Plus-Size Model Tess Holliday Fires Back At Haters After Anorexia Diagnosis

Plus-size model Tess Holliday fired back at critics who question her anorexia diagnosis. In a TikTok video, Holliday, 38, responded to a comment claiming Holliday was “not anorexic” and “just wanted attention.”

“Maybe own the fact you’re not anorexic and just wanted attention?” the user wrote.

Holliday featured an article from the New York Times titled “You Don’t Look Anorexic,” about the stigma surrounding anorexia in plus-size individuals. The article covers in depth the personal experiences of larger individuals who struggle with eating disorders and are overlooked or neglected help due to their size.

“Just because you don’t like that I exist in a larger body and I deal with a restrictive eating disorder doesn’t give you the right to just be a jerk,” Holliday said. “I know a lot of you guys can’t believe that someone in a larger body can deal with a restrictive eating disorder, but it is true.”

Since Holliday became a professional model in 2011, she has advocated for body positivity throughout her career. Holliday later began the Eff Your Beauty Standards movement in 2013. She released t-shirts in 2014 with the phrase to promote plus-size inclusivity and push back against societal beauty standards. 

In May 2021, Holliday went public about her anorexia diagnosis and said she was in recovery. 

“I wish I was in a good place with my recovery, and I felt like this was something that I wanted to talk about more, but I currently don’t,” Holliday stated in her TikTok. “I’m currently managing things the best I can, and if you don’t like what I’m saying or how I talk about my lived experiences, then there are a million other people that you can follow, bully, harass, whatever.”

Holliday has been open about criticizing brands for their lack of plus-size clothing options. In 2015, Holliday criticized Victoria’s Secret for not having enough plus-size lingerie options. Recently, the brand has shifted to be more inclusive towards plus-size and disabled individuals.