2021 was a watershed year for BBW representation in media, moving away from the tired, derogatory "funny fat friend" trope to place plus-sized individuals directly at the center of their own stories. The Rise of Independent Creators
| Category | Rating (1–10) | Notes | |----------|---------------|-------| | Fashion & Apparel | 8 | Major brand expansion, but sizing inconsistencies remained. | | Community Support | 7 | Strong online, weak offline due to pandemic. | | Mainstream Media Representation | 6 | Better than 2019, but still not equitable. | | Digital Content (YouTube/TikTok) | 9 | High volume, high authenticity, low gatekeeping. | | Self-Care & Wellness Products | 5 | Heavy marketing, low evidence of unique benefit. | | Adult Entertainment | 4 | Profitable but ethically mixed and heavily censored. |
2021 saw a massive rise in "Try-on Hauls" from brands like ASOS Curve, Fashion Nova Curve, and Shein Curve.
