Redefining Masculinity and Advocating for Body Positivity: Mina Gerges

Building a vibrant career for himself, Mina Gerges is no longer listening to the haters and is advocating for inclusivity, self-confidence, and unapologetic self-expression.

The Canadian-Egyptian model and influencer first came to prominence in 2015 after Buzzfeed picked up on his recreations of iconic celebrity photos on Instagram. Featuring everyone from Kim Kardashian and Rhianna to Megan Fox and Nicki Minaj, they were a humorous way to appreciate his favorite divas while highlighting the extremes to which they took their own images. 

Gerges’ newfound fame may have caused him to suffer bullying, but he decided to focus his work on body positivity and put his platform to good use. As an out and curvy Middle Eastern man, Gerges knew all too well how intense beauty standards and body dysmorphia can be within the gay community.

Today, he is fearless and dynamic, inspiring his global audience to be their authentic selves. Growing up in Egypt, a country where it’s illegal to be gay, his activism aims to elevate marginalized voices, celebrate individuality, and advance global LGBTQ rights.

OFM caught up with Gerges to talk more about his activism, launching his first menswear capsule collection, appearing in international campaigns, the body-positive movement, and being the first plus-size member of the Pit Crew in any Drag Race franchise.

As a model and actor, why have you made it your mission to break down the toxic narratives in media and pop culture that dictates what men’s bodies should look like?

Growing up and not seeing people like you, it makes you struggle to accept yourself. When you’re gay, it adds another layer to that because we see in the gay community that the thinner and more muscular you are, the more attractive you’re considered. You have a higher social standing, and I never thought that was fair. I think every single one of us can change the world and make it a little bit better, so I’ve used my platform to think about my younger queer self and make the world better for him. 

Even more, why do you believe this is still an ongoing issue?

Yeah, it’s sad to see how our society has refused to change and accept that. Since we were kids, it has been ingrained in all of us that being athletic is good and being fat is bad. Those messages are ingrained into us from a young age, and even now, as adults, it’s hard to work against that and unlearn it. That’s why it makes the work that much more important as adults because we are impacting the younger generation of people. That’s where change begins.

Have you always been confident being a plus-size person?

Definitely not. Even now, I have a lot of moments, especially during Pride season. I was at a couple Pride events by the pool, and everyone else was either muscular or on these so-called Pride diets. So I’m definitely not confident all the time, but then I remember that there are other people who have body types just like mine. It reminds me that my body is beautiful, just like that other person’s body is beautiful. That’s what kind of keeps me going. 

How do you move past the negativity and into a place where you’re comfortable with yourself?

The best thing that I’ve done is finding other people with bodies just like mine. If you’re on social media, I think the best thing you can do is to follow people who have bodies like yours. That way, you’re not comparing yourself to another version that is basically setting you up to hate yourself. I’ve surrounded myself with friends in real life that don’t perpetuate these negative body stereotypes. It seems like such a small thing, but when you are around people that look like you, I think it changes your perspective a lot.

Do you believe things would be different for you if you had this kind of representation growing up?

Absolutely. When I see other queer, plus-size models booking campaigns in the industry, even now as a 27-year-old, as soon as I see that, there’s something about it that makes me feel seen and more accepted. If that’s having an impact on me as a 27-year-old, just imagine how it would have changed my life when I was a teenager or younger. 

Scrolling through your Instagram and TikTok, I love that you model clothes that may be considered feminine or generally geared toward people who are more thin or fit. Do you have a favorite style?

My favorite style is honestly whatever makes me feel good! Love things that are colorful. Being bigger basically my entire life, I would have people telling me, “Oh, you shouldn’t wear that. That’s unflattering. That makes your belly look big,” or whatever. I think it’s just very empowering to me to actually wear these things that people once told me I shouldn’t wear because I’m fat. I’m going to wear them, look good in them, and feel good in them.

What do you wish the LGBTQ community would understand about body positivity?

I wish they would understand how important it is to stop fatphobia whenever you see it. Like, the very subtle forms that we see on Grindr every single day. People putting things on their profiles like “fit, prefer the same,” “muscular only”—little things like that. Gay men maybe don’t really think twice about it, but just the impact of putting something like that on your profile, I wish they understood that it’s not OK. If you have a friend who does something like that or you see it around you, call it out. The smallest thing can help make our community a bit more accepting.

Men are often lost in the conversation when it comes to the body positive movement. How do you respond when people say it’s only geared toward women?

