‘Everyone is celebrated’: Notting Hill Carnival focuses on plus-size positivity

WWhen dance instructor and body confidence advocate Trina Nicole was asked to describe the decades of vibrant, eclectic, feather-filled memories she’s collected since she was two years old at Notting Hill Carnival, one word came to mind: freedom.

“Carnival was a place where I felt like I could be free, liberated and comfortable in my body,” said Nicole, 32. “For me, Notting Hill Carnival was the first place where I was able to experience and see so much diversity.”

Nicole is one of thousands of people taking part in the 56th annual carnival in west London this weekend. The three-day event is expected to attract a million visitors, who have gathered to witness the dazzled revellers descend on a three-mile parade celebrating Caribbean heritage, culture and the arts.

For Nicole, who is of Caribbean descent, Carnival symbolizes more than just a chance to party and enjoy herself. She said Carnival has played an important role in her own personal journey of self-love, acceptance and belonging.

“I grew up with women of different sizes, different shapes, wearing their costumes in the streets and dancing so freely. It was the first time I had the opportunity to really experience body positivity before it was a trend, before it was a hashtag. I was privileged to see that growing up,” she said.

It is this sense of liberation that Nicole, a body inclusivity advocate, hopes to create for others with the creation of the carnival’s first dedicated space for plus-size women.

Launched last year, the space is a collaboration between Nicole’s plus-size dance class Curve Catwalk and masquerade band Caribbean Sessions. This year at Carnival, the space will feature 18 women, some of whom have never been to Carnival before, dressed in masquerade outfits or Caribbean Sessions T-shirts.

“Being a bigger body, being a plus-size woman, Carnival was really a place where I felt like I could be free and comfortable in my body, and I really wanted members of my community to experience that joy,” she said. “For me, Notting Hill Carnival is definitely a place where you can just be yourself and be free.”

One of the reasons Nicole decided to partner with Caribbean Sessions this year was because the group offered participants more choices when it came to their outfits, such as a ‘curvy option’, to ensure more people felt comfortable in their costumes.

“I love that Caribbean Sessions offers options for different body types. That’s not something you should take for granted because not all bands offer that,” she said.

Caribbean Sessions bandleader Rhianna Julien said Nicole’s message of body inclusivity was one that “resonated deeply” with them. “We hope that through this unique collaboration we can reach and amplify a wider audience and not only remind them that everyone is beautiful, but show them,” Julien said.

The plus-size space was created last year during Carnival, after Nicole saw online that more and more people agreed that they had to change their diet and follow a strict fitness program to look good for Carnival, which she believes goes against the essence of the festival.

“Now I see women trying to get ready for Carnival and sometimes even participating in the diet culture, where people feel like they have to restrict their eating or go to the gym to look sexy or just to look good in their costume,” she said. “It’s made me question whether Carnival is for me. I feel like I don’t belong, or because I’m not small enough, I can’t feel good in my costume.”

For Nicole, the online discussions about body image are somewhat reminiscent of the sense of exclusion she experienced as a teenager. “Growing up, I was always the biggest in my group of friends, and so I always struggled with my overall body image, my self-worth, and my overall confidence. I would often make myself smaller, I wouldn’t put myself out there,” she said.

Nicole said that given the conversations surrounding Carnival, she had to constantly remind herself of the true message of the festival.

“I know Carnival, everyone is welcome, everyone is celebrated, no matter what your size or shape is, and I really want to go back to that,” she said. “That was really the only place where none of that mattered and where you celebrate everyone, no matter what you look like.”

As the festival approaches, Nicole, who is celebrating her 30th year at Carnival, said she was looking forward to celebrating with her community. “This year I’m definitely happy to be in my costume,” she said. “It’s really hard not to be happy at Carnival — happy music, people having a good time celebrating.”