The Personal Is Political

WHY MODEL AND INFLUENCER YVES MATHIEUIS USING HIS PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL GOOD

- Devon Preston

In this day and age, social media plays a huge role in our personal and professional lives. If you play the game right, there’s potential to not only make your living through a site like Instagram but use your following to take free trips around the world and network with your favorite celebrities. However, some influencers don’t exclusively use their followings for personal gain, but instead, utilize their platforms to uplift and inspire marginalized groups. This is the case for model and activist Yves Mathieu, who gives a voice to queer people of color, in particular to trans women of color and victims of gun violence. We caught up with this inked up advocate to learn what inspired him to use social media for social justice and how the fashion industry can continue advancing toward a more inclusive future.

What did you want to be when you grew up and did you imagine you’d be here?

Growing up I had no idea what I wanted to be, I just really liked to be around people. I never imagined that I would be anywhere near here, so it makes everything twice as good.