Dominican-American model Denise Mercedes and her friend Maria Castellanos are showing the world how every body is beautiful. Mercedes, a plus-size model, and Castellanos are sharing a series of TikTok videos showing what the same outfits look like on two different body sizes.

Denise Mercedes is using her TikTok account to celebrate body positivity.

The fashion industry has long been criticized for its impact on unhealthy body images among young women. Recently, the fashion industry has started to change with some fashion designers embracing and celebrating all body types. This has given rise to some plus size models that have become household names.

Mercedes, along with friend Maria Castellanos, is showing the beauty of all body sizes.

Who doesn’t like rocking a little overall every now and then? The outfit is as annoying as a romper but denim is everything so it makes it all worth it. If you have ever wanted to rock some overalls, take them for a spin in your apartment right now.

Never shy away from a little bit of midriff, especially over the summer.

The hotter it gets, the less you want to wear. No one wants to spend the summer sweating. It isn’t a good look. Let your body feel the sun this year and just rock your style, mija.

This bestie brunch chic look is stunning.

The top is all fancy business and the blue jeans make it comfortable and fun. Plus, who doesn’t like a cinched waist via an oversized belt? This is one look that anyone can rock and everyone should.

You can definitely enjoy a comfy t-shirt dress.

Again, the waist belt is all you really need to give your hourglass figure the kind of attention it deserves. Curves are beautiful and something our community knows a lot about. Let’s celebrate them.

It is summer so why not wear a fun summer piece.

Get some safe, socially distanced sun and fresh air this summer. We are all allowed to go outside to get fresh air and spend time being active in parks ad beaches. Don’t gather, obviously, but go get that summer tan you love by walking on the beach if you can.

And, of course, some ’90s-inspired looks are always nice to bring back.

A nice little dress with some black, patent leather boots is a solid look, y’all. As we see here, it is one look that we can all get comfortable wearing around.

READ: How Dressing Up For The Gym Helped Me Start Loving My Plus-Size Body

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Say goodbye to Dora the Explorer–at least for now. Isabela Merced, formerly known as Isabela Moner, has reinvented herself from child star to bonafide pop singer. On Wednesday, Merced debuted the music video for her new single “Papi”, a girl-power anthem that’s inspired by “salsa, reggaeton, cumbia, and bachata”. According to Merced, she hopes the song will get the message across to womanizing men that they should “treat ladies with the respect they deserve”.

The new music video is impressive not only because it shows a more grown-up version of Merced (who we’ve seen since her Nickelodeon days) but also because it celebrates her Peruvian culture. In the video, we see Merced dressed in both American and Peruvian-style clothes, dancing to choreography that is reminiscent of stand American hip-hop moves as well as the traditional Peruvian dance known as the Marinera. Merced, for her part, is proud of the aesthetic her newest music video embodies: “I want to introduce everyone to the rich culture of my family’s heritage,” she said in a recent interview with Teen Vogue.

Credit: @idolator/Twitter

The transformation from Nickelodeon actor to superstar in the making was arguably kickstarted with Isabela’s decision to change her last name from “Moner” to “Merced”.

After all, 2019 has been a very big year for Merced. Not only did she star in the blockbuster film “Dora and the Lost City of Gold”, but she also revealed that her mother has been  privately battling breast cancer. According to Merced, the decision to change her last name came from the desire to honor family–especially her Peruvian heritage. The name Merced comes from her late grandmother, Yolanda Merced Salazar Pittman. “I believe some force, throughout all these years, has been giving my mom the strength and determination to guide me,” she told Refinery29. “I feel as though if that guardian angel would be anyone, it would be my grandma.”

So, while some child actors struggle to make the transition from child entertainer to serious adult actor, Merced makes the entire process look easy. While the music video for “Papi” has its sultry moments, it doesn’t seem to be trying too hard to prove anything. Yes, there’s a love interest who makes an appearance in the video–but the entire song isn’t just devoted to a man. “’Papi’ is empowering to girls. [It] has sass and confidence,” she says. With lyrics like “Or did I forget to mention?/Don’t like frivolous affection/I don’t want it on the first date or third date…I’m never gonna call you papi/Even if it makes you happy,” the song celebrates to independent women of the world who refuse to change themselves to make a man happy. 

Credit: @playintoit/Twitter

According to Merced, the bilingual bop is just the beginning of her exploring the world of Spanish-language music. 

Merced, who was born to a Peruvian mother and a white American father, has previously been candid about growing up bilingual in a multicultural household. “I want my music to represent who I am…I grew up with a white dad and a Latinx mom, who was an immigrant. That is who I am. It’s okay to be a mix…Us mixed kids have a place in this society, and Spanglish songs do as well,” she told Refinery29.

It’s refreshing to see such representation for multicultural Latinos who grew up in a multi-racial family. The reality is, many Latinos feel equally comfortable speaking two languages, especially if one parent is non-Latino. According to the Pew Center for research, almost 7% of Americans identify as mixed-race, and that number will continue to grow. In other words: Isabela Merced is definitely onto something.

Credit: @Z100NewYork/Twitter

Of course, Merced’s fans have been going crazy on Twitter over her Latina-and-proud music video.

Like Christina Aguilera before her, this child star is embracing all aspects of her identity and people are pumped.

Peruvians are 100% here for Merced showing some love for their country:

@isabelamerced out here giving Peru some recognition in her new music video ????????❤️

— aleee (@Alessandrageehx) November 6, 2019

It’s always exciting to see your culture recognized in the media.

This Peruvian sees the music video as a beautiful “tribute”:

Beautiful video, a tribute to our country and culture. Thanks Isabela

— david rodriguez (@davidor_m) November 6, 2019

You can definitely feel the love that went into the making of this music video purely from its attention to detail. 

Many people are praising “Papi” for supporting bilingual and multiracial representation:

A song that’s made for those with the ability to understand in both languages and not wanting to choose just one side

— Jesus Garcia (@JesusGa26659687) November 6, 2019

A lot of people don’t recognize that there’s no one “right” way to be Latinx. For many Latinos in America, Spanglish is a way of life. 

Of course, there are also the stans who are just in awe of Isabela Merced’s raw talent:

This @isabelamerced is pure talent. She can literally do anything. Dubbing for cartoons , Acting n now Pop ? This gal is definitely gonna go places. Cheers. Go get'em ???????????? https://t.co/vWLiqcxw4p

— Siva Kiruba (@siva_kiba) November 6, 2019

Seriously, is there anything this girl can’t do? We’ll wait.

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