www.Raqui.com - The Activist

Meeting Ray DeJon host of Video Music Box

Meeting Big Girl Comedian Queen Aishah

Meeting Big Girl Comedian Nikki Carr

Yorkshire TV Documentary Chubby Chasers - Aired on UTV November 24, 2004

Texas Appearance @ Club Envy BBW Dances Me and Owner Sherril- October 2004

June 26, 2005 - Good Morning America Show airs, Raqui and her associates from Big Connections is featured! CLICK HERE to read the GMA Report!

Interview on www.bbwradio.com August 2005 CLICK HERE and use Win Amp to listen to clip of interview.

Judging BBW Philly Pageant

Interviewed by Bronx Net at BBT 2nd Anniversary Event

Meeting The Flameboyent Chief

Working together on World Watching Japan

Raqui and Christina Carrera Rising child Star

Working together on World Watching Japan

Raqui and Jadox West Coast BBW Rapper

Raqui and Tofo of BBW Radio

Raqui and Comedian John Hinton

Raqui and JJ of Big Gals Lingerie

Raqui and Big L from Chocolate City CT

March 3rd 2005 Raqui makes her statement on the Michael Baisden show Kiss FM talking about LargeInCharge

Raqui was interviewed for Good Morning America - and appeared on the following shows. Read the Reports.

June 26, 2005 - Plus-Size Parties Make Living Large Comfortable

July 5, 2005 - Plus-size Partiers Bet on Self-Esteem at Vegas Bash

January 15, 2005 - Raqui has a bigger appearance on the show. Buy the Transcript

September 3rd 2006 - Raqui was Interview @ Big Connections for the Documentary

"The BBW World: Behind The Fat"

Honored at the Curvesity Awards - I received the

"YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD!"

CLICK TO READ ABOUT THE EVENT

The Activist For me I never became an activist, I was born an activist. I have heard many stories of people who went through terrible experiences, fought numerous battles. Who for years were plagued with low self esteem, and only through some form of illumination of the mind and sprit did they somehow come through it all, and gave to others. They became activists. For whatever cause they sought out. While I have fought just as many battles, have my own stories and experiences. I was born an activist. Some might say it was my defiant ways or rebellious sprit; but never the less, no matter what I was going through, I was fighting it all the way tooth and nail.

So what is your cause? Your probably asking. Well I have my own vendetta against many unfair ways of the world. My way of handling activism is to give others information and letting them make up there minds about it. I can give you a thought to roll around in your mind and you decide if what I am saying is worth applying to your life. I never am one to tell another how to live life and what to do with it. But rather I challenge people to step up to there own plate and do something about the changes they want to see happen. Only you can change your own thoughts, actions and reactions. You cannot change others you can only stimulate them to try and make a unique change for themselves.

Below is a major subject in my life that I feel very strongly about. I will explain why and how I believe I make a difference with others. Why my ways of handling what life gave me has been called activism.

Size Acceptance

I never saw my self as big growing up. I have always seen myself as normal and everyone else was just small. Some have said I was unrealistic or thinking of life in my terms. I sit back and wonder, what is wrong with that? Why shouldn't I look at life through my own eyes? Eyes that see everyone else as smaller because I am 6'4 and 580 lbs. Why should I think that I am an odd ball when I am just as much human as everyone else? Why should I go through life trying, wishing, and praying that I was in a different package than I was given? Why are others trying to force my mind and body into a box that doesn't fit? Why should I look at myself as too big and too tall. Why cant others just be too short and too small?

These are thoughts that have been with me since childhood. When the cute sweet chubby little girl comments, turned into too big, too fat and the ever famous "But you have such a pretty face". What is up with that comment? I used to rage inside every time I heard it. As if my proclaimed beautiful, gorgeous, pretty face was now cursed because it happened to be on a big body. I never got comments on how beautiful I filled out or how Bick House-ish I was at age eleven. Even being tall wasn't a plus because now I was too tall. It seemed that everything about my body was a big minus compared to my face. I guess big people are only supposed to come in Ugly. Because a pretty face on a big body is a waste.

Before I even knew what the words Size Acceptance were, I was doing it. I was accepting my size with a vengeance. I had a how dare you attitude to others who put me down about size and a way of being able to ignore and piss off anyone who wanted a reaction. I had a belief in myself and I am not sure where it came from. I think it was that rebellious attitude I talked about before. I was not going to let anyone tell me who I was or what package I should come in. Even when I was at a loss for clothing options because trendy and fun didn't come in my size at that time. Only granny type of clothing and business suits were available. (Thank god some people are making nicer clothing for big teens and young ladies now.)

It was through my belief in myself that I impacted others. I showed others that I was proud. And while it was hard growing up because I was often treated like one of the guys, I was always a lady, feminine and beautiful, caring about my looks and treating others with respect. At least most of the time. I remember when I met up with other girls my size. Many of them asked me why I was not seen as the tomboy they were. I told them, I make them treat me like a female, with respect, they can be my friend, but I am not a boy, so don't treat me like one. Just because I'm bigger than most men, doesn't mean you can treat me like a man. Be a lady. I have seen some major changes in tom boyish big girls who thought that the only way to be accepted was in dressing like or being like the guys.

I believe in showing by example and using words. I run a Size Acceptance and Empowerment Magazine www.largeincharge.com. I also have a support group for people of size through my newsletter. Supporting a group of people of size, listening and caring about how they feel. Understanding and letting them know they are not alone. These are important things to me. I have often been told I have a strong personality. Because I don't settle for less in care or treatment. I request everything for my comfort level everywhere I go and encourage others to do the same. I know many people who feel that they are inconveniencing the restaurant owner, doctor, or person they are dating because they are a big person. I tell them, No they are an inconvenience to you. Restaurant owners are suppose to seat all of America not just the skinny. Doctors are supposed to give you the treatment you deserve regardless of size. And if a person is dating you then they should know what you need and be ready to demand it make you comfortable. Instead many plus sized people stay home because they are afraid of being an inconvenience. If we all stay home how will America know that they better make room for the big girls and guys who are going to demand equal and higher quality service as a patron.

Being seen, being heard, making noise, demanding what we need. Are actions toward letting others know that they have to accommodate people of all sizes. Giving people of size the courage to do so is a big thing for me. Maybe I am a bit demanding, demanding of my equality as a human being. LargeInCharge Magazine has helped me reach so many people with positive thoughts and issues that make them realize that just because your in a bigger package doesn't mean your lesser than anyone else. Giving big sized companies a free place to promote there companies and products is another thing I am proud of. Resources for the people is what I want to accomplish. If you want to rate humanity by the pound. I believe I got most of America out ranked to the 5th power. So treat me with Five times the respect.

I never started what I do to say, "Here I am activist Raqui". Only in the past few years have I even discovered that what I have been doing since child hood can be called Activism. I was quite surprised because I was being called stubborn, selfish, and unruly for a long time. Because I wouldn't conform to what others wanted me to conform to. I have always thought I was worth more, I believed that I didn't have to suffer at the hands for another, or be put down by someone's else's thoughts. I went right along with my life and did as I wanted weather others liked it or not. I dance to my own drum and you can either dance with me or find your own drum to dance to. But I am not changing the music that beats inside me for anyone else.