Alicia P. Young
Writer, Blogger, Public Speaker
platform on speaking her truth. Her advocacy includes Mental Health Awareness,
advocate for their health care in the face of weight discriminatory
practices within the health care system. AP also has a passion for fashion
and beauty, specifically for women of extended sizes! Through her blog
and social media platforms; she encourages and motivates
women to shed the stigma of existing in larger bodies.
Leuryck Ortiz Valentin
Writer, Blogger,
“Do not bow your head and walk tall”. The words of her grandmother echo in the mind of Leuryck Ortiz Valentín every time she shares a photo on her Instagram account. With each photo, she gains the assuredness she’d lost while trying to reach unrealistic standards of beauty. Born October 9, 1981 and the oldest of three sisters, for many she is “Leu”, and for those closest to her she is “Gordy”.
Married with two children she lives alongside her family on the island of enchantment, Puerto Rico. A nurse by profession who has made her free time into a movement for liberation, one which is manifested on social media. She enjoys writing stories, many of which are personal experiences mixed with a bit of fiction. Charged with an energy and characteristic humor, as well as a vocabulary in which curse words abound and are utilized to emphasize her message. (We already know her mother scolds her for her writings) Part of her work is shared as a collaborator on the digital magazine Hound. Writing is one of her passions which she combines with dance and transforms into motivational speeches on her blog Oppositevisions.
Feminism forms an important part of her message of self-love. She is inspired by rebellious women who just like herself, grew tired of giving up their space. She enjoys sharing her journey to self-love through dance, shamelessly showing her sensuality, and reclaiming her right to decide what she does with her body. The best way she understands to rally a call to action and change in other women, is to be the change she wishes to see.
Rashida Khanbey-Miller
Sensuality Teacher | Researcher | Performer | Speaker
Co-Owner of The Temptress Boudoir and Creator of The Reclaiming Your Sexy Method™
Over the last decade Rashi has inspired people worldwide to talk about their relationship to self-care, sensuality, and intimacy as an integral part of their lives.
Rashi intentionally creates brave spaces for women + non binary femmes to share their stories, get practical tools, and network with other like minded people for insightful and provocative conversations. Some of Rashi’s lecture topics include: navigating grief, forgiveness, and reclaiming sensual exploration as a spiritual and self-care practice.
Whiskey Girl
Blogger, Author, Spoken Word Artist
Whiskey Girl is a Washington, DC-based blogger, self-published author,
spoken word artist and single mother with a full-time professional career
in the health field. She lends her unique voice and perspective to her own
WG’s Embrace the Crazy blog. In addition to writing, her true passions
include public work and serving as a mouthpiece to address mental health
issues within the black community.
Live Performance @ 10:30am
Ellise Smith
Doctoral Student, Podcaster, Photographer, Spoken Word Artist
Ellise Smith is a doctoral student studying Urban Education at Indiana University (IU). She obtained her baccalaureate from Eastern Michigan University not far from her hometown of Detroit, Michigan and recently graduated with her M.S.Ed from IU with a concentration of Higher Education and Student Affairs. Smith has a research interest in understanding the experiences of fat bodies, as she self identifies as fat, and works to provide a space to share their narratives. She uses spoken word poetry, hip-hop culture, and freestyle lyricism as a catalyst to share these stories. Her interest lead to the creation of her brand Fatness Fiction and a podcast titled +Plus Size Magic Radio. On this platform she interviews a plethora of individuals and scholars, including Dr. Lori Patton Davis, in regard to experiences as a plus sized body. Smith is currently planning to further research in her doctoral program using frameworks from Black Feminist Thought and Critical Race Theory to ensure the work and narratives around bigger bodies are included in the field of academia.
SistaChat Panel Host Saturday @ 11:00 AM
Courtney “Dj Queen” Key
DJ, Music Producer
Originally from the Washington D.C area Courtney “Dj Queen” Key, Is a fresh new female Dj/Music Producer trying to break ground into her community as an advocate for body positivity and self-love. Courtney “Dj Queen” began making music in 2012 which gave her the opportunity to complete tracks and or sound for local Indie Artist in her area such as “Chop Beatz” Mr Beatz is a huge community musical genius when it come to Dc’s popular creative music style “Go-Go”. Between 2012 to present Courtney “Dj Queen” as also worked with the likes of Ashley Stewart stores, Torrid Stores and iconic Plus-Size dance groups such as NYC own Pretty Big Movement, Fat girls Dance and more.
Recently relocating to Atlanta Courtney “Dj Queen” continues to push to become one of the top Plus-Size musical empire’s and female Dj’s who made a impact and change in the music industry when it comes to body shaming such as Melissa Vivian Jefferson better known to the public eye as “Lizzo”. Courtney “Dj Queen”Continues to encourage and build up the youth by showing them that when you put your mind to something, to never let anyone tell you it cant be done because of gender and or other factors.
Featured Event DJ