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In the weeks following that entry, Wole—like countless other frontline workers—did in fact get sick, though he has since self-isolated and recovered. And like so much else in the face of an unprecedented pandemic, we made the decision to delay our April digital cover in order to faithfully represent Wole and his story, as we believe there is no subject more important to highlight in this moment than the self-proclaimed 'medical creative.'
Wole first caught our eye because of his Instagram posts—he stunts so hard in custom drip that, upon first glance, one would never guess that he's a full-time RN. But that contrast is Wole's motivation—the premise that you can have your hands in two wildly different career paths while not only succeeding, but being able to give your all in both fields, is what keeps him going every single day. "My daily life is just trying to prioritize my creativity while maintaining my career in nursing," he tells us.
And upon talking to Wole, you get the sense that this underexplored intersection of healthcare and fashion is truly what takes up most of his headspace. He talks about how he's started to design clothing based on the themes of transparency and vulnerability that he experiencs with his patients, comparing the pieces to x-rays, radiology, and CAT scans in the way that they explore interiority. He tells us how he wears the same stainless steel necklace, which is shaped like a pair of lungs, every day and has found its progressive rusting to symbolize the organ's natural deterioration. His duties as a nurse in paying attention to patients' bodies influences how he approaches the shapes and fits of his garments. And his ultimate goal is to design pieces specifically for nurses. "I feel like more fashion brands and the really big sports houses like Adidas and Nike should make certain clothing that acclimates to healthcare workers."
At office, we are committed to keeping art and creativity alive during this pandemic. We also understand that, in reality, art and fashion are not, and for many, cannot be priorities right now. Before finding Wole, we never thought that one could do both—play an essential role in saving people's lives while also imagining a post-pandemic future where fashion and medicine can somehow inform each other. Meet Wole Olosunde BSN RN.
You clearly have lived many lives. From skipping several grades in school to being the youngest man to ever graduate from Buffalo University’s Nursing Program, and now fighting this ongoing pandemic, what made you want to add fashion to that roster?
Well, fashion has always been a part of it, even from when I was young. I grew up in New York and being a young New Yorker, going to middle school and high school here, clothes held some type of importance to me. At an early age, that really helped me develop as a person in terms of trying to get more money and trying to do different business transactions. Cause you know, you're this young kid buying, selling and trading clothes, to try to get more clothes. So fashion has kind of always been a part of it. In middle school, I used to spend a lot of time in Bushwick because I would go to this store Mishika, a music store. I would go there to play street fighter. And then when I was like 12, I did a program at NYU, but this was like 2010 to 2012 when Soho wasn't really what it is today. So all of that has kind of exposed me to fashion. I've always wanted to make my own clothes, and as I got older and just had the means to do it. You know, you get older and your resources get larger, so you're able to do more things.
Did you find growing up as an acclaimed student, people put you into a box?
A hundred percent. It's like people expect you to choose between the two, when it's like, why can't I just do everything that I want? Why should I allow you to make this rule for me when I'm a young adult and I have all the time that I need to do all the things that I want. And graduating from school early, I didn't have the highest grades in high school. Like I didn't have the 90 average. But, it's about knowing what you want and knowing how you plan to get there. Because I graduated from college at 20 because of the foundational work I did. So all of that kind of just led up to the bigger picture that I am at now. Every New York City high school kid can graduate early. You don't need to spend four years in high school. You know, you only need to really complete the requirements. But ideally, the best thing is to really just get out of high school and start college if that's what you want to do. But if it's not what you want to do, then you really just take these classes and know where you want to go. In terms of knowing, knowing self, knowing where you want to go, knowing what you wanna do, and being aware of that as you grow up. It'll help you guide to the bigger picture.
And you have immigrant African parents, how did they take your transition into the creative world?
I'm Nigerian. They immigrated here. My dad came to New York in the seventies and my mom came in like the late eighties. I don't think they realize the money that's in fashion. 'Cause that's how immigrant parents think, because they were kind of conditioned in a place where it's like, I have to grind out the hustle. I need money. I came from this country and I'm in America now, and I don't have much money. What am I going to do next? What's my next job? What's my next idea to make more money? So money and financial issues hold the biggest theme in a Nigerian household. But, in terms of doing fashion along with medicine, my parents were okay with it because they knew that my studies wouldn't really be affected. I'm pretty good at being responsible with what I have to do and meeting the requirements. So they would just try not to allow the fashion thing to obscure the goal of completing school, which I am thankful for.
