Page 142 - Flaunt 170 - The Phoenix Issue - Kiernan Shipka

public appearances as a comedian, I started experimenting with wearing different color hair extensions, and statement pieces as a form of self-expression. People still relent- lessly dissed me for being overweight. They passed harsh comments like, “Why are you trying to be so stylish when you’re so big?” I slowly adapted to a more positive mindset thanks to the overwhelming support that I received from my fans who cheered me on. That being said, body positivity is still a notion that needs to be universally accepted. Japanese people to this day prefer skinny figures, and regard being petite and thin as the ideal. But my understanding is that it’s not solely Japan that adheres to this dat- ed kind of thinking. When I collaborate with US-based brands, often on social media, I still get messages from people asking the brands to not use someone plus-sized like me. So yeah, even though body-positivity is getting recognition as an important and necessary movement, discrimination and unrealistic beauty standards are still rampant. This is not just a Japanese issue, it’s a worldwide issue that must change. On a lighter note, how does it feel to be endowed with your own Instagram filter, which is the equivalent of winning a Nobel Prize in social media clout? When that opportunity presented itself, I was very grateful. I wanted to be able to create a fun app that lets users wear my eccentric hairstyles such as my signature buns. This gives everyone the chance to be me! Am I the one being narcissistic now? \[Laughs.\] Jokes aside, I work very closely with Instagram Japan, and I’m flattered by the large volume of collaboration leads. It’s through their support and encouragement that I continue to thrive. While on the topic, in 2018 you were additionally inducted into Time Magazine’s “Most Influential People on the Internet” list. How has this impacted your life? I honestly don’t feel that there’s been a noticeable difference. But I try to be more mindful since of the content I post, like not showing my nipples. \[Laughs.\] I’m not a nudist, or anything like that, but I try to be more conscious of not posting content that would be considered inappropriate (even though I’m obviously a staunch proponent of body positivity). As an influencer, I try to be as informed as I can be. Since Japan is prone to a lot of natural disasters, I make it a note to post about evacuation procedures and share relevant information with my audience. Since this development, I guess there has been an onslaught of collaborations in the pipeline, and that’s mostly it. Have you ever experienced rebirth? What was the context? Looking back on my life, I’ve experienced rebirth many times starting when I was 18 years old. That’s when I made my move from the countryside of Japan to Tokyo, which was a huge culture shock for me. Another major rebirth for me was when I moved to New York City at the age of 20. I find adapting to different worlds to be a form of re- birth in its own right. And as a person who is constantly chasing a proverbial “rebirth,” I hope I can continue to find it through my encounters with new people who both challenge me and root me. Regardless, I find all people to be fascinating, and a huge part of my journey. You’ve launched your streetwear brand, Punyus, which means “pudgy” in Japanese. What drew you to the fashion industry when comedy and acting have historically been your wheelhouse? I was inspired to start my own clothing line simply because I have had such a hard time finding anything cool to wear that’s in my size. The plus-size options have always been limiting. I wanted to create a brand that would not only be a platform for fash- ion-centric self-expression, but also be size- and age-inclusive. Punyus’ inventory runs the gamut from dresses to key streetwear staples for the whole family and all your friends. I design each silhouette by my own aesthetic standards, you know clothes that I personally would wear. So they are always super fun, trendy, and unique. Punyus started back in 2013, and to set the record straight, it is not just a plus-size brand, we carry all through sizes small and 6XL. You may be skinny, but your friend may be chunkier, but you can still shop together and coordinate outfits. Punyus makes that a possibility. This jumpsuit that I’m wearing is actually Punyus, and it’s Japan-themed, as you can see. But most of the prints that are typically food-themed, you may have an oysters print on one, or a pancake pattern on another. It all varies. We have actually done a collaboration with Disneyland Tokyo due to a high volume of teenagers customarily showing up in coordinated Punyus outfits. It was happening so so frequently that Disneyland reached out and proposed the collaboration. Tell us about your 2020 campaign with fashion behemoth, Kate Spade. How did this major collaboration come about, and what were you most excited about as a first timer? It’s crazy, the ads are all over New York already, not sure if you’ve seen yet. This was an incredibly exciting collaboration for sure. Fans in Japan were very thrilled to hear about it, too. You know, I speak minimal-to-no English still, and moved out to NYC less than a year ago technically. Not to mention, I have only spent six months out of the year here. And the fact that this collaboration came about is honestly a huge surprise. I’m so grateful for it. 136