In this compelling episode of How to Be Magical, host Nikki Buchanan welcomes Zahira Cabrera—activist, artist, and the voice behind Bad Dominicana—for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about survival, feminism, and reclaiming identity. Zahira shares her deeply personal journey, from enduring emotional abuse and racism in her marriage to becoming a global advocate for Black Latinx women. She recounts how her viral hashtag, #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou, shed light on the insidious nature of non-physical abuse, resonating with countless women and even leading to a TED Talk in Mexico.
The episode delves into the flaws of mainstream feminism, critiquing its elitism, performative sex positivity, and failure to protect marginalized women, especially young girls facing coercion and exploitation. Zahira challenges respectability politics, emphasizing that anger is justified and necessary when fighting systemic oppression. She also reflects on the complexities of motherhood, describing how raising her autistic daughter deepened her activism and exposed the harsh realities Black mothers face, from societal disdain to institutional neglect.
Art and cultural identity weave through the conversation as Zahira discusses her evocative watercolor paintings, which capture the essence of Caribbean life while honoring faceless, diasporic figures. She reveals how her creative roots trace back to her mother, a seamstress whose unrealized dreams in fashion mirror the erasure of Black and Latinx talent. The episode closes with Zahira’s vision for the future—her return to fashion and her unapologetic commitment to uplifting Black and Afro-Latina voices.
Blending humor, vulnerability, and sharp critique, this episode is a rallying cry for self-liberation, artistic expression, and the transformative power of speaking one’s truth.
Support Zahira’s Art & Activism
Shop: shopzahirakelly.com
IG: @Bad_Dominicana2.0
Twitter: @Bad Dominicana
Patreon: Bad_Dominicana
Download ‘The Alt Domi Mixtape’
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