As a young person, you hold different things to a certain priority and you might prioritize certain things over things that may help you in the long run. And you know, your parents kind of just help you stay focused through that. They definitely were not as accepting of it before I graduated college. Because you know, you haven't secured that security. Having a degree is a form of security, in a sense. But, after I graduated they definitely became much more lenient towards my lifestyle as a whole, just because I'm kind of more established.
So in moments of this pandemic people are able to find themselves and work on their passion projects. With you being multifaceted in the field of your career, I’m sure that you’re prioritizing one over the other, how has that affected you?
My daily life is just trying to prioritize my creativity while still maintaining my career in nursing. I work about three or four days a week. Aside from that, when I'm at home, it gives me a lot of time to create. I'm always on my laptop. It's like my laptop is my best friend. I've been working on this umbrella line that I want to do. My brother I moved out and we have an apartment now, and since I've been traveling so much this year, this is giving me a chance to slow down. I tried to find some artwork for the apartment, that's what I've been really focused on. It makes you realize, you know, being forced to be home, it makes you want to make your space a place of serenity. So I've been really focusing on trying to put my apartment together and making more clothes.
When you’re approaching the medical field and fashion world, do you often see those intentions overlap ever? Do these professions ever inspire each other?
They definitely inspire each other. For me, even with the clothes I'm working on right now I'm doing this thing called Against Medical Advice. It is like a brand based on the premise that people often want to put you in this box. They say, "Okay, you're a nurse, then be a nurse." And they're focused on that, as opposed to looking at you as a person and all your other interests. So, it's just about leaving the hospital on your own and deciding against the scientific information that the doctors are giving you. You know, choosing your own prerogative over what has been "proven." So, that's the kind of idea of a lot of the clothes. So I work in the emergency department. I come across a lot of different people with a lot of different stories. It's beautiful to listen to them and be inspired by them and the things that they tell me. And I work in New York, so people who grew up in New York are telling me about what they used to do. It inspires me to work harder and inspires me to live my life to the fullest.
The hospital, you know, it's like a portal. It's like either you're coming in because you're sick, there are people there that are dying, but yet they're still being brought on. My job inspires me a lot in terms of just life in general. It still has a very big impact on my artistic work as well. Being a nurse, you know, you pay attention to detail, you pay attention to the body and you see so many different types of bodies. And being a designer you want to—I want to specifically create for all types of bodies and all types of people. So, my nursing job kind of gives me a way into a realm where people are getting into that. Where people need compassion, where people want to speak, people want their story to be known, they want to be heard, they want the help that they need. And just being a nurse, it's lovely being there, to be able to give that to them while still being a sponge and absorbing all the information that they're giving me. It's beautiful to apply to my life and my artistic journey. I'm really proud of that.
With this, you talk about breaking down preconceived notions of people in creative fields not having an interest in medicine. You say it’s not impossible juggling the two, but I’m sure it’s not easy. How do you find a healthy balance?
It's definitely not easy, especially when you're still in school. It sometimes sucks everything out of you. You know, there are periods where you have to be focused specifically on school and there are periods where, you know, you might have more time to be able to design. But after school things get a little better because you can schedule your work week, so you can only work half a week and still have time off. Like nursing is definitely something where you're a little more autonomous in your scheduling. But like if you want to go to med school, you're going to be sucked into just school for a really long time. And that's a commitment that you really have to be invested in. I loved the route that I decided to take instead. But it's definitely possible, like anything is possible. People take that for granted, because of the things that society tells them they can and can't do. Even in school, going to an advisor in college, this person doesn't really know what you plan to do with your life. Like they're just there to help you and try to guide what they think is best for you based on your grades. But you can't allow that, you know that you don't want your past to shape what you're trying to do. Even if you got like a C in the class and they're telling you you're not going to be able to get into this program cause you got a C. It's like, "I could probably take the class again and try again." But they're not going to tell you that because they're going off of what's already been established, even though you have this other dream and goal for yourself. So it's really just a matter of being headstrong, knowing what you want, and balancing your responsibility. Like if you wake up early, you can definitely fit like a 30-minute workout, then go about your day and be able to study for like two hours, especially when you're completely invested in school.
