Zyahna Bryant is a 23-year-old activist, author, and student who has been making waves in the social justice movement since she was 15. She is best known for leading the campaign to remove the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from a park in Charlottesville, Virginia, which sparked a violent white supremacist rally in 2017. She is also a Dove ambassador and a fat liberation advocate who challenges the stigma and discrimination faced by plus-size people.
Contents
Early Life and Wiki
Zyahna was born on July 6, 2000 (Age: 23 years old), in Charlottesville, Virginia. She is the daughter of Zyahna Bryant Sr. and Sabrina Bryant. She has two younger siblings, Zariyah and Zion. She attended Charlottesville High School, where she was involved in various clubs and activities, such as the Black Student Union, the Debate Team, the National Honor Society, and the Student Council. She graduated in 2020 as the class president and valedictorian.
Qualifications
As per wikicelebs.com sources, Bryant is currently a junior at the University of Virginia (UVA), where she is majoring in political and social thought and African-American studies. She is also a member of the UVA Honor Committee, the Black Student Alliance, and the Student Council.
Zyahna Bryant has received several scholarships and awards for her academic excellence and leadership skills, such as the Ron Brown Scholar Program, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, the Princeton Prize in Race Relations, and the Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship.
Wiki / Quick Facts
| Name | Zyahna Bryant |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 6, 2000 |
| Place of Birth | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Occupation | Activist, Author, Student |
| Education | Charlottesville High School (2020), University of Virginia (2022 – present) |
| Major | Political and Social Thought, African American Studies |
| Parents | Zyahna Bryant Sr. and Sabrina Bryant |
| Siblings | Zariyah and Zion Bryant |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches |
| Weight | 220 pounds |
| Book | Reclaim (2021) |
| Awards and Honors | Ron Brown Scholar Program, Coca-Cola Scholars Program, Princeton Prize in Race Relations, Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship, Glamour Magazine College Woman of the Year, The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans, BET Future 40, NAACP Youth Activist of the Year, etc. |
Activism and Advocacy
Bryant’s passion for activism and advocacy began when she was a freshman in high school. In 2016, she wrote a petition to the Charlottesville City Council to remove the statue of Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park (formerly Lee Park) and rename the park. She argued that the statue was a symbol of racism and oppression that did not reflect the values of the city. She also suggested that the park should be renamed after Harriet Tubman or another local black hero.
Her petition gained over 600 signatures and sparked a heated debate in the community. In February 2017, the City Council voted to remove the statue and rename the park. However, the decision was challenged by several lawsuits and injunctions from pro-Confederate groups. In August 2017, a group of white supremacists and neo-Nazis organized a rally called “Unite the Right” to protest against the removal of the statue. The rally turned violent when they clashed with counter-protesters, resulting in one death and dozens of injuries.
Zyahna Bryant was not at the rally, but she witnessed the aftermath of the violence and trauma that affected her city. She spoke out against the hate groups and called for unity and justice. She also continued to advocate for racial equity and social change through various platforms and initiatives. She founded a youth-led organization called “Zyahna’s Vision” that aims to empower young people of color to become leaders and changemakers in their communities. She also co-founded “The Black Student Movement” at UVA to address issues such as diversity, inclusion, representation, and safety on campus.
In addition to her racial justice work, Bryant is also a vocal supporter of fat liberation and body positivity. She identifies as a plus-size woman who has faced discrimination and harassment because of her size. She believes that fat people deserve respect and dignity regardless of their weight or appearance. She has partnered with Dove, a beauty brand that promotes self-esteem and body confidence among women and girls. She is part of Dove’s “Campaign for Size Freedom”, which aims to challenge stereotypes and stigma around fatness and celebrate diversity and inclusion.
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Personal Life and Trivia
Bryant is currently single and focused on her education and career goals. She has not revealed any information about her past or present relationships. She is very close to her family and friends who support her endeavors.
Some trivia facts about Bryant are:
- She is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 220 pounds.
- Bryant has written a book called “Reclaim”, which is a collection of poems, essays, letters, and speeches that reflect her personal journey as an activist.
- She has spoken at various events and conferences, such as TEDxCharlottesville, Women’s March on Washington, Forbes Under 30 Summit, Essence Festival, SXSW EDU Festival, etc.
