We had the good fortune of connecting with Cheyenne M. Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cheyenne, how does your business help the community?
I have created my personal brand and crafted my content to inform others of the importance of creating work that shows fat, Black folk as ethereal beings beyond our identity. My current goals are to do some on-camera and screenwriting work, continue to craft inclusive content and act as a consultant for brands, platforms, etc. to change and add features that are inclusive of marginalized individuals, especially those who share the intersections of fatness, queerness, transness and Blackness. I don’t see enough representations of people that look like me and members of my community often, and I will continue to hold space and try to make access for my people because we deserve EVERYTHING and more.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a lifestyle and culture journalist, digital content creator, podcaster, media personality, and aspiring showrunner looking to craft screenplays and digital content that are inclusive and highlight fat, Black characters and perspectives. A graduate of the master’s program in Media Studies at The New School, my journalistic work has been published in various publications such as The Verge, Popsugar, Popsugar Australia, Refinery29, Input Mag, The Infatuation and Bustle with quotes and features in HuffPost, Vice and Cosmo. I am the creator of the award-winning Weighted Words podcast, which discussed fat, Black femmehood and its misrepresentation, representation and lack thereof in media. My podcast features are centered around the topics of the fat, Black experience, sex, kink, anime and video games.

Becoming the media professional that I am today was no easy feat. Since childhood, I nurtured my creative spirit and was inspired to write and make things that not only spoke to me but also challenged the world around me. Coming into adulthood upon the loss of my father, coupled with other familial losses, growing pains and mental health challenges, I turned yet again to my creativity as a means of catharsis, building community and inciting a sense of hope and motivation.

Additionally, I have faced a lot of challenges in my work as well, dealing with Internet trolls, haters making vile and untrue comments about me and the difficulties that come with navigating parasocial relationships that stem from my followership. I have also encountered being pigeon holed as a creator to only make content that teaches white people how to be better for Black people, but I vehemently pushed back against this and fought hard to make content that spoke to me as an entire human being and not just my identity.

Today, I not only possess two degrees, but I am making the content that I’d like to see in the world and am an adjunct professor at NYU, an opportunity that is granting me the experience to enrich the minds of collegiate students by teaching a course on marginalized identities in media.

What I learned from my trials and tribulations is that adversity informs my experiences– not define them. Although finding and building community comes with its challenges, I am forever grateful for the resources and people that I have connected with that have brought me to this stage of my life. With reflection and accountability comes room for growth, and I am currently working on my health from a holistic approach by prioritizing my pleasure in all forms, meeting my needs, getting ample rest and nourishing my brain, body and spirit.

I want people to know that my work is not only a testament of my experiences, but a reminder that Black people, especially those of us who are further marginalized, can be multifaceted and deserve to have and create things that are rooted in joy, pleasure and slice-of-life content.


If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

My favorite spots in the Greater NYC Area are as follows:

Rai Rai Ramen- East Brunswick, NJ: some of THEE best ramen I’ve had in NJ. It was truly a college staple because it was cheap, filling and always delicious.

Corto- Jersey City, NJ: hands down some of the best pasta I’ve had outside of Italy. I definitely recommend the pork shoulder with polenta if available.

Xian’s Famous Foods- NYC: This noodle spot was one of my favorites that I frequented while attending grad school at The New School. I always ordered the spicy beef noodles and would sit by the window and people watch while slurping away.

Delta’s- New Brunswick, NJ: One of my favorite soul food spots that hosts brunch with $0.95 mimosas. Please, please, PLEASE get the fried chicken or oxtail dinner. I guarantee you it won’t disappoint.

Karaoke Boho (West 4th St Location)- NYC: My fave karaoke bar in the area HANDS DOWN! I love to bring a large group of people, order some pitchers of alcohol and just have a great time.

Pianos- NYC: Another grad school staple that was one of my favorite bars/clubs in Soho. My roommates and I would always end up there after bar hopping, and it was never a disappointment.


Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to express my gratitude to my family and best friends Duhamel Mondesir, Kyle Nealy, Janisha Romero Rodriguez, Ever Bussey, Fajer Hussein, Ezekiel Medina and Alex Rosado for all of their love, quality time, support and friendship.

Forever grateful to Jervae Anthony, Kristina Rodriguez, Ashleigh Tribble, Enam Asiama and Bria Lauren for their inspiring work, artistry, support and siblinghood. Y’all truly inspire me everyday to empower myself as a Black person and give myself credit for all the things I have accomplished.

Super thankful for Brandon Stewart, who has really held me down and shown me that my intersections of fatness, Blackness and being non-binary was something to rejoice and not run from. Thank you for your love and allowing me to see the ways in which I can ground myself even in times when my foundation seems nonexistent.

Thank you to CJ Rodriguez for our friendship, kikis, bomb ass recipes and giving me insightful wisdom on the ways in which self care are essential and vital.

Special thank you to my therapist for affirming my experiences, giving me tools to navigate life and also pushing me to have hard conversations that will lead to my healing and betterment.

Lastly, I am thankful to my ancestors for having my back and overseeing my journey as I break generational curses, walk along the path of my destiny and grow as a human being.

Website: www.allmylinks.com/cheymodee

Instagram: instagram.com/cheymodee

Twitter: Twitter.com/cheymodee

Image Credits
Image of Cheyenne M. Davis sitting and smiling taken by Duhamel Mondesir

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.