Jenny Bruso

Jenny Bruso is an American hiker, influencer, and an activist for inclusivity and body positivity. She is best known for starting the Instagram account Unlikely Hikers in 2016 in Portland, Oregon. She is an adviser to outdoor fitness companies looking to break into alternative markets.

Career

Bruso went on her first outdoor hike in 2012. Describing herself as "never an outdoorsy kid", she states that she became 'obsessed' after her first hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. Bruso observed that most people she encountered while hiking did not look like her. Bruso describes herself as "femme, queer, and fat", and she became aware of how she was perceived by others hikers and the outdoor recreation industry in general.

In 2016, Bruso created the Unlikely Hikers Instagram account to highlight "the outdoor experiences of Black, Indigenous and people of color and those in LGBTQ communities." Bruso credits her Instagram in helping her to connect with a more representative outdoor community. In addition to focusing on diversity, Unlikely Hikers focuses on environmental issues as well as outdoor retail.

In 2018, Unlikely Hikers joined with 23 other groups to form Diversify Outdoors, a coalition dedicated to promoting diversity in the outdoors. Unlikely Hikers has also collaborated with other outdoor retailers including Merrell.

As of 2022, Bruso is a full-time adviser to companies looking to break into alternative markets. In 2019, Bruso was the winner of an Inspiration Award for the "Most Inspiring Individual" award from Outdoor Retailer