Ashley, the vlogger behind the immensely popular Youtube channel My Full Figured Life, bounces with so much energy, she’ll infuse you with extra manpower. Her channel has more than 15,000 subscribers, and that doesn’t include the lurkers who come on her channel to follow her life, enjoy some of her sassy talk, and get some much-needed confidence. Confidence! Now, that’s something that Ashley definitely has. She’s not the full-size woman stereotype who walks around with her head down, promising herself to start living when she gets skinny. She’s living now, baby, and she’s an inspiration to other full-sized women, and non-full-figured women.

She’s not above sharing her personal pain with her viewers and airing her innermost thoughts. She’s done vlogs about depression, jealousy in romantic relationships, rekindling family ties, even her health.

This is why brands like Zaabox, My Makeup Brush hound her, eager to establish work relationships with her, and expose their products to her loyal fans.

Kreyolicious: What was your Haitian-American experience like?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: For me, my experience was a great one. Although I was raised by my mother, when I would visit my father, I enjoyed the whole cultural differences. It was almost like living two different lives. Both rich in their own accord but very different. I always try and embrace my Haitianess.

Kreyolicious: Lots of people ponder on becoming Youtubers and the idea just remains in the pondering stage. You are among the ones that up and did it. What led to it?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: What led me to start my channel was me wanting to be a voice to other young plus sized women out there. I felt like I didn’t have many women like me to relate to and wanted to be that for other women.

Kreyolicious: Through your platform, you encourage people to embrace themselves and their size.
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: I wanted them to see through the way I carry myself and the life I live that you can be confident, beautiful and curvy all at the same time. I want women to stop putting limitations on themselves. Society does that enough. Live your life. Be happy and ‘Do you boo’!

Kreyolicious: Through your sheer professionalism, Youtubers like you make things appear so smooth and easy. Are there challenges behind the scenes?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: There are sooo many challenges. The one that comes to mind the most is time management. With me owning a catering business here in NYC as well, things can get kind of hectic. But when I can, I’ll just take a day and film as many videos as I can do that I will have content to put out when things are crazy.

Kreyolicious: Why do you think you’re so popular?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: I think I’m becoming popular because people enjoy my realness. They like that I’m positive yet honest. That’s so hard to find on social media now of days.

Kreyolicious: What are some of the feedback you’ve gotten from fans?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: The majority of feedback has been positive. What struck me the most was one subscriber telling me to just be myself and never change. That meant a lot to me because it’s hard to stay true to yourself when you’re putting yourself out there and want people to like you and watch your videos.

Kreyolicious: How do your parents view you and your career?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: My mother watches and is proud of me. My father loves to be on camera when I’m filming. All in all they’re very supportive. Both with YouTube and my catering.

Kreyolicious: What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since you begun your career as a content producer and influencer?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: Hands down, it’s the feeling I get when I get those 3 a.m messages from young ladies telling me how I inspire them to come out their shell or I help them to feel better about themselves. Or even grown women. I’m here for everyone. Those kind of messages mean everything to me!

Kreyolicious: What are five books you feel are must-reads for every female?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, True to the Game, The Coldest Winter Ever, Flyyy Girls, Starting a Business for Dummies.

Kreyolicious: If you were launching your channel this month and year, what would you do differently?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: I’d be more open and transparent from the start.

Kreyolicious: Where do you hope to take your brand?
Ashley-My Full Figured Life: I hope to of course grow my channel and branch out to more humanitarian projects, start an accessories line, and maybe a couple [of] books!

CLICK HERE to get a glimpse at Ashley’s My Full Figured Life. GO HERE to visit Ashley’s Etsy Store |

Folks watch and comment on her videos know her as the bold and outspoken voice behind The Frustrated Haitian. They often wonder about the young woman who is a one-stop soap box for social topics about Haiti. Where does all that boldness come from? How does she decide what to discuss?

Here’s one question they won’t have to wonder much about: Why are her videos so popular? She speaks her mind in a way that some of her viewers wished they could. And there’s the authoritative way she expresses her views when she’s discussing everything from the exorbitant price of living in Haiti, to corporal punishment to single motherhood in the Haitian-American community, to language use among Haitian-Americans—among other topics. What started as personal outlet has grown into a respected brand with 2K Youtube subscribers, and with Olina Brice—better known as The Frustrated Haitian—as head-vlogger-in-charge.

