Plus-size, queer, being as dark as Alek Wek; suddenly everything society told us was wrong with us is what is helping us get ahead. Here are 4 reasons why there has never been a better time be yourself.

1. The Thick Leeyonce clapback that was heard around the world

Things didn’t turn out as planned for Leyton Mokgerepi after he tried to fat shame Lesego “ThickLeeyonce”. The Midrand-based tweep posted that the only people he seems to attract were fat women.  Big mistake.

Girls that I like vs Girls that like me pic.twitter.com/3TDfKVs7bo

— . (@imleyton) September 19, 2017

With just four words, “I don’t like you” Lesego shut down her hater and became a viral sensation in the process, gaining likes from Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande, and being interviewed by Teen Vogue to Essence. The fight against body shaming is still long, but Thick Leeyonce, her clapback and her plus-size clothing line is changing the story of what it is like to be big: while haters will always be there and try to reach for big girls, sisters are no longer going to retreat or hate our bodies. #BodyPositivity

2. Nakhane is not giving other kids a chance

Nakhane is not the first openly gay musician in South Africa and the world, but his recently launched video of Clairvoyant puts him in a league of his own as an artist who is completely comfortable in his skin. The Clairvoyant music video is an intimate look at the romantic relationship between two black men. From the passionate kisses to the intimates cuddles, Clairvoyants shows us a different black love story that we haven’t seen enough of in South Africa.

Watch the video here:

3. Black Coffee is living his best life

No one can argue that 2017 has been Black Coffee’s breakout year. He got a residency at one of Ibiza’s biggest clubs, he was featured in Drake’s album. This has also been the year that we have seen him truly come out to discuss his disability. The house dj who lost his arm in an accident has used Instagram to discuss his insecurities and speak about his new journey to stop hiding his disability.

While here in Berlin I went to see this great artist @yohnagao yesterday in his Studio and I decided to put on an arm brace. When I was young after the car accident I use to wear one and being a kid it was hard as kids can be mean so I decided to stop wearing it especially in public.It has taken me so much time to appear like this in public because of my own insecurities but I decided to post this picture not just because for years people had their own versions of my story,I did this for myself. This is a big step for me personally,being able to walk freely without over thinking is such a great achievement for me and I’m becoming more confident to do it more often.We all have little/big things that we don’t like about ourselves and we often put ourselves down before other people do,I’m personally working towards breaking those chains in my space and I believe with this I’m gonna unlock even more opportunities for myself.Dont let anything pull you down. Fight for the best version of yourself. I’ve always been tough a person I’d take anything, even inherit other people’s problems and bottle them inside while they eat me up, now as a Father I try to teach my kids not to do the same so I’m learning to not to be strong when I’m not supposed to be ,I’m learning to cry and reflect in my own truth and all my faults and I’m trying be better.My dear Brothers it’s ok,it’s ok to cry. Growing up we were often told “indoda ayikhali”.This line has mostly groomed men with no emotions who find it easy to harm other people (emotionally or physically) mostly women.Lets change this. Let’s be our Parent’s wildest dreams.It starts with facing ourselves then loving ourselves. I’m so proud of me. I love me. A post shared by Black Coffee (@realblackcoffee) on Aug 25, 2017 at 11:14pm PDT

4. Thando Hopa is challenging perceptions of what a model like
Move over Kendall Kardashian and Gigi Hadid, Thando is taking over. The model with Albanism is slowly taking over the industry. She graced the cover of the August issue of Marie Clare and has been featured in the widely acclaimed 2018 Pirelli cover together with Whoopi Goldberg and Lupita Nyongo

A post shared by thando hopa (@thandohopa) on Jul 20, 2017 at 4:34am PDT