Social media has created a new kind of celebrity: the influencer. And while they can influence everything from skincare routines to morning routines, some use their platforms to challenge societal norms, especially around body image.
Tess Holliday is one of those voices. As a plus-size model and outspoken advocate for body acceptance, she regularly speaks out about what it means to live unapologetically in a larger body.
Now 34, Holliday is no stranger to public scrutiny, but she’s still baffled by the relentless commentary on what people think she can or can’t do simply because of her size.
“I don’t understand why I’m supposed to respond to being called ‘fat’ like it’s some kind of insult,” she told The Sunday Times. For Holliday, the word fat isn’t inherently negative, what matters is the intent behind it.
“I’m okay with being called fat and plus-size,” the model said. “But I’m not okay with being shamed for it, especially when it’s done in a derogatory way.”
Her broader hope? That as more people engage with her story and message, they’ll start to see beyond stereotypes, and stop treating others as targets just because of their appearance.
Holliday also emphasized the impact of language, especially online. “Words carry weight,” she said. “How we talk about each other, and ourselves, matters.”
Over the years, she’s faced intense backlash for appearing on magazine covers and embracing her body publicly.
Critics have accused her of “glorifying obesity” or promoting an “unhealthy lifestyle.”
But Holliday continues to push back, arguing that self-love and health aren’t mutually exclusive, and that shaming someone into changing has never worked.
Ultimately, she’s not asking for everyone’s approval. Just basic human decency.