Kreyolicious: Tell us about The Frustrated Haitian.

Many think I’m just a little girl behind the camera. However, I’m 34 years young. I born and raised in Little Haiti, Miami Florida. I’ve seen the up’s and downs of the Haitian Community. I feel we should be so much further, one of the most progressive Caribbean countries but we are like an expensive car with a great engine that’s isn’t moving although we’re pressing the gas pedal. What is the missing link?

We have millions of people that are available and eager to work but with no true job creation plans and the constant interference from the Haitian elite, the United States government, the poor infrastructure and education system many days are lost and so is the opportunity to improve the country. The leaders of the Republic of Haiti have kept the citizens generationaly uneducated—which have also led to many other issues within the country and our community today.

Kreyolicious: What made you decide start a vlog?

I wanted to vent my frustrations and find a community of people that may feel the same way. I wanted to connect with the under 50, and get them thinking and talking. My motto is you cannot talk about all the great parts without talking about the bad parts. I wanted to be the grey area that can actually look at the Republic of Haiti for what it really is. Many from the diaspora want to disregard the true issues and only talk about the beauty of the country and or talk about who is Haitian in Hollywood. However, I wanted to be different.

When I started in 2008, Haiti was going through a food crisis. My mother called me with panic and distress in her voice. She was calling me about Haiti. She told me, “Timoun yo grangou”—the children are hungry. Have you been watching the news? There is mayhem in the country?” At that moment, I knew the stress of Haiti was about to be pass down to me like a trust fund…That phone call is what changed my life and I still think about it today. So, when I turn on the camera i’m hoping to connect with other people from the diaspora that is going through the same thing.

Kreyolicious: Girl, how do you get the gumption to put yourself on a platform like YouTube and speak your mind like you do?

I’ve always been comfortable speaking up when I needed to. However I’m an introvert, but I was born a fighter. I’ve gone toe-to-toe with people since grade school. I think those experiences made me stronger. I do understand that we live in a time of political correctness. However Haitian and/or Black issues is our responsibility…so staying silent will not get us anywhere. Remember Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” So, I speak up not to offend but to let people know that as a Haitian born in the USA that we’re not ignoring the issues that are going on in Haiti.

Kreyolicious: Out of all the videos you’ve made, which one are you most proud of? Why?

Well, all of the videos I’ve done are my babies. However, it will be Haitian Creole! Poukisa Ou Pa Pale Kreyòl. I was explaining the reality of First Generation American Haitians living in the USA. Communication is important, communicating with Natif Natals (Native Haitians) is a struggle that many go through.

It’s great that we have found an opportunity here in the USA but passing our culture and language to our children is important. We cannot let or our ancestral steps disappear because we’ve moved to another country. We should be building and growing a stronger community no matter where we go and yes, speaking the language is a part of that. If we do not, we are committing self inflicted cultural genocide.

Kreyolicious: What advice would you give to someone who’d like to start a vlog?

I wish I had this advice in 2008. [Laughter] One of most important things to do is evaluate; why you want to vlog? When you become comfortable with that reason. Do not allow anyone to deter you from that. Please understand you will have trolls—internet bullies— and they will say anything and everything to offend you. So, make sure you develop thick skin. You need to be consistent if you would like to build an audience. Your audience becomes really invested in what you have to offer so you cannot leave them hanging.

Become like a TV show and release your content on a schedule so your audience knows when to check your channel for new videos. Lastly remember your brand. Are you doing this for fun and game or are you serious? If so, develop your brand values, build your brand and protect it.

Kreyolicious: Have you been to Haiti?

Mewi, I am the Frustrated Haitian. Although I made a video called “Haiti is Too Expensive”, I think it’s very important that parents expose their children to their homeland. You can represent being Haitian all you want, but the true experience is visiting the Republic of Haiti.

Kreyolicious: Are the videos you make the primary way you remain connected to the culture?

