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Whitney Way Thore Biography

Birth Name:Whitney Way Thore

Fast Facts

  • Launched the #NoBodyShameCampaign movement to help fight the effects of body shame and promote self-love and acceptance
  • Due to a rare condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, she gained 200 pounds over the course of one year while she was in college, an experience that eventually inspired her to help others suffering from body shame issues
  • By the age of 16, she was already teaching at Greensboro Dance Theatre
  • Started dancing when she was 4 years old
  • Stopped dancing when she was in college when she started inexplicably gaining large amounts of weight
  • Quote: "I hit rock-bottom more than once, but I didn't quit my life․ I kept living and I kept dancing․"
  • Quote: "Cultural norms, societal pressures, and the whims of the fashion industry do not define my worth as a woman or a human being․ My intelligence, personality, talents and contributions do not fluctuate with the numbers on a scale․"
  • Became an on-air radio producer for "Jared and Katie in the Morning" on 1075KZL
  • Her coworkers urged her to start the "A Fat Girl Dancing" YouTube series, which eventually became the catalyst for the reality series "My Big Fat Fabulous Life․"
  • Has lived in North America, Europe and Asia