- Zyahna Bryant has been featured in various media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Teen Vogue, Essence, etc.
- She has been honored by various organizations and publications, such as Glamour Magazine7, The Root, BET, The NAACP, etc.
The Controversy
Bryant, a 22-year-old student and community organizer at the University of Virginia (UVA), announced on her Instagram account in late August that she was a “Dove ambassador” and hoped to push the idea of fat liberation.
She said in a video:
My belief is that we should be centering the voices and experiences of the most marginalized people and communities at all times. So when I think about what fat liberation looks like to me, I think about centering the voices of those who live in and who maneuver through spaces and institutions in a fat body.
The announcement sparked outrage among some social media users, who accused Bryant of ruining the life of Morgan Bettinger, a former UVA student who was allegedly expelled from the university after Bryant claimed that she heard her refer to BLM protesters as “good speed bumps” in July 2020.
Bryant later admitted that she may have “misheard” Bettinger, but by then Bettinger had already faced a series of investigations and sanctions from the university, including expulsion in abeyance, community service, counseling sessions, and an apology letter to Bryant.
Bettinger has maintained her innocence and filed a lawsuit against the university in August 2023, claiming that the school violated her First Amendment rights and due process rights, and that the administrators “purposefully tampered” with the evidence to ensure her punishment.
The Boycott
Following the news of Bryant’s partnership with Dove, many people on X (formerly Twitter) started using the hashtag #BoycottDove to express their displeasure and vow to stop buying Dove products.
Some of them compared the situation to Bud Light’s recent controversy over its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which led to a drop in the beer company’s stock value.
One user wrote: “Dove Soap hired morbidly obese BLM hoaxer Zyahna Bryant for an ad campaign based around ‘fat liberation.’ While a student at UV-Charlottesville, Bryant viciously ruined another student’s life by falsely claiming she joked about driving into BLM rioters. #BoycottDove”
Another user wrote: “It’s time for us to give Dove the Bud Light treatment. #LiberateDove from our lives. Our $, our choice.”
Some users also tagged Elon Musk, who had previously commented on Bryant’s announcement by saying “Messed up,” and asked him to join the boycott.
The Response
Dove has not issued an official statement or response to the boycott as of September 16, 2023. However, some users have defended the company and Bryant, arguing that they are promoting a positive message of body acceptance and diversity.
One user wrote: “I support Dove and Zyahna Bryant. Fat liberation is not about glorifying obesity or unhealthy lifestyles. It’s about challenging the stigma and discrimination that fat people face in society. It’s about respecting people’s choices and autonomy over their own bodies.”
Another user wrote: “Zyahna is a brave and inspiring activist who has done a lot for racial justice in Charlottesville. She made a mistake with Morgan Bettinger, but she apologized and admitted it. She doesn’t deserve to be canceled or boycotted for that.”
Social Media Handles
Instagram – @zysaidso
Twitter – Not found
Facebook – Unavailable
Website – @zybryant.com
Homepage – wikicelebs.com
FAQs
Q: How old is Zyahna Bryant?
A: She is 23 years old as of 2023. She was born on July 6, 2000.
Q: Where is Zyahna Bryant from?
A: She is from Charlottesville, Virginia. She was born and raised there.
Q: What is Zyahna Bryant’s net worth?
A: Bryant’s net worth is not publicly known. She is a student and an activist who does not earn a regular income from her work.
Q: What is Zyahna Bryant’s book about?
A: Zyahna’s book, “Reclaim”, is about her personal journey as an activist and a young black woman in America. It contains poems, essays, letters, and speeches that express her thoughts and feelings on various topics, such as racism, sexism, fatphobia, self-love, etc.
Q: Why did Zyahna Bryant want to remove the Robert E. Lee statue?
A: Zyahna wanted to remove the Robert E. Lee statue because she felt that it was a symbol of racism and oppression that did not reflect the values of her city. She argued that the statue glorified a man who fought to preserve slavery and white supremacy, and that it created a hostile and unwelcoming environment for people of color. She also suggested that the park where the statue stood should be renamed after a black hero who contributed to the history and culture of Charlottesville.
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Tobi Tarwater
Update: 2024-06-17