I’m Haitian. My culture walks with me everyday. Being part of a big Haitian family, exposure to the Haitian Culture was non-negotiable especially growing up in Little Haiti. Almost everything I do comes from my Haitian Family. From speaking creole when I see Haitian elders to preparing food. When I need to relax I listen to Rasin music. When I need to get motivated I listen to Kompa and or Zouk. Daan Junior, Jacques Sauveur Jean and Coupe Cloue are a few of my favorites.

I make the videos really to explain what it’s like being born and raised Haitian in the USA. The things that many of us had to go through and still go through today. Also to express my frustration with Haiti and the Haitian Community and provide a platform for people to discuss not only Haiti but things that are going on in the African Diaspora.

Kreyolicious: What should we expect from you next?

Well when it comes to Haiti there are a few projects in the works. At the moment I can only tell you about the Frustrated Haitian T-shirts which will launch [this] summer. I’m building this brand and my exposure as the Frustrated Haitian to later help Haiti any way that I can. Lastly you can catch me on Naturally Olina where I talk about natural hair. Kreyolicious, thank you so much for the steps that you’re making within the Haitian community. It’s taking us a while but the keyword is unity. Thank you for giving your readers and my subscribers the opportunity to get to know me a little better. I really do appreciate it….

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEOS ON THE FRUSTRATED HAITIAN YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

With less than a dozen videos posted on Youtube, content producer and vlogger Tara M has started to amass considerable following on the platform. One of the reasons why viewers gravitate towards the Youtube influencer is definitely her laid-back personality and her tendency for sharing her milestone moments with viewers like they’re old friends. In one episode, the influencer takes her fans into her apartment, allowing them a tour of every nook and cranny. This type of intimacy is prevalent on Youtube, but Tara M makes you feel like you’re not an intruder she’s obligingly letting in, but treats you with the hospitality you’d expect from a lifelong friend. One of the traits that distinguish her from her counterparts on Youtube is her Haitian and Filipina heritage. More about that some other time. Meanwhile…Let’s get started meanwhile…

Kreyolicious: Did you know that there is a plant in Peru called Tara?
Tara M: I did not know there was a plant in Peru called Tara. That’s pretty awesome! My name is not very common, so it’s always cool to see my name out there! Fun fact: my mom got my name from the romantic classic movie called Gone With The Wind.

Kreyolicious: It’s capable of growing up to 15 feet. Speaking of vegetation…What do you feel has been some of the biggest factors to your growth as a person.
Tara M: I think the biggest factor that helped me grow as a person is having my mother around. We are really close so she has always been very active in my life. When she sees I’m having a difficult time she would always guide me out of it. She also constantly prays for me so I know that God has a close watch on me. She has helped me develop my own faith in God as well.

Kreyolicious: What made you become a Youtuber?
Tara M: It all started 6 years ago. I started watching girls on Youtube creating fashion videos. The idea of talking into a camera, posting a video on Youtube, and reaching a wide audience seemed like a really strange concept at the time but it still intrigued me. I started posting videos of my own channel and I realized how much I enjoyed having an outlet to express my creativity. Six years ago girls were just posting Youtube videos as a hobby. It really wasn’t a career option yet. As years [have] gone by, I started seeing my Youtube/Instagram as outlets where I can create my own brand.

Kreyolicious: Why do you think your channel is successful?
Tara M: I believe my channel is successful because so far I put out content that catches people attention. I noticed people like to binge certain videos on Youtube. I tend to film popular videos with my own spin to it.

Kreyolicious: What sparks the ideas for your videos?
Tara M: My ideas come from videos I like to watch on my own time. It is just more fun for me to film a video that I’ve enjoyed watching as well.

Kreyolicious: You have to have gumption to be a Youtuber. After all, it’s like a world stage. How did you develop your sense of bravery?
Tara M: Whenever someone puts themselves out there, it’s a risk. With every positive comment out there, you also have to realize that there could be just one negative comment that can really bring you down. I think I developed my sense of bravery the older I got. I do get negative comments, but I think for some people as they get older things just don’t sway their confidence as easily as when we are younger. You become more sure of yourself.

CLICK HERE to visit Millennial lifestyle blogger and Youtuber influencer Tara M’s channel on Youtube.

CLICK HERE to read interviews with other Youtuber influencers of Haitian descent.