It just takes one company to take a stand and do something against the norm. We’ve seen small glimpses of this since my time in the industry, but recently we’ve seen a huge regression. This shows a lot of it was performative and not because these companies actually want to create real change.

You believe that confidence is the key to true freedom. Can you share a personal moment when you fully embraced your confidence and felt empowered?

Honestly, I’m so grateful to say there’s too many moments to name where I’ve stepped into my confidence and felt truly empowered. My earliest memory would be as a kid when I was being bullied and not allowing myself to believe the lies and hate that were being spewed at me. Since then, I’ve chosen myself and prioritized my happiness and self-love more times than I can count. This is another reason I’m here doing what I do. I genuinely believe I was put through certain obstacles at a young age and given the gift of true unwavering confidence, so that I could pass it on and show others the freedom that comes with confidence.

Self-love is at the core of your message. How did you develop your own radical self-love, and what advice do you have for others struggling to do the same?

From the moment we’re born, we’re given so much information. What is right. What is wrong. What is beautiful. What is not. So much of growing up is discovering what is true for you and what is not. A lot of us adopt ideas that aren’t even our own. When I was a teenager, I felt really lost and went through this self-discovery earlier than I think most do. I was always told I wasn’t whole, good enough, etc. I had this turning point after high school where I became very overprotective of myself. That’s when the shift really happened for me. I couldn’t believe I let so many people hurt me and feed me information that wasn’t what I actually believed. This is why I always suggest to my community to spend time alone. So many of us are afraid to be alone with our thoughts and that’s exactly where we need to start. No one is going to understand you or look out for you the way you will for yourself. Start with yourself and build a strong foundation. That way, no outside opinions can influence you and you will always know your own value first and foremost.

Your platform has created an incredible community of women who feel empowered by your message. What does this community mean to you, and how do you continue to inspire them?

This community means the world to me. My confidence crew. Honestly, I get emotional even thinking about it. I was such a loner as a kid and never felt understood. I started this community to pour into women that felt like me, but I never expected to be poured into the way I have been. My community rides just as hard for me as I do for them. My younger self will always be my reason that keeps me going, but my community is a close second.

In a world where social media can often promote unrealistic beauty standards, how do you ensure your content remains authentic and uplifting?

Just like in my personal life, I try to not be influenced by the outside world in my professional life. At my core, I’m unapologetically myself. I couldn’t be unauthentic even if I tried. Staying positive and uplifting can be a harder task, especially in the state of our world and how dark the internet has become, but it reminds me that my spirit and energy is needed now more than ever.

How do you think the fashion and beauty industries are evolving in terms of body inclusivity, and what more needs to be done?

It makes me sad to say I think we’re not evolving at all right now, but instead going in reverse. Since Y2K became trendy, the negative parts of the early 2000s are also making a comeback. I’m not happy about it to say the least. I think the beauty industry is showing a bit more inclusivity with shade ranges and diversity in models, but the fashion industry is embarrassing at this point. We’re seeing many brands remove their plus sizes and/or have no models bigger than a size 12. I don’t just want to see plus sizes in these industries. We want to see diverse body shapes, non-airbrushed bodies, disabled bodies, racial diversity, and the list goes on. If a human exists, they should be represented. We want to see ourselves when we shop, when we scroll, when we walk down the street. It doesn’t seem that big of an ask to me.

How would you describe your personal style, and how does fashion play a role in self-expression and empowerment for you?

I’m not sure I can describe my personal style, as it’s ever changing. When I wake up, it’s like my own game of dress up. Fashion’s sole purpose for me is self-expression and showing my body love by making her the coolest mannequin possible. Dressing has always been a struggle because my size was always difficult to find, and I had to be extremely creative and express myself in other ways too, like with my love of makeup, piercings, and the shaved bleached hair. The second you stop caring and wear what you want, naturally the cooler you’ll become because you’re the only person whose opinion is being considered.

What does being unapologetically confident mean to you, and how can others learn to embody that mindset?

Unapologetic confidence means I will not apologize for taking up too much space, being too loud, or not fitting into your idea of beauty. Instead, I choose myself, my happiness, and my truth. I refuse to let others define my life or my thoughts. This mindset starts with you and you alone. Your self-love journey is one you have to enter into alone and no one else can come along. You have to get comfortable setting boundaries, with yourself too, the power of controlling, removing negative self-talk, blocking people that no longer serve you, and when thinking of who you look up to as your idea of beauty, power and confidence, include yourself. It’s not easy and it most definitely won’t happen overnight, but it will be the most rewarding thing you can invest in.

You’ve accomplished so much already. What’s next for you? Are there any exciting projects, collaborations, or personal goals you’re working toward?

There is and always will be an ‘up next’ for me. I’ve always got something up my sleeve and will always continue to pour into my work and community. I’ve just made the massive move from Los Angeles to London. I’m so excited to spread my light in this city. Many collaborations and projects are coming soon, including the launch of my podcast this Spring. This has been a long time coming and will be everything my community has been asking for and then some. In the meantime, stay up to date with me on my socials and buckle up because this ride has only just begun.

photography LUCY and LYDIA