In 2016, bloggers helped put plus size fashion in front of millions. Bloggers fronted campaigns for well-known retailers and they collaborated with brands to bring their own collections to life. If 2015 was all about putting plus size models on the map then 2016 solidified that bloggers are a valuable asset when it came to making fashion not only more relatable but also more accessible.
For the past eight or so years, personal style blogging has been a big part of plus size fashion’s growth. Each year, more bloggers come on the scene and help add to plus size fashion’s growing mainstream visibility. As a plus size blogger myself, I am very much of the philosophy that there’s room for everyone. Because we are fighting for a place in the fashion industry, I see an opportunity for one blogger as a win for all of us. And this year, there were a lot of collective wins for the plus size blogging community. There’s so many bloggers who made 2016 shine but here’s a just few that broke out this year in a major way.
Just a few of the top Breakout Plus Size Bloggers of 2016
- Jessica of @thisisjessicatorres
New York-based blogger Jessica Torres started her personal style blog, Tiny Red Shoes now ItsJessicaTorres.com, back in 2013. But, when she started as a fashion reporter for Revelist in early 2016, she produced and starred in countless viral videos for Revelist’s body positive Facebook page, I Heart My Body.
The Facebook page has quickly racked up nearly 600,000 followers and the relatable content, mostly starring Torres, shows that a lot of plus size women face the same challenges.
In less than a year, Torres has become a trusted voice when it comes to fashion and beauty reviews from the plus size perspective.
- Kavah of @gentlemenscurb
Started in March of 2016, The Gentlemen’s Curb is working to give a face and a voice to the plus size male shopping experience.
As plus size blogging has grown for women, fashion for men or male-identified folks has been slower to see the same visibility.
And with a focus on fashion and fitness for big and tall males, Kavah King of The Gentlemen’s Curb has used 2016 to work on changing that!
- Brianna of @_the_B_word_
Brianna McDonnell runs the blog, The B Word, and is a self-proclaimed Hustlpreneur.
Although she started her blog in January 2015, it was 2016 that she really broke out as a body positive blogger. Her movement, #BEInYourSkin has nearly 4,000 tags on Instagram and the photo campaigns that McDonnell has organized to correspond with her hashtag have shown much needed size and shape diversity in the plus community.
- ShaKera of @therealsamplesize
Houston-based blogger ShaKera runs, The Real Sample Size. Since starting her blog in summer 2015, she’s been encouraging others to push outside their comfort zone.
ELOQUII is a staple brand in her wardrobe and she finds a way to make every look she wears truly lust-worthy.
- Natalie of @hentai.hunny
Natalie Johnson of the blog, ShamlessCr3ature has produced consistently dreamy lifestyle and fashion content since she first started her blog in July 2015.
I can always count on her to rock a mini skirt in flawless fashion. This year brought a killer collab with the brand Elvi that featured a fur coat I still can’t stop thinking about.
- Loralyee of @loralyee
With a blog that’s only a little over a year old, plus size blogger Loralyee has racked up 12K+ Instagram followers for her popular blog, Big World for Big Girls.
This self-proclaimed plus size Disney Princess can seemingly morph between styles and silhouettes with ease making for some inspiring plus size looks.
- Sarah of @velveteenfemme
The UK’s plus size community is tight-knit and I am always impressed to see how they support each other.
When I asked on social media who were the breakout bloggers of 2016, immediately UK blogger Lottie L’amour, winner of Best Social Media from the British Plus Size Awards, named Sarah Moffat of Velveteen Femme.
And that nomination was quickly echoed by popular UK bloggers Nerd About Town and Arched Eyebrow. Although Moffat’s blog is still growing, I am definitely inspired by the aesthetic of her blog and how effortlessly chic she is.
- Chardline of @plussizebeausion
Although Chardline Chanel-Faiteau of Plus Size Beausion first started sharing outfit posts on Tumblr in 2013, it was 2016 that brought more exposure for this plus size blogger.
There’s no doubt that she put in WORK in 2016. In December 2016 alone, she’s featured posts with JD Williams, Eleven60, More to Love Eyewear, and ELOQUII among others. And she was also one of the bloggers who helped launch Ashley Stewart’s extended sizing.
- Francis of @youmeandfashion
Between modeling for Feminine Funk and participating in The B Word’s #BEinYourSkin campaign, it seems like blogger Francis Dive of You, Me and Fashion was just about everywhere on the ‘gram.
Plus, she was one of the five bloggers featured in Fashion to Figure’s major denim campaign this summer. There’s likely no telling where 2017 will take this Bay Area blogger next.
- Lisa of @mustangsallytwo
Featured in Marcy Cruz’s Size 22+ Blogger Lookbook, that’s just one of the many places that Lisa of the blog Mustangsallytwo has left her mark on in 2016. Lisa started her blog in July of 2015 and she’s amassed a loyal Instagram following of nearly 50K already.
I can always count on Lisa to have the best accessories and to come up with new exciting content such as her #HolidayDoubleSlay featuring fellow plus size models and bloggers from around Toronto.
- Darlene, Sandra and Jami of @theigwives
Comprised of three New York bloggers, Darlene of Suits, Heels, Curves, Sandra of La Pecosa Preciosa , and Jami of Style Over Size, the Instagram Wives was born from a Revelist video shared on the I Heart My Body Facebook Page about how the three bloggers met up for brunch every weekend then helped each other shoot blog photos.
The way that these three bloggers have teamed up has truly shown the power of collaboration and the magic that happens bloggers support each other.
Nicole Simone started her blog Curves on a Budget in January of 2015 and she now boasts 225K Instagram followers.
Her massive growth over the past year especially is a true much deserved blogger Cinderella story. In 2016, she modeled with her bestie Sometimes Glam for Torrid. She walked the runway in Phoenix Fashion Week.
She appeared on the homepage of Forever 21, a feat never accomplished before by a plus blogger.
Nicole was featured in the epic Fashion to Figure summer denim campaign and she ended the year with her own collaboration collection with Deb Shops. To say that 2016 was a big year for Curves on a Budget is an understatement!
When it comes to plus size fashion, it’s clear that bloggers were an absolute force in 2016! Who is excited to see what crop of breakout bloggers 2017 brings us? I know I am!
Thanks so much for including us in this awesome post! Xoxo
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Thank you for the feature & thank you to Lottie L’Amour – Plus-Size Blogger, Nerd About Town & Arched Eyebrow for thinking of me!
Yes!!! So cool to see everyone name you!
Congrats!
I am honored to be one of the chosen few. Everyone in the list has done an awesome job support and pioneering the body positive movement. Thank you.
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Thank you so much for including me in this article, I am honoured and so grateful to be apart of this amazing community â¤
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Thank you so much for the inclusion and love.
Thank you so much!
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Great body-positive list! I like that you even included a BHM site. However, you missed one of my favourite bloggers, namely, Meagan Kerr of thisismeagankerr.com. For those not familiar with her, I suggest checking her out right away! 🙂