The portrayal of plus-size Black women (often referred to as BBW in popular vernacular) in entertainment has shifted from one-dimensional stereotypes like the "Mammy" or the "sassy sidekick" to more nuanced, lead roles

Historically, Black plus-size women were often relegated to specific tropes that dehumanized or limited their characters: The "Mammy" Archetype

Another hallmark of this shift is the emergence of fantasy and genre fiction. Historically, Black BBW bodies were relegated to "reality" or "domestic" dramas. You rarely saw them in sci-fi, fantasy, or high-action thrillers.

The shift in media isn't just about seeing more faces on screen; it’s about the quality of those stories. Historically, Black women with large body types have been underrepresented (making up only about 10% of characters despite being roughly 40% of the population).