Kim Saira on Using Art and Activism to Advocate for Mental Health and Social Justice
By Lucy Ivey
Top and skirt by PH5. Earrings by NOTTE. Necklace by PATTARAPHAN. Shoes by DR. MARTENS. Socks, stylist own.
Art and activism have always been something Kim Saira has been passionate about. Experiencing discrimination in the media and in her daily life, Saira saw the importance of standing up for what one believes in and sharing that with others. Combining her two passions — art and activism — was what enabled Saira to grow her online platform. Recently, Saira and I sat down over Zoom to talk about building her community, taking a hiatus from social media, and prioritizing her well-being.
The 25-year-old Los Angeles-based content creator and influencer fearlessly stands up for the people and causes that are dear to her and continues to push for and bring meaningful change in how people perceive Asian Americans. She believes in and uses her powerful platform to inspire and advocate for good. Saira shares thought-provoking messages and insights from her life experiences and perspectives as an Asian American immigrant from the Philippines. Among her creations, Saira’s vibrant digital designs raise mental health awareness and advance important social justice causes.
In August 2021, Saira took a break from social media to recover from the trauma of addressing and enduring Asian hate. “It deeply impacted my mental health and led to depression and a lot of anxiety. I chose to prioritize my own well-being and mental health. I went to a therapist who helped me understand that I needed to shift how I operated on social media and with the public.That’s what began my unapologetic journey towards creating more mental health awareness content on Instagram.”
Without boundaries, social media can be tough to navigate, but Saira has found ways to balance her time online in a way that works for her. Saira shared her experiences creating a campaign demanding that a late-night television host in the U.S. stop a recurring segment about food that was offensive to the Asian American community. “During that time I was getting death threats and to this day, I still get them occasionally. It was eye-opening because that had never happened to me on that scale before.“ Saira tells me that having a core group of friends is important to make sure she is taking care of her mental health. “Even just one or two people that I can talk to. And these are people who make me feel very safe and that I trust to delete the comments for me.”
We also talked about the importance of limiting your time on social media altogether. “Being off my phone completely has helped me a lot. In the past, being online constantly has been a coping mechanism but now the best way to ground me is unplugging and stepping out into nature.” Saira now makes sure to make time for herself and read a book or meditate, which has become essential for her.
When consuming media, it’s vital that we are intentional about what we’re consuming. In today's social and political climate there is so much negativity. Saira makes sure she is taking a step back and only consuming content that enriches her. “There is a reason why as content creators we post what we do. If someone is posting something that I know is purely out of ego, or to show off in ways that don't make me feel good, I don't really mind unfollowing, or just muting the account.” Saira says. “Sometimes we don't think about what we are watching because we're so used to scrolling. I encourage you to think about why people are posting what they're posting. If you don't feel good about what you’re consuming, then don't be afraid to unfollow them. Knowing your own boundaries and thinking about why people do what they do on social media is so important.”
When I ask her what she would tell her younger self, she answers right away, “Everything is happening for you and not to you. Just lean into it, lean into the flow and trust that everything is going to work out in the end.”
You can follow along with Kim’s adventures on Instagram at @kimsaira
