Amanda Gardner - Creator of the Week

October 10, 2022 In today's post, we are introducing you to Amanda Gardner, @MsAmandaGardner, from Brooklyn, NY. We update our Creator of the Week every Monday. To be considered for this award, or our Up Next: Influencer weekly list, click here.

The original interview has been edited for spelling errors. Just so you know, Curve Haul may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them.

“I do it for younger me! She deserved someone like the me now to look up to so now I intend to be that for other little chunky girls."

Please enjoy our interview as we get to know Amanda Gardner.

1. Can you briefly walk us through your story? How did you get started and what made you choose to become an influencer?

I’ve always wanted to be an influencer/creator but I didn’t start taking it seriously or actively creating until the pandemic. I was bored at home with nothing to do and decided to download TikTok because everyone was talking about it and that’s where I was able to showcase my personality and have people respond well to it. I try to be authentically me no matter what so the fact that people were accepting me as I am which encouraged me to keep creating.

2. Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some struggles you’ve faced along the way?

It definitely has not been a smooth road as I am still finding my footing in the influencer world. I don’t really have a niche because I enjoy everything, there was a time when I felt pressured to pick one thing and talk about one thing— people would say “you’d have more of a following if you picked one thing and just did that” but I knew that route wasn’t for me.

3. We’d love to learn more about your work. What are you known for? What are you most proud of?

I am everything, I’m fashion, I’m calling out fatphobia, I’m a meme, I’m a funny video. I don’t

want to be put in a box even if that means it will take me longer to get noticed or bigger.

4. Who are the biggest influences in your career?

I’m influenced by so many people but I would have to say Quinta Brunson, Lizzo, Zendaya, and literally every plus-size influencer and fashion guru out here trying to change this

crazy unfair industry. I’m constantly inspired by each and every plus-size creator I see online being unapologetically themselves.

5. Who are some of your fashion inspirations?

Some of my fashion inspirations would be Tabria Majors, that girl stays booked, beautiful and busy! As well as Diana Sirokai, Ahnyla, and Myka (mykascloset) to name a few. Their fashion is always on point and they just show that curvy girls can dress in more than just flowers and patterns!

Shop the Looks:

1. Tabria Majors - @TabriaMajors

Swim Collection (sale) - Cupshe - shop here

2. Diana Sirokai - @DianaSirokai

Lingerie - Fashion Nova - shop here

3. Ahnyla - @Ahnylaa

Cardigan -Forever21 - shop here

Top - Forever21 - shop here

Pants (sale) - Forever21 - shop here

4. Myka - @MykasCloset

Cardigan - Hollister - shop here

Jeans - Hollister - shop here

Button Down - Hollister - shop here

6. What are some of your favorite places to find plus size clothing?

Some of my favorite places to find plus size clothing I would have to say are: Torrid for the shoes. I have wide feet and torrid is the only place I know that actually Has wide-fit shoes. For clothes, I do enjoy Rainbow, Fashion Nova, Pretty Little Thing, Shein, Boohoo, and occasionally when I can find my size Forever21.

7. Do you have any piece of advice that can help someone start doing what you do?

Advice I would have for people who want to get into influencing and creating would be to just start and be yourself. It’s so easy to think that taking on someone else’s persona will be good for you and pull you ahead faster but you never want to look in

the mirror knowing that to get where you are now you had to let go of everything that made you — you. Nothing is ever worth losing yourself over, the right people will gravitate to you for simply being yourself.

8. How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?

People can work with me and collaborate with me through my work email!

9. Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I love creating and everything I do is always for little Amanda who was so sensitive to what people were saying about her body and how she looked or how she should look. I remember being so afraid to post photos because I thought people were going to make fun of me or talk about me and it gave me so much anxiety that I would just delete the photo. I’m so grateful now to be so outspoken and always putting myself out there, I do it for younger me! She deserved someone like the me now to look up

to so now I intend to be that for other little chunky girls.

Find Amanda on her social media:

1. Instagram - @msamandagardner

2. TikTok - @amandapleeze

3. YouTube - @Amanda Pleeze

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