Annie Segarra

Annie Segarra, also known by her YouTube moniker Annie Elainey, was born on August 22, 1990. She is an American YouTuber, artist, and activist known for her work in LGBT and disability rights. Segarra identifies as queer, Latinx, and disabled. Her advocacy focuses on accessibility, body positivity, and the representation of marginalized communities in media. Her early career aspirations included theatre, music, or film, which she pursued before transitioning into activism and content creation due to health-related factors.

In 2010, Segarra launched a Tumblr account titled ‘Stop Hating Your Body,’ which became a popular platform for discussions on body image and self-love. This initiative led to invitations to speak at schools about body image issues. She later launched a YouTube channel, Annie Elainey, where she began vlogging about body image and her recovery from an eating disorder. In 2014, Segarra started experiencing chronic pain and needed a wheelchair. At the age of 26, she received a diagnosis of Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS), a genetic collagen disorder. She documented her experiences with disability on her YouTube channel, drawing inspiration from figures like Frida Kahlo.

Segarra has initiated several large-scale awareness campaigns, including #TheFutureIsAccessible, #AmbulatoryWheelchairUsersExist, #InvisiblyDisabledLooksLike, and #HotPersonInAWheelchair. Her advocacy gained further recognition when she was featured in the NBCNews.com Latino 20 in 2017. In 2019, she was selected for the YouTube NextUp program, highlighting her influence in digital content creation. Segarra lives in Miami, Florida, and continues to use social platforms to share her experiences and knowledge, aiming to foster a worldwide network for patients and promote understanding of disability and chronic illness.