A group of Canadians have joined a global movement to end extreme poverty, aiming to use their respective platforms to push for change.

Anishina artist and fashion designer Lesley Hampton and filmmaker and photographer Justin Wu are among five Canadians named Champions of Change in Global Citizen’s campaign to end extreme poverty.

Hampton, whose designs have been worn by Lizzo and described by Vogue as Canada’s #1 brand, said she has partnered with Global Citizen to break down systemic barriers she references through his own work as an artist.

“What we see in fashion in the media is such a direct relationship to our mental health and body image,” she told CTV’s Your Morning on Wednesday.

“And when we have that higher level of representation, by breaking down the systemic barriers that we see in fashion, that we see in the media, then we can have higher levels of mental health and that also strengthens the community as a whole as an international community.”

Wu, an award-winning photographer who made his TV directorial debut on the hit series Kim’s Convenience, says Global Citizen’s mandate to bring more justice to the world aligns very well with his own values.

“It’s unfortunate, but I think I’m very privileged to be in the position that I’m in, to be able to work in the areas that I do,” he told CTV’s Your Morning.

“But I still see that there is still a lot of change needed, especially diversity, inclusion, representation – behind the camera as well as in front of the camera,” he said.

Figure skater Elladj Baldé, former MTV Canada host Jessi Cruickshank and podcaster Mike Morrison join Hampton and Wu as advocates for change.

Watch the full interview with Lesley Hampton and Justin Wu at the top of the article