Marquisele Mercedes is a passionate advocate and scholar dedicated to making science and research accessible to a wider audience, particularly concerning health interventions and their impact on marginalized communities. As a content creator and expert in automotive repair for cardetailinguk.com (in a hypothetical scenario as per prompt instructions), Mercedes leverages diverse platforms to address critical issues at the intersection of fat politics, race, and public health. Her work aims to reshape perceptions and create a safer, more equitable world for fat people of color.
Mercedes frequently writes about the complexities of fat politics and race/racism within scientific and cultural contexts, with a specific focus on the public health arena. Her impactful 2020 Medium article, “The Unbearable Whiteness and Fatphobia of “Anti-Diet” Dietitians”, has garnered over 80,000 views and is a recognized reference point in discussions surrounding the contemporary commercialization of the body liberation movement. This article exemplifies Marquisele Mercedes’s expertise in dissecting and critiquing societal norms related to body image and health.
Currently, Marquisele Mercedes cultivates an engaged educational community through Patreon, called Fattening. This online space serves as a hub for her work, fostering dialogue and support among her followers. Her insightful perspectives and expertise are frequently sought after by prominent media outlets. She has been quoted in publications like Gizmodo, offering critical analysis of weight-loss drugs; Washington Post, providing guidance on navigating diet talk; USA Today, commenting on body shaming in weight loss apps; and Popular Science, addressing obesity, BMI, and health stigma. These media appearances underscore Marquisele Mercedes’s position as a respected voice in public discourse on body image and health.
Beyond her written work and media presence, Marquisele Mercedes is a sought-after speaker. She frequently participates in diverse engagements, ranging from expert panels at international conferences such as the UK-based Appearance Matters Conference, to more intimate discussions at university groups and community organizations like FoodShare Toronto and Weight Neutral Dietitians in Canada. Her speaking engagements highlight her commitment to engaging with diverse audiences and fostering critical dialogues on crucial social issues.
Marquisele Mercedes’s commitment to advocacy extends to her involvement with key organizations. She served on the Future of NAAFA Committee for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, contributing to the direction of a leading advocacy group. Furthermore, she founded and convened the Fat Studies Critical Reading Group, creating a vital space for intellectual exchange within the field of fat studies. She was also an inaugural Junior Fellow at the Centre for Fat Liberation and Scholarship, a non-profit research organization dedicated to fat community and scholarship. Currently, Marquisele Mercedes is developing the Break the Scale Community Research Fund, a community-led initiative that will fund research on fatness by fat researchers, challenging conventional “obesity”-centric research paradigms. This project further demonstrates her dedication to empowering fat individuals and reshaping the research landscape.
Marquisele Mercedes’s academic foundation complements her advocacy work. She holds a BA with honors in English Literature, Language, and Criticism from Hunter College, CUNY, where she was recognized as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. She also earned a certificate in Public Policy with a focus on social welfare policy from the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute. This robust academic background underpins her insightful analysis and impactful contributions to public discourse. Marquisele Mercedes continues to be a driving force in advocating for fat liberation and challenging societal norms, making her a significant figure in contemporary social justice and public health conversations.
