A New Kind of Celebrity

Social media has birthed a new type of fame: the influencer. While many promote products or routines, others use their platforms to challenge stereotypes—especially around body image.

Tess Holliday Speaks Up

Tess Holliday stands out as a bold voice in this space. The plus-size model and body acceptance advocate consistently speaks up about living unapologetically in a larger body.

Now 34, Holliday is used to public scrutiny. Still, she remains stunned by how often people judge her abilities based solely on her size.

Fat Is Not an Insult

“I don’t understand why I’m supposed to take being called ‘fat’ as an insult,” she told The Sunday Times. Holliday doesn’t view the word as negative—it’s the intent behind it that matters.

“I’m okay with being called fat or plus-size,” she explained. “But I won’t tolerate being shamed for it, especially in a derogatory way.”

Breaking Stereotypes

Holliday hopes that by sharing her story, others will challenge harmful stereotypes and stop targeting people for how they look.

Words Carry Weight

She also highlighted how damaging language can be—especially online. “Words carry weight,” she said. “How we speak about others and ourselves matters.”

Critics and Backlash

Holliday has faced harsh criticism for her public appearances and magazine covers. Detractors accuse her of “glorifying obesity” and promoting unhealthy habits.

Pushing Back with Confidence

She doesn’t stay silent. Holliday argues that loving yourself and being healthy can go hand in hand. She believes shame never motivates lasting change.

A Call for Respect

At the end of the day, she’s not seeking universal approval—just basic human decency.