Because of the way I did it, I worked a lot before I went away for school to save money. I was just doing everything. I was like selling clothes. I was like literally just doing anything I could to like save as much money as I can so that when I'm in nursing school, I don't have to work on that. I just have to focus on school, cause it's like you're in school but you still have to work at the hospital 24 hours a week as an internship. So you already have a part-time job that you're doing for free, they're not going to pay for this because it's a part of your studies. But then on top of that, to be balancing being the youngest person ever to graduate from my program. There are other people who are in their forties or fifties and you see them juggling three kids, another job, and mortgages. And it's like, "Who am I to complain when I'm in school with no other responsibilities? This is my only focus." So that used to inspire me a lot.
How important to you is it to use your platform as a voice from inside the hospital during this time?
It's definitely really important, especially in my age group. Not many people have friends that are already nurses or already doing something directly in the hospital. Young people relate more to younger people. Like when an older person is telling me to do something it'd be like, "Yo, you're not my dad. Like what are you actually telling me here?" As opposed to someone that I know I can relate with. I feel like having the inside eyes and having that inside voice, it's important for me to use it even outside of the workplace. There are certain things that people need to know. We live in an information age and information is just the most important thing. It's like the most tangible thing in the world. Like for you to be equipped with the knowledge that you need to know, especially during a time like this where there are certain things that we can do to protect ourselves outside. It's important for us to have that knowledge and be able to know how we should operate. I like to just kind of dwell how sharing information could impact somebody else and you don't know how much someone else could relate to this.
You’re selling “Against Medical Advice” pieces, what was the inspiration behind your most recent pieces?
It's funny because social media has been talking about love and sex and you know, just emotion in general. Like we're at a time where emotions are very heightened because of the crisis. So I feel like people are isolated a little more, they're in their own thoughts a little more. Which definitely can be a good or a bad thing because, in a time of a pandemic where people are forced to stay inside, some people mentally can't be inside for long periods of time. From a medical standpoint, it's interesting seeing the things that come of it. I'm designing a lot of stuff based on transparency and comparing it to x-rays, radiology, and cat scans. I made like some umbrellas based off some of my favorite movies. So I've been like doing a lot of research in terms of setting up imagery in a certain way. I have a whole bunch of stuff that is based on radiology like I said in pertinence to transparency and being emotional with someone.
I’m sure this moment in history will leave a big imprint on you not only as a creative but also as a medical professional, how will it leave its mark on you in all aspects of your life?
A lot of things are going to change after this. Just like in terms of the way we can interact with people. Even going to parties and like being at a bar, you notice just how actually crowded they are. And you know, before being in that type of space, you're kind of like, "This is okay, there are people I can talk to," and then now it's like, the other day I got on the bus, and there were too many people on the bus. I was like, "This is like a regular day as if we're not, you know, in quarantine." And I honestly had to get off. It gave me a little anxiety. I'm like, "I don't want to be in this space right now." It's going to definitely change the way we interact with people. Even the way we travel, like how cautious we have to be when we travel. In terms of fashion, I definitely know it's going to change the whole world of fashion. We will have to find a different way to be able to portray clothes. We can't shop in stores anymore.
What is paired perfectly with scrubs that make you feel confident enough to go into work and fight these ongoing cases?
There's this chain I have that I bought right after nursing school. It's like a crappy stainless steel chain. But it's a set of lungs and I wear it every day where it's kind of become a sentimental thing for me. You know like a pair of lungs, first it starts off like super silver and then it keeps rusting. So it kind of ages like, you know, like a real pair of lungs. Also, definitely cool colored stethoscope. I have a pink pair and I had a neon green where I "lost" them. And sneakers for sure. But then I stopped wearing sneakers just because I would think about like infection control. I rotate between these air max TN's that I have and a pair of Nike X cold walls. I definitely want to get into designing some of that stuff and making things for nurses. Like watches, little watches that you can have to wear to work because you don't want to wear your other jewelry to work. I feel like more fashion brands and really the big sports houses like Adidas and Nike should make certain clothing that acclimates to healthcare workers.
That's a big goal of mine. I definitely want to eventually work with them because nurses are on their feet all day, we're running back and forth. We're actually like doing pretty strenuous activity. We're moving patients. It definitely takes a toll on your back or your physical health in general, especially being a nurse for like 20 years.
What is some medical and non-medical advice you can give us during this time?
