A plus-sized woman who loves to wear bikinis to show off her "fat rolls" says she's never had so many compliments. Meagan Senior, 26, describes herself as "fat and proud" and finds showing off her "belly and big arms" empowering.
Despite some trolls telling her she is going to die soon and needs to lose weight, Meagan loves her body. Expressing herself online by sporting tank tops, shorts, bikinis and swimming costumes, she receives many compliments on her outfit choices.
The body positivity influencer - who wears a size XXL - loves celebrities like Lizzo who inspire her and others to feel "beautiful and unapologetically fat". Meagan, a professional body piercer, from Garfield, New Jersey, US, said: "I feel I can wear anything.
"I wear tank tops - I’m proud of my big arms. Now I show off my legs. I show my belly and my fat rolls. It’s so empowering.
"I have never seen so many compliments. People say ‘I love what you’re wearing’. I don’t seek validation in that but it’s nice."
Although she is now confident in what she wears, Meagan grew up struggling to accept her body.
She battled an eating disorder aged 18 and didn’t know how to deal with gaining weight when she started eating out more - for necessity while working as a flight attendant.
Meagan said: "I started gaining weight when I started eating food on my own accord.
"I was really struggling with it. I thought ‘how am I going to find someone at this size?’."
Over time Meagan embraced her body and identity and came out as openly queer through an Instagram post in March 2021.
She had already met her wife, Kris, 32, a CFO, in October 2019 and the pair tied the knot in September 2021.
Meagan said: "My wife loves big women. She cherishes them. I’ve never been loved in this type of way before. I didn’t think it was possible."
Meagan surrounds herself with a positive community but is still trolled for her weight.
She said: "People have posted obesity statistics, told me I’m going to die soon and that I am glorifying obesity. I delete the comments."
Meagan wears what she wants but admits she does feel scared at the beginning of the summer season before she goes out in shorts and crop tops – for fear of being judged.
She said: "It does feel scary. But all clothing is for all types of bodies."
Meagan hopes more clothing can be made for plus-sized women that isn’t designed to hide their bodies.
She said: "Swimsuits made for fat people have skirts to hide parts of our bodies. To hide ourselves."
Meagan loves seeing more people like her being represented and looks up to celebrities like Lizzo.
She said: "I know she didn’t ask to be a role model, but she really is. She loves herself and doesn’t take any s***.
"We deserve to be represented. I want to see people coming to terms with the word fat and people to stop seeing it as a bad thing.
"I want people to stop seeing fat as meaning unhealthy and skinny meaning healthy."
Do you have a story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
