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last year we teamed up with Black Girl Fly to feature profiles of Black millennial women who are taking the world by storm, one plane ticket at a time. Since many of you loved the column, we decided to speak with the woman behind the site, Gabrielle Victoria, who initially launched the site to write about her personal life and weight-loss journey while she traveled but eventually opened up the space so all Black women who love travel like her can share their experiences. During our interview, Gabrielle dropped some essential gems any woman on the international go should know, whether she’s embarking on her first or twentieth trip. Read her sage advice, below.

MadameNoire (MN): Why did you create Black Girl Fly?

Gabrielle Victoria (GV): It was by accident! It started as [my own] personal journey for me, between a travel and weight loss journey. Eventually, I realized there was a need for women who look like me traveling the world, doing something totally different than what we are used to seeing Black women do.

MN: Why do you think travel has become such a big thing for Black women in recent years?

GV: I think because we see so many negative images and representations of Black women or Black people in the media. So, when you look at the Travel Network and you look at the different stations that show travel, they never represent us. It’s like we are not there, like we are these imaginary people who never go anywhere in the world and we just stay in our little inner-cities. We don’t explore, according to the media. When in actuality, we do. We do go places. We’re open-minded to culture. We are here. We’re not invisible and we’re not just staying at home.

MN: Have you or anyone else who has contributed to Black Girl Fly been discriminated against while abroad?

GV: I’ve had unique experiences. One was weird; I was in the Dominican Republic, at the beach in a resort and there was a family next to me. I was on my phone, minding my business, and this guy strikes up this conversation about going to Memphis, Tennessee and how he doesn’t want to take his family there or certain places in Georgia because it’s so “ghetto.” He was just bashing the Black population of these major cities in America. (The whole family was American) and no one thought I was also an American. Until one of the kids asked me, “Hey! You have an iPhone?” And I said, “Yeah! I do!” and I spoke perfect English. [Afterward] they all just scattered, like, “oh no! we got caught!” So I have situations like that in Black (or brown) countries, they assume I’m local and they talk freely. I hear so many things.

MN: What has been your experience as a plus-size traveler?

GV: That was a major concern [when I first started to travel]. I heard all the horror stories of how you have to buy two tickets, but thankfully I haven’t. [Some] airlines or the stewardesses make it a bigger deal than it is. It doesn’t have to go to a point where you dehumanize someone or embarrass them on a plane in front of a group of people. No one wants to go through that—be it a plus-size person or someone with a disability. [Also], in any country I’ve gone to, no one has looked at me like, “Oh! Big American!” I’ve heard the stories, though. I heard in Asia you’re more likely to run into [things like that]. I do believe in certain cultures they’re more accepting of you (as a person). A lot of places have bigger issues than [observing someone’s size]. In fact, it’s actually good in some places because people are like “You must have money!” They look at it like you’re doing well in life. [But], it has caused me to challenge myself. I think there are a lot of negative stereotypes about plus-size people when it comes to traveling. People think they’re lazy or not motivated. I’ve hiked volcanoes, went up mountains; my weight has not interfered but actually push me to become more fit and more healthy as I travel.

MN: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned while traveling?

GV: My most important lesson would be: You don’t need all the “things.” Let go of things. You’re going so much happier without things. Traveling really has simplified my life. Not just that, you got airlines charging you a ton for your luggage now, so, it really forces you to think about what you really need. What are your essentials? And you carry that logic over in other areas of your life. Like, what is a want and what is a need? And whatever is a want, I put off—I don’t even see it anymore. I used to be a gadget freak. I kept up with every phone and every piece of technology. Now, I’m selling stuff. Like, I don’t need this big camera! [Laughs] I’m fine with my little point and shoot. It takes the same quality of pictures. Same with my phone! It will work until it doesn’t work. It has made me less of a consumer. I’m not so engulfed in wanting things, anymore. I want experiences.

MN: How should travelers navigate sharing their experiences with family and friends; especially when their loved ones are dismissive of what they’ve learned on their trips?

GV: I gave up on “convincing” them about my experiences. I realized people will never understand until they have the experience for themselves. Especially when you’re dealing with someone who hasn’t gone anywhere; in their mind, everything you’re doing is a fantasy. Everything you’re doing is unreachable, it’s something far off and you’re a fluke! [They believe] it was an accident that you were able to do it. Just by living your life, according to your new truth, I became very “namaste” as my mom calls it (when I began to travel). I just started living my life, differently. I became very simple and focused on self-happiness. Don’t focus on convincing them. Live your new truth. Encourage them to give it [travel] a try. And don’t let them disrupt your new peace. Don’t do it, you’ll lose your mind.

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