This Gen-Z influencer is one of the established and breakout names informing fashion and, more importantly, culture today. More from the series →
TikTok creator
Remi Bader didn’t plan on becoming the face of plus-size fashion — it just, kind of, happened. Like many others, Bader lost her job in marketing in 2020 and found herself with extra time. Her father, who “has been in the garment center for over 40 years and works specifically on women’s jeans,” recommended she explore curve modeling. Simultaneously, she was discovering TikTok and found a “whole other side of TikTok, which was curvy fashion.” She started to post, beginning with videos where she recreated looks worn by Sofia Richie and Emily Ratajkowski in her own size.
Bader recalls being shocked when one of her early videos reached 10,000 views. Today, she has over 2 million followers on the app and has modeled in campaigns for brands she never imagined would carry her size, like Abercrombie & Fitch and Free People. She has also inked partnerships with brands ranging from Revolve to Walmart. Bader is known for “realistic hauls,” in which she shops a selection of clothes from a popular retailer and shows her followers what they look like on her body.
Sometimes she gets flack from followers for the brands she works with, based on their histories of excluding shoppers wearing larger sizes. But Bader is adamant that progress should be acknowledged and celebrated, and that companies should be not only allowed, but also encouraged to move forward. “For brands that are willing to make a change … I’m happy to be a part of that,” she said. “I’m not gonna hold a grudge against them.”
Bader’s ascent to TikTok fame happened quickly, and she’s open about the fact that she’s still adjusting to being seen as a role model. She wants to be one, but also wants to be real about not having all the answers. While many would cringe at the thought of filming themselves in pants that don’t quite zip or a sweater that gaps at the buttons, Bader said it doesn’t bother her.
“It’s hard for me to realize that me being open — which is so normal for me, and I’ve always been like that — is an actual brave thing,” she said. That’s not to say that she doesn’t have anxious moments. Recently, she posted a video that attracted tons of unwanted comments about her body, which triggered her anxiety. In fact, her TikTok community had to encourage her to get out of bed.
There’s a positive power in having an audience, she said.
“When it comes to the fashion industry, I feel like I am making a difference. I’m not afraid to speak up, and now these brands are coming to me, wanting to make changes. That’s definitely an awesome feeling.”
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