I always try to live by living on your own prerogative, just like making your own decisions and always hearing the suggestions of others and never allowing it to completely shape what you want to do. I'm a person who doesn't like to lie, I hold a very high esteem of confidentiality. I think a lot of these come apart with my job as well. Just like in terms of HIPAA and not being able to disclose anything. I try to hold that same standard to my friends. When it comes to living on your own prerogative, I feel like everyone should have their own set of ideas and their own set of goals. People are always going to critique you, that's a part of life. People are gonna put you in their box and tell you what you probably should do. I'm never gonna say you should shut that out, but, I'm definitely not for allowing that to completely shape your idea.
In terms of medical advice, I'm wearing a mask. It definitely protects you outside. So like, even if it's some type of covering. Like if you're going for a walk, you should wear one. Wash your hands. I cannot emphasize that enough. Washing your hands is so important. In nursing school that's what they emphasize the most. Hand washing is more important than wearing gloves. Like if you're wearing gloves, then something can still get on your hand. You can take the gloves off and something can get on your hands. But if you don't wash your hands after that, now you're just spreading whatever. I advise people not to wear gloves because it makes you wash your hands less. When you're wearing gloves you're still touching stuff and when you take off your gloves, you're still touching those same things all over again. You're still getting in your car and touching your steering wheel. Like, your car is your own space. You don't need to wear gloves in your car, same thing as your phone. I think the glove thing is like a crutch for a lot of people because it doesn't force them to wash their hands as much as they're supposed to.
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His interest in dance started in the mid-90’s as an elementary student. Dey was taken by the art of West African dance, and with this initial knack for expressing himself through movement, the young creative soon found himself sufficiently trained in styles such as hip hop, street jazz, and dance hall. A little over 3 years ago is when the pole was beckoned to the master. “Admittedly, I've always secretly wanted to be a stripper and that's exactly what I've always correlated pole dancing with," he tells us. "I felt strippers—specifically the women who did it—held so much power in dictating how they expressed themselves sexually, and the power behind using their sexuality/sensuality to hustle and grind.”
In the summer of 2017, Dey was working at a non-profit organization in the Bronx that wanted to work with a local pole studio, Poletic Justice. After visiting the studio, his passion was solidified. Looking for more opportunities, thanks to that self-motivated hustler mentality, he was nudged by best friend Todd (also a drag queen, Robyn Banks) to sign up for Aerial EDGJ’s Pole Play NYC, despite no experience under his belt other than his dance teachings.
He unsurprisingly bodied the energy needed to impress, with no formal lessons. Dey recalls, “Although I looked crazy, the crowd and the rest of the performers were so supportive. I never felt that kind of vibe before with all of the years I've danced! All of the inspiration prompted me to buy a pole for my home...and at this time, I was 27 still living with my mom!” An essential piece of his self-confidence came through finding acceptance with himself as a black, gay and HIV positive man in today’s world.
Working the pole and letting go of harbored insecurities provided the foundation he felt needed in order to find the version of himself that would encourage others to look within and find their innermost authentic self as well. Being HIV positive, Dey admits to having experienced much despair due to the misconceptions and stigmas of the disease. “There was a point where I believed HIV would end my life's plans, but it honestly gave me a second lease on life,” he reflects. “Through the many doctors and people I've been blessed to cross paths with, I wanted to let others who look like me know there is a chance for us to live after the diagnosis. Once I've gotten over that initial fear on top of opening myself up to the many possibilities brought my way, life started to blossom for me.”
Never imagining that the two polarizing forces would mix one day, Dey manifested it so that his art linked with his activism. With the help of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Dey collaborated with the Gay and Lesbian Center and HIV Stops With Me to create a pole dance rendition of Broadway’s RENT, titled “Out Tonight." The amount of effort put into such a production is typical of Dey, if you hadn't realized that yet, and it has yet to see an end anywhere near. The superstar can be found monthly answering questions on HIV Stops with Me.
Despite quarantining by himself in his apartment, Dey confesses that 2020 has been ripe with blessings thus far—it has produced an organic shoot being unveiled today on office, a 30th birthday, and becoming the curator of his own show, Black Phoenix Nest (a hip-hop inspired pole revue held at The Tank).
