Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheyenne M. Davis.
Hi Cheyenne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Since childhood, I have felt a strong affinity for storytelling and sharing my truth. I have been writing since I could remember, spending the majority of my childhood writing short stories and fanfiction. During my undergraduate career, I created a column for the Rutgers Daily Targum entitled “The Cheyenne Hour,” where I gave personal accounts on the experiences of being a fat, Black femme. All throughout grad school and beyond, I embarked on a journey to write articles, short stories and screenplays on the intersections of Blackness, fatness, kink and sex, which inspired me to create Unveild, a publication and resource hub dedicated to uplifting Black and Brown voices but also grant them access to the lexicon that is sex and kink education and community. As of now, my goals are to grow Unveild, continue to make relatable content and also write television shows that properly represent and uplift diverse perspectives and identities of Black-Indigenous-POC communities.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Hell no (LOL)! I went through so many challenges to get to where I am today. The loss of my father, dealing with body dysmorphia and toxic relationships- a lot of the situations that I have experienced, despite having adverse effects, have taught me so much about myself, life, and my own personal journey. I learned the power of resilience, faith and support. I also learned the importance of surrendering and allowing something greater than you are to take the reigns and provide guidance.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in writing in various forms (specifically editorial, creative, and screenwriting), and the topics that I discuss in my work range from sex, kink and dating, to media representation and body politics. In terms of creative projects, I enjoy interpolating the fat, Black femme experience into storytelling, primarily in stories that feature genres such as fantasy and historical dramas/period pieces. Aside from my writing pursuits, I am a graphic designer, podcaster, media consultant and aspiring model and media personality. What makes me unique is that I not only come with a multitude of skills but also can provide a diverse perspective that society refuses to deem important or give merit to. Despite the odds, my work and divestment from societal norms both set me apart and is also representative of my own form of radical activism. The creative ventures that I am most proud of are starting Unveild (especially during the COVID-19 Panda Express) and writing an editorial series for MadameNoire on dating apps and their fat friendliness (or lack thereof). It was quite difficult and even anxiety-inducing to start both of these projects, considering that they are both related to somewhat taboo topics, especially for Black folx. However, I mustered up the courage to tell my stories because I knew that there would be many people that could relate to the content and become inspired to share their stories as well.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The quality that has never failed me is resilience. I have experienced great loss, and these losses have even pushed me to the brink of exhaustion and even want to give up. However, I chose to give myself grace, get the help I need and take my time to heal. Despite those moments where I felt that I wasn’t or didn’t have enough, I always knew that I had the ability to bounce back and start anew. Applying this to my career, I have seen and still experience a lot of rejection, and I try super hard not to internalize this as failure or personal inadequacy. However, I work hard to continue with my craft because I know for certain that jumping into what seems like thin air ALWAYS results in landing exactly where I need to be.
Contact Info:
- Email: davisc0994@gmail.com
- Website: https://allmylinks.com/cheymodee
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheymodee/, https://www.instagram.com/unveildmag/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cheymodee
Image Credits
Jess Child
