Shattering Stigma: Adwoa Aboah Talks Mental Health
As the intersection of fashion and activism becomes more apparent, the influence of major players in the fashion industry is on the rise. We’ve seen Karlie Kloss use her fame to garner interest in her Kode with Klossy initiative, and there are countless other creative forces who have used their voices to instigate change.
Adwoa Aboah is another mover-and-shaker within the fashion industry, a Ghanaian-British model who has called upon her immense following to spark conversations about mental health. At only 25, Aboah has graced the covers of Vogue, i-D, and Love Magazine, and has walked in countless shows, including Versace, Fendi, Dior, and Chanel, this season alone.
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In addition to her impressive resumé in the world of haute couture, Aboah has an incredible street style game—one that Vogue describes as “fresh, rebellious, and right on time”. Aboah manages to pair prints, textures, and trends together in an effortlessly cool and deliberately subversive presentation.
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Aboah’s street style is a function of her bold and refreshing openness, her honesty and willingness to push boundaries. These, too, are the qualities that make her a powerful activist, encouraging dialogues about the issues close to her heart. In particular, she is working to eradicate the stigma surrounding conversations of mental health. Aboah has been involved with the British Royal Family’s #HeadsTogether campaign, appearing in a video in which she speaks openly with her mother about her battle with depression, and her eventual recovery. (Disclaimer: this emotional video deals with topics of depression and suicide.) As she speaks publicly about her struggles with mental illness, Aboah has also cultivated an online community, Gurls Talk, within which she hopes women can candidly share their stories and experiences.
The actions and experiences of influencers like Adwoa Aboah provide a glimmer of hope that, perhaps, the status of celebrity need not always breed passivity.
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