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Eli Burris
Caroline Bresnahan
Alumni and Friends | University Community
OHIO graduate remains committed to social justice personally and professionally
You may see Caroline Bresnahan strolling the streets of Athens, working in Nelsonville or while scrolling through your TikTok and Instagram feed.
The 28-year-old OHIO alumna graduated in the winter of 2016 from the Patton College of Education with a degree in middle childhood education. Upon graduating, she floated around various jobs, working retail and living in places like Louisville, Cincinnati, and even as an au pair in Austria.
鈥淚 wanted to stay in Athens from the day I graduated,鈥 Bresnahan explained. She told herself that she should leave for five years post-grad, though, and if she still felt the same, she would explore moving back to her college town.
In September 2021, she returned to Athens with her partner.
鈥淭he things that drew me back are the small businesses. I love the vibe we have here,鈥 Bresnahan said. 鈥淚 love what feels like a commitment to sustainability, to knowing your community, the farmer鈥檚 market. I love the nature around here. I don鈥檛 think I ever felt more at home anywhere than I have here.鈥
Bresnahan鈥檚 professional life and social media presence are both rooted in social justice causes she is passionate about.
She recalls listening to a podcast in 2020 about the innerworkings of a California prison and knew she wanted to volunteer with the prison population one day. Now, two years later through the OHIO Career Ready Campus, Bresnahan teaches classes four times a week mainly at the STAR Community Justice Center in Nelsonville.
The program, which is funded through the Ohio Department of Education鈥檚 Aspire grant, is housed in OHIO鈥檚 Patton College of Education. Going on four years, the program aims to teach career readiness, life skills, job training, GED preparation, and more, free of charge in Athens and Hocking Counties, along with OHIO鈥檚 regional campus locations.
Bresnahan鈥檚 courses are offered as a part of the program鈥檚 correctional education partnerships. She instructs courses on career readiness and soft skills, while planning lessons and activities for students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a steppingstone for people who are incarcerated but are about to be released into the population,鈥 Bresnahan said.
She explained that courses run through individuals鈥 180-day stays at the justice center, but the time allows her to get to know and connect with them.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of gentlemen who have heavily impacted me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 think the most impactful moments come towards the end of the class for me. Usually that鈥檚 also close to when they鈥檙e about to be released. So, they鈥檙e really talking about who they鈥檙e going back to, who they鈥檙e excited to see. Oftentimes, that鈥檚 when they鈥檙e just getting comfortable enough with me to share.鈥
When Bresnahan is not teaching, she is likely dancing energetically in front of her phone creating videos for Instagram and TikTok. She describes this aspect of her life as: 鈥渁 totally separate vibe, but also still rooted in social justice in a way.鈥
Her alternate persona fully took hold in 2018 after creating an Instagram page to share daily outfits.
鈥淚 was just sending my mom pictures of my outfit every day. So, I started a little Instagram page called 鈥楯ust Me and My Mirror鈥 because they were just mirror selfies 鈥 low quality, cropped weird, and just started posting them and was like whoever wants to be a part of this, be a part of it,鈥 Bresnahan said.
As someone who loves styling clothes and putting together outfits, Bresnahan found an outlet through social media鈥檚 plus-size community.
鈥淪omething that has always been a form of joy for me is putting together an outfit, looking cute and feeling confident," Bresnahan said. 鈥淚 started putting together an outfit every day and taking pictures and posting them every single day and engaging specifically with the fat community on Instagram.鈥
As she continued to engage with this community, her page started gaining serious traction. Bresnahan described her follower count growing from 600 to 10,000 in six to eight months.
鈥淚t started getting more geared toward talking about the plus-size experience and learning about fat liberation and fat acceptance,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 think plus-size fashion has such a powerful niche on the internet. There are so many people who are so eager to be able to express themselves in a way that has not been accessible and is finally becoming accessible. Learning to find your style in an age where clothes are accessible, you need some guidance. I think I make outfit videos in a really fun, different way because they always include some dancing and energy and excitement.鈥
As the rise of the social media platform TikTok came about, Bresnahan鈥檚 content and energy translated to the app perfectly. Similar to her Instagram, her account began as a way to hop on the trend of making fun dances to songs. She described that once she made her first outfit video on the platform, her following grew there as well.
Bresnahan now has 68.6K followers on Instagram, and 144.8K followers on TikTok.
鈥淚 honestly love it - I hate it, but I love it鈥 Bresnahan said of TikTok. 鈥淚t keeps me up way too late and makes my brain mush, but also is such a good form of community and education for me, and for myself to learn.鈥
She has many goals for the use of her platform, primarily reclaiming the word fat, educating others and advocating for fat liberation and fat acceptance, all while creating a positive space on social media.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 talking about fat acceptance and fat liberation, and when people are talking about it, it鈥檚 about access,鈥 Bresnahan explained.
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鈥淚t鈥檚 not a bad word,鈥 she said of the word fat. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the same as tall, brunette, freckled 鈥 all other things that I am.鈥
She described many obstacles that plus-size individuals face in everyday life beyond finding adequate size options, such as getting sufficient healthcare, learning health in schools, experiencing bias in the workplace, and the ability to travel.
鈥淚 would just love for kids to know that they鈥檙e fine as they are, and that they can trust their bodies," she explained. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 the biggest thing I鈥檝e given myself back is the trust. My body will do what it needs to do, and it鈥檚 okay.鈥
As her social media presence continues to thrive, Bresnahan is exploring her influencer status. She recently hired an agent and has partnered with various clothing brands.
鈥淚'm trying to use my platform and my power right now, specifically with the people I come into contact with,鈥 Bresnahan said. 鈥淲hen making a brand deal, I鈥檓 looking at their sizes, their representation on their pages 鈥 socials and their websites.鈥
She described that if the brand鈥檚 sizing and representation do not meet her standards, she will point this out or choose not to represent the company.
As her multi-faceted success continues, Bresnahan finds joy in giving back to the Athens community and reconnecting with the town.
Though she has lived in many places, moved frequently and held many jobs throughout her life, Bresnahan described the feeling of finally not looking for what is next and being happy where she is.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just been interesting to discover this town at a completely different page in my life,鈥 she said of Athens. 鈥淭his town is cooler than the other places I鈥檝e been, and I just wanted to be a part of it. So, I鈥檓 happy to be here now, doing the thing.鈥
Follow Caroline, @justmeandmymirror, on and ..
Published
July 21, 2022