That was definitely something I struggled with in the beginning. When I was struggling with an eating disorder, I went to get help, and I was told, “Oh, men don’t get eating disorders. Only women do,” and that’s such a harmful thing to say. If I were to say something to someone, I would say, how many guys do you know who maybe feel insecure about taking their shirt off in the summer? How many guys do you know who don’t feel good about their bodies? 

It’s definitely not just a women thing. Men are just shamed from being honest and talking about these things, and that’s the only reason why you may think it doesn’t affect us. It certainly does. 

And what advice would you give to somebody who is unhappy with the way they look?

Challenge yourself to get one piece of clothing that is maybe pushing you out of your comfort zone; put that on, and see how you feel in that. That’ll slowly help you get to a place where you’re feeling more confident and where you’re loving yourself, for sure.

In 2019, you posed completely naked for the first time for a spread in Toronto’s NOW Magazine. What did you learn from that experience?

Oh, wow. I have not been asked this question before. Doing something that’s so intimate and sharing it with the world can be very scary but also liberating. Being with a team of people who are looking at you in a way you wouldn’t expect, it taught me to overcome those fears and realize that just because I don’t have a six pack, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be in a magazine.

Later, you became part of the Pit Crew on Canada’s Drag Race. I remember how everyone went wild over seeing a plus-size member. How did it feel to be representing the bigger boys?

That was such an incredible experience! I remember watching Drag Race years ago, and again, it’s such a small thing, but the fact that every Pit Crew member was thin and muscular really sent the wrong message, especially given how young the Drag Race audience is. I remember thinking how amazing it would be to see a bigger boy on the Pit Crew. Not necessarily be him, but just to see him. 

It’s just crazy how life happened because that then became me, but since being a Pit Crew member, nothing has changed on the show. All the other versions of the show that have come out essentially have the same type of guys, which is very sad. I just hope more doors will open for more representation. 

How did you end up being picked as a Pit Crew member?

They had auditions. I remember going in, and I was definitely the only bigger person. In the audition room, everyone was backstage doing pushups, sit ups, all sorts of things like that, and I was the only one not doing so. I’m really proud of myself for auditioning because I think when you walk into a room, and there’s 30 other guys who all have the same body type, you clearly stand out like a sore thumb. It can be a very scary, intimidating thing, but I am proud of myself for pushing through that and eventually landing the gig.

What can you tell us about your debut menswear capsule collection that you launched earlier this year?

Shopping as a big boy can be very difficult, and I’ve always struggled to find things that are in my size. Especially things that are stylish, fun, and look different. It’s almost impossible to find these things in existing brands that come in a bigger size. I would feel really good about myself and go to the mall, but I would find absolutely nothing.  

Something as simple as that can completely shoot your confidence, and I got sick and tired of that disappointing feeling that came with shopping, which led to that cycle of self-hatred and hating my body. I thought, “Why don’t I just teach myself how to make clothes and do it myself?” Like, what if I invested that time into creating these clothes that I’ve always wanted to wear?

I just started doing it, and it was such an incredible experience because you’re making clothes that fit you and other guys that look like you. You are no longer constrained by whatever the fashion industry is creating. You’re creating that change yourself.

How would you like to see the fashion industry improve to be more representative in the future?

I think extending your size offerings is the simplest thing that any brand can do. The fact that a lot of brands still stop at a size large or extra large in 2022 is simply unacceptable. On a deeper level, they need to start offering bigger sizes, and then on a more surface level, casting models with different body types. Casting someone who is maybe a size 36, as opposed to someone who’s a size 28 or 30. Showcasing bodies that are more normal and slowly working away from those unattainable body types that we’re used to seeing. Those two things can make a huge difference.

What are some future goals you hope to achieve with your career and platform?

I would love to create a bigger clothing line and launch more collections that are size inclusive and fun for everyone to wear. I am also working towards more gigs in television, and a personal thing for me, I was in this year’s Abercrombie & Fitch Pride campaign, so I would love to work with more brands and do more campaigns that are changing our fashion industry.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you’d like to mention or plug?

Definitely be on the lookout for some more drag from me. I have been exploring the feeling of being a confident, juicy drag queen, and I love it. So, be on the lookout for some more fun drag projects!

Stay up-to-date and connect with Gerges by following him on Instagram and TikTok @itminagerges. 

Photos by Colin Gaudet

Drag Photo by Luna Khods