Aware that blessings are in disguise but always abundant, Dey ties up our email interview with words of advice to all artist: “Allow yourself to make mistakes. Allow yourself to not know ANYTHING. Within those moments, you will be able to learn, will be able to improve, and will be able to make the steps necessary to grow and become the best you can be. With this in mind, I had to learn to own who I am as an artist, and not let anyone else dictate what my art should look like for me. What held me back over the years were other people's perceptions of what I should do as a male dancer. Once I found the place that allowed me to express my femininity and sexuality, my voice and art became stronger and could not be denied. I encourage any artists—whether dancer, singer, actor, or otherwise—to be unapologetic in their expression. Where some may not gravitate towards your truth, others surely will. It's only when you begin to accept your own truth will people begin to really see you.”
Her memes tend to be in the format of Facebook text posts—you know, the ones with the colorful backgrounds and Facebook-specific emojis that your annoying Aunt Karen will use to vent about her day. They're often dubbed with layers and layers of filters so that the text is almost illegible. If you're a meme-experienced person, you get that this adds to the humor of it all.
But most importantly, Patia's memes are short vignettes of daily life, both found objects (Patia and co. are constantly searching Facebook for content) and curated observations about the dumb things people do and say on the internet and IRL. Often times, they're very specific and rooted in a collective experience we all have but rarely put forth the brain power to articulate. They also reference black culture in a way that is nuanced, detailed, and funny as fuck. Focusing on the experiences of black triumphs and tribulations, she highlights black culture through humor in a way that no other meme page can. Instead of waiting for someone to offer her a seat at the table, Patia said, "Fuck it," and made her own table.
Patia chats on the phone with office to talk about trolls, memes as a language, and juicy tips to being a bad bitch.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm from Jacksonville, Florida. I moved to New York when I was 17 in 2010. I originally moved to go to SVA for graphic design—I dropped out after a year. Somehow through hell and high water the thing that has made me successful is a meme account.
How long have you been in New York?
I’ve been here for 10 years! I’m a granny!
How have you been making the time pass during quarantine?
Listen, I was built for this. I grew up being an only child, I had no interest in driving, and I was just always home alone because my mom worked a lot. I read a lot and I just don’t get bored—wait, let me correct that because I know my friends are going to be like, "What the fuck bitch you say you’re bored all the time." I get more bored around people than I do myself. I literally think I’m so interesting, and I just don’t like to be bothered with people. Lately, I’ve just been doing what I always do; I’ve been watching my TV, reading books, and I’ve been playing animal crossing which has been the main thing. I feel like my quarantine has been the same as my regular life. I’ve been writing. I’ve been working on merchandise for followers. I’m trying to get my blue check.
You know I got to ask. What led you to create @patiasfantasyworld? Did you ever expect it to blow up the way it did?
Back in 2015, me and my friend created this Instagram page called ‘bundle update’—bundle was a code word for cocaine. And it was pictures of people, who are pretty big now, doing cocaine. It was very explicit. We didn’t have that many followers; we had 500 before it got shut down for drug usage, but it was fun. It was a very fearless time. And this was also around the era when people first started creating finstas. I had a regular Instagram and then made a finsta in 2017. I had just been posting memes in the same format actually. @Patiasfantasyworld started off as a finsta because this was my fantasy world. And then someone had told me to make it public which I did, and it started off really small. I had my friend's log in to use my account as a burner, you know, in case they wanted to stalk someone or whatever. A lot of people I knew online helped me post. It was a really slow trajectory. In 2018, I didn't have any fucking followers, granted I was private but still! Even this time last year I only had 3K. Everyone in the scene had liked it—specifically a lot of people who worked in magazines. I got a lot of, "Oh yeah we should work together." If I had a hundred dollars for everytime I heard that last year when I had no followers, I would be so rich; people were just talking and talking. I knew I clearly had to do this myself. I was posting 700 memes a week. People would be like, "You post a lot," and I would be like, "I don't give a fuck!" I just didn't care! I made a meme account because I got really sick of seeing African American vernacular on people's pages who I thought shouldn't be reposting that type of content. Or you know white meme accounts that were using 'nigga' and other shit that rubbed me the wrong way. So I said, 'I need to do this'. And people always ask me, "Can I repost even though it has the 'N' word?" And I'm like, "If you get your ass beat that is not my problem." I honestly made the account for my friends and black people like me.
Would you describe yourself as funny IRL? Were you the class clown growing up?
