Mikka Bartolome shares in an exclusive MEGA interview how she uses her influence to advocate for inclusivity and empowerment in fashion
From a magazine’s glossy pages to Instagram’s post algorithm, there’s always this hope to chance upon something that we can relate to. Whether it is a think piece on quarter life crisis or a listicle on being holistically healthy, we want to know that we are not alone in our daily struggles in this world. Admittedly, part of it is finding ways to look presentable as we explore and find ourselves in our 20s.
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It is with the said pursuit of retable content that Mikka Bartolome, also known as ThatsMikka, decided to share bits and pieces of herself to the online community. The digital creator has the term “mid/plus size” written on her bio, a quick description of what to expect on her feed. After just a glance at that introduction and a peek through her posts, women of her build could already sigh in relief and say, “Finally.”
A learning curve
“Buying clothes in-store has always been a struggle because 99% of the time, the item that I want doesn’t come in my size. Before, I always found it so embarrassing to ask the sales lady if they had a bigger size,” the digital creator confessed.
Before the naysayers say it’s just the so-called mindset, it is more than just that. Feeling less about ourselves is surely an internal process. However, society has played a role in molding our perception of beauty and body standards. And it’s not like we can fully just detach ourselves from every judgment or comment.
“When I was growing up, I never saw a woman the same size as me in the media. So that leads me to think that I am not beautiful because I don’t look like all the girls I see on TV,” shared Mikka.
More than the joyful vibe of her dainty aesthetic style, she also had a deeper reason why she started her online journey. “It actually started when I was at my heaviest weight back in 2019. I started going to the gym for the sole purpose of wanting to change how my body looked. When I started working out, that’s when I discovered how strong my body is and how much it can do for me. From there, slowly, my goal changed from going to the gym to lose weight to going to the gym because I love my body enough to take care of it.”
“It’s exhausting to wake up every single day and find ways to change it and make me look a certain way. I just started accepting my body for what it is, and now I’m doing my best to take care of it.”
A sensible style
Mikka’s affinity for the “girly girl” fashion rings true for her choice of bright and pastel colors, as well as dainty cuts and designs. The mix of her Instagram and TikTok content features swimwear, casual, and dressy options, too. Her style tips? First, think about the purpose of dressing up. Second, pick one base article—top, bottom, or accessory—and build your whole look around it.
@thatsmikka for sure my fave look from this series so far 🌸😍 #lovito #lovitoph #softgirlaestethic #softgirlera #plussize #size14 ♬ original sound – evie
At the end of the day, she still stands by fashion’s intertwined Cs as her main principle—confidence and comfortability. She advised, “If you don’t feel comfortable in what you’re wearing in the first place, it defeats the purpose of being confident in what you’re wearing.”
An inclusive movement
With approximately 15,000 followers on Instagram as of writing, it is safe to say that Mikka is already establishing her impact on the digital world. “I’m really happy that my platform reaches all who have felt very insecure about their bodies their whole life. I hope that I’m giving them even just a little bit of inspiration to explore their own style and dress more confidently. I am all about loving and taking care of my body in every stage and changes it may go through,” she remarked.
While content creators like her and Denise Mercedes, Mikka’s personal favorite, are definitely doing their part in uplifting and inspiring individuals, it really takes collective effort to instigate a progressive change. At the end of the day, should brands just rely on influencers to preach what they can provide in the first place? From size and color options to more marketing methods, there is so much that companies can look into in the name of inclusivity.
And if we do need a guide on where to find these brands, well, look no further than ThatsMikka.
Photos from MIKKA BARTOLOME (via Instagram)
