Samyra Miller could barely contain her emotions after learning that years of speaking up for plus-size people had landed her among some of Black culture’s most influential names.
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The influencer became visibly emotional on TikTok after discovering that she had been selected for the 2026 EBONY Power 100, a recognition that hits differently considering how much of her online career has been built around demanding visibility in spaces where she says larger bodies are routinely ignored.
On its official 2026 Power 100 page, EBONY identifies Samyra as a “Content Creator, Singer, and Size Inclusivity Advocate.” That short description gets directly to why her inclusion matters. Samyra is not simply a lifestyle personality with a large following. Her social media presence has increasingly centered on confronting companies about how they treat plus-size consumers.
EBONY announced its 2026 class on October 5 under the theme “The Stories We Shape.” The list recognizes Black leaders and changemakers shaping culture across entertainment, business, sports, media, music, technology, and community leadership. Honorees are scheduled to be celebrated at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on November 9.
For Samyra, the EBONY Power 100 recognition arrives after years of turning everyday shopping trips into some of TikTok’s most pointed conversations about fashion.
The Los Angeles-based Harvard graduate built her following in part by walking into major retailers such as Forever 21, Old Navy, Nike, Urban Outfitters, Hollister and H&M to see whether the plus sizes advertised by brands are actually available to customers inside stores. Her argument is straightforward: companies should not market themselves as inclusive if customers with larger bodies cannot walk through the door and find clothing that fits them.
That approach has made her both a hero and a villain on TikTok. Instead of discussing fashion inclusion only in theory, Samyra puts brands to the test in real stores, often filming the limited selections she finds and questioning why larger sizes have been moved online or excluded entirely.
Fashionista reported that Samyra sees that work as increasingly important as plus-size representation in fashion has declined. “Our bodies aren’t a trend,” she told the outlet while discussing the industry’s retreat from expanded sizing.
Her criticism has also produced results beyond viral videos. Samyra had built an audience of roughly 2.5 million followers across platforms by late 2025 while pushing fashion companies to back inclusive campaigns with actual products. She became one of the faces of Ashley Graham’s JCPenney collection, which offered its full size range in stores.
The partnership was notable because Samyra had previously criticized JCPenney. Rather than simply continuing the fight online, she later praised the company for making changes and participated in the collection herself. That willingness to acknowledge improvement has remained part of her argument that the goal is not simply dragging brands. It is getting companies to improve access for customers who have money to spend but routinely struggle to find their sizes.
Her advocacy extends beyond clothing racks. Samyra has repeatedly discussed fatphobia, weight stigma, body image, and how larger people are treated in public spaces. In 2024, the Harvard Gazette reported that Miller, a member of Harvard’s Class of 2021, returned to campus for a discussion on anti-fat bias. She explained that her criticism is particularly aimed at companies claiming to serve “every body” while stopping their clothing ranges before many plus-size consumers are included.
Her platform has also brought her into conflict with celebrities, most notably Cardi B.
The dispute erupted in August 2025 after Cardi joked about 3XL merchandise for her album selling out and referred to some fans as “fat [expletive].” Samyra responded on TikTok by arguing that the remarks were fatphobic and using the controversy to highlight how frequently musicians and celebrity clothing collaborations overlook plus-size customers.
Cardi pushed back, describing her original comments as jokes between herself and her fans and refusing to apologize. Samyra then recommended reading materials about fatphobia, while Cardi dismissed the suggestion. The online exchange intensified, and Samyra eventually announced a temporary break from posting after receiving increased harassment from Cardi fans.
Their disagreement later resurfaced around Cardi’s involvement with Old Navy, a company Samyra had already criticized over the availability of larger sizes in physical stores.
That history makes Samyra’s emotional reaction to the EBONY Power 100 more than a viral celebration. Her rise has come through a subject that routinely attracts arguments, backlash, and personal attacks, yet she has continued making size inclusion a central part of her public work.