No, I think I’m good at reactions. I’m the person who rolls my eyes a lot. I’m a reaction picture; I wasn’t a class clown. I’ve spent a lot of years on Twitter cyber bullying people who said ignorant shit though.
Girl no way!
No like forreal! I used to call out people before “woke” was a thing. I used to get into arguments with people about the usage of the ‘N’ word, specifically with a lot of white girls who are on magazine covers and stuff like that. I’m successful because I won’t shut the fuck up. And I am not willing to compromise that. I’ve called out NY dudes who were rapists and shit, and had their friends who were girls try to come for me. They’d say things like, “He’s not violent," and that was the craziest logic I’ve ever heard.
You represent a new breed of meme curators, in a way. The humor just feels so specific and pertains to a certain crowd, it seems. If you had to say, what is the one “thing” that draws people to your collections of memes?
I think it's the honesty of it all. I only have one thing that's off limits on my meme account, and it's literally anything that's related to the Kardashians. I think it's wack, I think it's bland, and I think it's toxic to society because it's the craziest amount of cultural appropriation that's cosigned by so many people. Besides that anything goes. I don't care about posting a 'certain type' of meme, or getting in trouble by it. So many accounts care about being politically correct—I don't. I think my account is relatable, and I try to keep it so there's something for everybody. There's something for single people, there's something for the girl who lurks way too much, there's something you can send your ex, and there's something you can send your current boyfriend. I think it's also crazy how especially the text posts, which are only like 10 words, can make you crack the fuck up. The power of the meme, or actually the power of the 10 words that you're reading and 1,000 other people relating to it. I think that's interesting. It's so broad but so many different types of people can relate to getting played. And it's so sad because I thought I was the only one being played! That's crazy, and us laughing about it is even sadder!
If you were to identify as a Disney Channel character, who would it be and why?
Penny Proud! I think she’s a Cancer, I don't actually know if she is. If we weren’t limiting this to Disney, though, I would definitely say I'm a mixed combination of Spongebob, Bobby Hill from King of the Hill, and Bart Simpson. I think it's because sometimes when I talk to guys they're just like who is this girl. I didn't really blossom into my looks until recently kind of, so in some weird body dysmorphic way I always see myself in middle school watching all these weird TV shows that weren't girly at all. And I think when people see me at face value they're like, "Wow, she's hot," and then I talk—the smartest thing doesn't always come out. My mind is constantly replaying Spongebob catching jellyfish. It's the commercial break happening in my brain once the ADD wears off. And I would say Penny Proud for Disney because she’s very sensitive and she cares for people. She also has the crazy friends like I do, and she doesn't let the Gross sisters bother her.
Are memes a new a language?
I feel like personally it's helped me be more direct. It's weird because I've met people, and they'll come up to me refrencing a meme I've posted. Initially I get weirded out, like, why don't you use real words? And why are we repeating the meme in real life? It weirds me out, but I get it. I guess it is a new language. I think memes kind of taught me to not even worry about sending a paragraph to a guy—I'll see a meme and think, those 10 words, that's what I'ma send this nigga. And that's enough because men can't read.
If you weren’t a burgeoning content queen, what would your dream job be?
I would love to be an astronaut. I love space, and I grew up going to planetariums. My childhood was really fucked up, but it made me who I am. Whenever I had to spend time with my dad, we would always argue. My whole idea was like okay, if I'm going to spend the weekend with him let's go to the museum or the planetarium back home because you can't really talk in those places—you have to be quiet. I was into all the alien stuff, even the theatrical stuff like Men in Black. I would love to explore outer space because there is so much unknown. And the one thing about me is that I love discovering the unknown. Even right now there is so much unknown, but we have to accept it. But back to space, I really love it. I'd want to be an astronaut—I used to go to NASA when I was little so many times. It was like a two hour drive from me. I was so interested in science because my mom was a chemist, and I grew up around it. Obviously being an astronaut I'd have to go into space, but I wouldn't mind doing a lot of research in boring ass Florida and cooking eggs for my man. That would be a cute life I'd want.
What’s the first thing you’re doing when it’s safe to finally go out?
