When the dance instructor and body confidence advocate Trina Nicole was asked to describe the decades of vibrant, eclectic and feather-filled memories she has collected from Notting Hill carnival since the tender age of two, one word came to mind: freedom.

“Carnival was a space where I felt like I could be free, feel liberated and feel comfortable in my body,” Nicole, 32, said. “For me, Notting Hill carnival was the first place where I got to experience and see so much diversity.”

Nicole is one of thousands of people participating in the 56th annual carnival in west London this weekend. The three-day event is expected to attract a million visitors, who have gathered to witness bedazzled revellers as they descend on a three-mile parade in a celebration of Caribbean heritage, culture and art.

For Nicole, who is of Caribbean descent , the carnival has symbolised more than just a chance to party and enjoy. Rather, she said the carnival has played an important role in her own personal journey of self-love, acceptance and belonging.

“I grew up seeing women of different sizes, different shapes, wearing their costumes in the streets, dancing so freely. It was the first time that I got the opportunity to really experience body positivity before it was a trend, before it was a hashtag. I had that privilege of seeing that as I grew up,” she said.

It is this sense of liberation that Nicole, a body inclusivity champion, hopes to replicate for others with the creation of the carnival’s first dedicated space for plus-size women.

Launched last year, the space is a collaboration between Nicole’s plus-size dance class the Curve Catwalk and the masquerade band Caribbean Sessions. This year the space at the carnival will have 18 women, some who have never attended carnival before, dressed in a masquerade outfit or a Caribbean Sessions T-shirt.

“Being in a bigger body, being a plus-size woman, carnival was really a space where I felt like I could be free and feel comfortable in my body and I really wanted members of my community to experience that joy,” she said. “For me, Notting Hill carnival is definitely the place where you can just be you and be free.”

One of the reasons Nicole decided to collaborate with Caribbean Sessions this year was the group’s offer to participants of greater choice with their outfits, such as a “curvy option”, to ensure more people felt comfortable in their costumes.

“I love the fact that Caribbean Sessions had options for different body types and it’s something not to take for granted because not all bands actually offer that,” she said.

Rhianna Julien, the band leader of Caribbean Sessions, said Nicole’s message of body inclusivity was one that “resonates deeply” with them. “We hope that, through this unique collaboration, we can reach and empower wider audiences and not only remind them that everybody is beautiful but to also show them,” Julien said.

The plus-size space was created at carnival last year after Nicole witnessed a growing number of people online discussing the need to restrict their diet and undergo a rigorous gym regime to appear ready for carnival, something she said is at odds with the essence of the festival.

“Now I see women trying to get carnival-ready and sometimes even subscribing to diet culture, where people feel like they have to restrict their eating or go to the gym just to look sexy or just to look good in their costume,” she said. “It has made me question whether carnival is a space for me. I feel like I’m not included, or because I’m not small enough, I can’t then feel good in my costume.”

For Nicole, those online discussions around body image are somewhat reminiscent of the sense of exclusion she experienced as a teenager. “Growing up, I was always the bigger one in my friendship group and so I always really struggled with my overall body image, with my self-esteem and overall confidence. I would shrink myself a lot, I would not put myself forward for things,” she said.

In the face of such conversations surrounding carnival, Nicole said she has had to constantly remind herself of the true message of the festival.

“The carnival I know, everybody is welcome, everybody is celebrated, no matter what your size or shape is and I really want to get back to that,” she said. “That truly was the one place where none of that mattered and where you do have that celebration of everybody no matter your appearance.”

As the festival approaches, Nicole, who is celebrating her 30th year at carnival, said she was looking forward to partying with her community. “This year, I’m excited to be in my costume, for sure,” she said. “It’s very hard to not be happy at carnival – happy music, people having a good time celebrating.”