Nadya Okamoto Takes on Period Poverty
Cover Art by Katherine Hutter
Although menstruation has historically been a neglected topic of open conversation amongst society, Nadya Okamoto is fighting ruthlessly to end “period poverty” while also striving to end the stigma around periods in general. Originally getting her foot in the industry at the shy age of 16, Okamoto founded her own nonprofit organization PERIOD, which distributes menstrual hygiene products and advocates to end the tampon tax. While finishing up her degree at Harvard College, Okamoto co-founded August in 2020, a lifestyle brand dedicated to completely re-defining the colloquially known and utterly disgraceful period experience. Not only has August launched an environmentally sustainable period line sold in over 500 stores across the United States, which also recently includes Target, it also has an immense and rapidly growing social media presence. In fact, Nadya herself has racked up over 4 million TikTok followers, with an additional 300,000 followers on Instagram. Both social media platforms are used to post content meant to shed light on periods with an inherently modern and refreshing twist. Okamoto uses her presence on social media as a powerful tool to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation. With a blend of authenticity, humor, and candidness, she’s crafted content that has resonated with millions. Her TikTok videos don’t shy away from the nitty-gritty of periods; instead, they embrace them head-on, tackling topics like blood stained underwear, tampon insertion, and other societal taboos with complete transparency. Each video shows a snippet of real and unfiltered relatable aspects of life, drawing in viewers from varying walks of life.
Although relying heavily on the usage of Tiktok and Instagram to expand August’s presence, Okamoto remains grounded in her beliefs that social media is not community, rather it’s an audience. Despite the vast online presence, she recognizes the importance of fostering genuine connections beyond the screen. August is not just about likes and shares; it’s about creating a supportive community where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued; especially in the workplace setting. In fact, Okamoto mentioned openly that at August, they don’t have sick days. Instead, they have developed a mutual understanding amongst coworkers that if you are on your period, you likely need more rest. So, if that happens to be the case, and you don’t necessarily feel equipped to come into work, you are able to stay home without fear or pressure of making it in.
As Nadya Okamoto's journey in reshaping the conversation around menstruation continues, she remains at the forefront of innovative content creation and advocacy. Through her bold and unapologetic approach to social media, she's not only dismantling the stigma surrounding periods but also educating and empowering millions worldwide. With each creative TikTok video and Instagram post, Nadya sparks conversations, challenges stereotypes, and fosters a sense of belonging within the August community.
References
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nfl/article-12660311/Taylor-Swift-CBS-breaks-hilarious-graphic -showing-Travis-Kelce-performs-better-pop-star-attendance-uses-lyrics.html
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https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/travis-kelce-knows-his-numbers-are-signif icantly-better-when-taylor-swift-attends-how-could-i-not-be-aware/
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/travis-kelce-knows-his-numbers-are-significantly-be tter-when-taylor-swift-attends-how-could-i-not-be-aware/
https://people.com/micah-parsons-shares-travis-kelce-taylor-swift-theory-8378789