I’ll wait for everyone to go out first and see what happens! Honestly I'm probably going to spend a bunch of money on oysters because it's my favorite food, and I'm craving it. I'm sober right now, but I keep making the joke that maybe I shouldn't be sober because you never really know what's going to happen in the future. Also the main thing I've been doing during quarantine is getting snatched. I've been doing a three week cleanse, but I just had some unhealthy solid food—so I basically fucked up my cleanse. I've been working out and I just ordered resistance bands. Honestly I've been focusing on getting snatched because I know a lot of people are letting themselves go, and I can see it. And I don't know how to tell some of my friends that quarantine doesn't have to mean misery. But the main thing I'm going to do once it's safe is pop out and be seen.
I see you’re out here doing big things with Helen with the Gold Teeth. How did your relationship come about, and what have you ladies been cooking up?
I love her. Last year I was broke, and she had a post that she needed someone to run errands for her—and I wasn't doing anything. I ran a day's worth of errands, and she was telling me about her business—and I was like I know how to do all of this. I'm really good at personal assisting and logistics, and it started from that. This is the first time I've had a boss who represented the things I truly love like hip-hop and at the same time is very giving and professional. Working with Helen is so crazy because we share a lot of mutual friends, but she was away when I was going out more. So we didn't truly connect until working together. We're actually working on a fundraiser now. One is for a Christian center and the other is for a restaurant handing out meals to help out with COVID needs. She's been doing so much to give back, and she always checks in with me. Sometimes I feel starstruck because in what world am I working for someone who thinks Gucci Mane is the coolest rapper, and her work is a representation of all the things she's actually embraced.
Being on Instagram, a lot of things go down in the DM. What’s the wildest DM you've ever received?
Besides troll shit, I would say the top three would be an NBA player asking me where to cop weed in New York. Everytime I would respond to something they would unsend it, so then I started unsending my shit too! And it clicked to me like, "Oh shit, you can't do this." Another thing would be when I first started the page someone told me that they just got out of prison. Their girlfriend showed them my meme account before they got locked up, and when they got out, they DM'ed me right away to say that I was the first account they checked to catch up on all the posts. I thought that was crazy because I've gotten DM's like that multiple times, and I'm just like, "What y'all got locked up for?" What am I enabling on this page? My dream Tik Tok would be a bunch of fine ass niggas in prison with my meme account on someone's phone.
Another crazy one would be when I posted a screencap of an article about COVID. Before things got severe and no one was taking it seriosuly at that point. So many people trolled my ass and there were so many racist ass comments. Everyone was like, "No one's going to die unless you're 30," and that was the worst thing the media could've told people because everyone was so reckless. I remember responding to someone by saying, "Are you a scientist? Are you a doctor?" And you know you can't challenge white people on the internet like that. This guy kept going back and forth and then other people jumped in. Sometimes I don't even have to jump in because other people will jump in before I've even see the comment. I think I ended up posting a photo of him and the rude comment he made—and then he DM'ed saying I was pussy for posting his photo! The trolls forget that they're on the internet too! They feel untouchable. You are literally trolling me on a public account with your photo on it and your last name! I remember this one white girl came for me. She tried it! She was like sixteen, and all it took was a little Facebook moment. I had to ask her, does the principal at this school know that you're harrassing black women like this on the internet? I knew she was shook too by how quick she deleted her comment. I'm lucky that I have the backbone for this type of shit, but unfortunately that isn't the case for a lot of people on the internet. A lot of people aren't built for trolls. But I do have to play it safe, I don't tell people to kill themselves. I'm not savage, this account will get deleted—you can't say certain things on the internet, the FBI will show up. No matter how lighthearted it seems.
What are your top three tips to being a bad bitch?
You have to be a Barb, that's one. Sometimes I'll have a sad day and listen to a Nicki verse or feature and just scream, "Period!" The second thing is you can’t overthink, and you have to believe in the decisions you make AKA believe in yourself. I sound crazy, but it's true! And the third one would be to take care of yourself. Mental health is crazy out here, and it's even crazier because of Instagram. It's especially crazy if you live in a Metropolitan city, and you're constanly seeing people who have more than you. None of that shit matters. I remember being so stressed because I couldn't afford things, and that's why I wasn't noticeable—I would just wear sweatpants. The most generic clothing. I thought that that mattered, but it doesn't. Personality always wins.
The year is 2065. Your grandchildren are sitting on your lap and one of them asks you, “Grandma, what was the year 2020 like?” What do you reply?
Girl that was the year I got curved during quarantine. I probably won the gold medal for getting curved.
