A Viral Moment at Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week has always been a showcase of style, but this year it offered something far more memorable. A plus-size ballerina took to the runway and performed with such elegance that she stole the show. Wearing a classic black tutu, she lifted herself en pointe, spun into pirouettes, and glided with effortless grace.
The performance, captured and shared by TikTok creator @freje.jernisee, quickly spread online, racking up more than 100,000 likes and countless shares. What viewers saw was not just a beautiful dance but a moment that redefined who belongs in ballet.
Why This Dancer Struck a Chord
For centuries ballet has been tied to a single image: thin, pale, waiflike bodies floating across the stage. This ballerina disrupted that image entirely. Her presence on one of the world’s most visible fashion stages challenged the deeply entrenched stereotypes of what a dancer should look like.
South African viewers who joined the chorus of online comments were particularly struck. Many said the performance was “healing” to watch, especially for women who were once told their bodies didn’t fit the mould for ballet or dance. The message was clear: grace is not defined by size, and artistry cannot be confined to narrow ideals.
Representation Where It Matters Most
This performance was part of the Actively Black show, a brand that uses fashion as a platform for inclusivity and empowerment. By featuring a plus-size ballerina at NYFW, the show delivered a clear statement: beauty and skill come in all shapes, and ballet is for anyone willing to put in the work.
New York Fashion Week isn’t just a runway. It is a global stage where identities are affirmed or erased. For young girls watching online, seeing a dancer who looks more like them was a powerful reminder that ballet isn’t only for one kind of body.
Social Media Reactions: From Admiration to Inspiration
The response online was immediate and heartfelt. Comments flooded TikTok and Instagram, with users praising her for embodying confidence and elegance. Some wrote that they finally felt represented in ballet, while others admitted they were in tears seeing such beauty break the mould.
A recurring theme in the reactions was inspiration. Several users said they now wanted to return to dance classes they abandoned years ago. Others applauded her courage, noting that performing at NYFW is daunting enough without also carrying the weight of challenging stereotypes.
@freje.jernisee @Actively Black Store had nothing but culture and history in the building🖤 so appreciative to be a part of such a beautifully constructed show. I love our people and historyyyy #nyfw #ballerina #africanamerican #history #dancetok ♬ Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
A Shift in Culture
This single performance isn’t just about one ballerina. It reflects a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity in both fashion and performance art. Across the world, plus-size models, dancers, and performers are claiming space that was historically denied to them.
In South Africa, this resonates with our own struggles around representation. The local arts industry has often sidelined performers who don’t fit traditional looks. To see someone on a global stage defying those odds gives hope that similar shifts can ripple through our stages too.
What We Know and What We Don’t
We know the dancer performed at NYFW in 2025, that she wore a black tutu, danced en pointe, and received overwhelming praise online. We know the video went viral and that it moved thousands of viewers around the world.
What we don’t yet know is her full story. How long has she trained? What barriers did she overcome? Did she face criticism before stepping onto this runway? Those details remain private. But even without them, her performance has already become a symbol of resilience and possibility.
More Than a Viral Clip
It’s easy to dismiss viral videos as fleeting, but this one holds lasting value. For every dancer told they don’t belong, for every child who looked at a ballet stage and thought,, “Not for me,” this ballerina’s performance sends a louder message: art has no size limit.
Her pirouettes at NYFW may have lasted only moments, but the inspiration they sparked will ripple for years.
Source: Briefly News
Featured Image: iStock
