Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor is a New York Times best-selling author, activist, and thought leader, renowned for her work on racial justice, body liberation, and transformational change. She is the founder of "The Body Is Not an Apology" (TBINAA), a global digital media and education platform dedicated to exploring identity, healing, and social justice through the concept of radical self-love. Her book, "The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love," promotes the idea that people are born in a state of self-love, but societal oppression leads to feelings of shame and body dissatisfaction. Taylor advocates healing through reconnecting with our inherent self-worth.

Throughout her career, Sonya has authored seven books, including the New York Times bestseller "The Body Is Not an Apology," and has co-edited "The Routledge International Handbook of Fat Studies." Her work has been recognized with numerous accolades, from winning the National Individual Poetry Slam Championship in 2004 to being invited to the White House Forum on LGBT and Disability Issues in 2016. Additionally, she served as an inaugural Edmund Hillary Fellow in New Zealand from 2017-2020, thanks to her Global Impact Visa award.

Sonya's educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Hampton University and a Master of Science in Administration from Trinity College. Her career in advocacy and activism spans various roles, such as a sexuality health educator and a director at the Black AIDS Institute. She also spent over a decade building a successful international performance poetry career, which eventually led to her discovery of the phrase "Your body is not an apology," sparking a movement for radical self-love that would evolve into a global platform.

As a public figure, Sonya continues to advocate for social justice and body liberation through speaking engagements, workshops, and her video series "What’s Up, Y’all?" She also co-founded "Buy Back Black Debt," a reparations-inspired initiative. Today, Sonya is recognized as an international speaker, artist, and educator, actively working on issues of mental health, reproductive rights, and racial justice, while inspiring others to embrace radical self-love and contribute to global transformation.