Early Life and Childhood Challenges
Tess Holliday, born Ryann Maegen Hoven on July 5, 1985, in Laurel, Mississippi, grew up in a small, working- class community where she faced significant adversity from a youthful age. Her early life was marked by insecurity, as her family dislocated roughly 40 times before she reached the age of 10. This frequent bouleversement stemmed from her parents’ separation, which left her mama, Beth Tadlock, to raise Tess and her family largely on her own. The family’s fiscal struggles compounded their challenges, frequently forcing them to live in confined or unconventional spaces, similar as a caravan behind her grandparents’ home.
A defining moment in Tess’s childhood passed in June 1995, when her mama was shot doubly in the head by her fiancé, an act of violence that left her paralyzed and impaired. Tess, only 10 at the time, was deeply affected by this trauma, which not only altered her family dynamic but also subordinated her to further social acceptance. She and her family moved in with their grandparents in Mississippi while their mama passed a long recovery process. The bullying Tess endured at academy boosted during this period, targeting her weight, pale skin, and her mama ’s disability. She has also spoken about verbal abuse from her father, who blamed her size, leading her to cut off contact with him in her teens. Despite these rigors, Tess’s mama remained a pillar of support, encouraging her to pursue her dreams and fostering her early interest in modeling.
Tess’s academy times were fraught with challenges. By fifth grade, the bullying came grim, with peers mocking her appearance and family circumstances. At 17, overwhelmed by death pitfalls and importunity, she dropped out of high academy in the 11th grade. Determined to continue her education, she latterly earned her GED through online courses, demonstrating adaptability in the face of adversity. These early gests shaped Tess’s worldview, fueling her after advocacy for body positivity and tone- acceptance.
Discovering Modeling and Early Career Struggles
Tess’s trip into modeling began with a bold ambition to challenge the fashion assiduity’s narrow beauty norms. At 15, standing at 5 bases 3 elevation and wearing a U.S. size 16 (UK 18/20), she auditioned for a plus- size modeling casting call in Atlanta, Georgia. The casting directors dismissed her, stating she was too short and too large for indeed print or roster work. This rejection was a reversal, but it did not extinguish her aspirations, instead Tess moved to Seattle, where she spent two years working as a makeup artist, stylist, and creative director for original fashion shows, honing her chops and gaining assiduity experience.
After returning to Mississippi, Tess gave birth to her first son, Rylee, in 2005 at age 20, following a brief relationship. The desolation of Hurricane Katrina that same time urged her to dislocate back to Seattle, where she began to rebuild her career. In 2009, she posted modeling prints on the platform Model Mayhem, marking the launch of her serious pursuit of a modeling career. In 2010, she moved to Los Angeles, a decision that proved transformative. The megacity’s vibrant fashion scene and different openings boosted her confidence and handed a platform to show her unique look.
In 2011, while working as a receptionist at a Los Angeles dental office, Tess responded to Torrid’s “House of Dreams Model Hunt” and was named, marking her professional modeling debut. That same time, A&E discovered her online and chose her as the face of their talkie series Heavy, which followed individualities navigating weight loss. The exposure from Heavy led to a civil announcement crusade and billboards, pelting Tess into the public eye. She began appearing on “fashion” blogs, modeling plus- size apparel lines and accessories, and was communicated to investigation for VH1’s The Big Girls Club. Her career gained further traction with juggernauts for Benefit Cosmetics, collaborations with famed shooter David LaChapelle, and features in high- profile publications like Vogue Italia and Nylon Magazine. By 2014, Tess quit her day job to pursue modeling full- time, a vault of faith that solidified her commitment to her craft.
Advance and Body Positivity Advocacy
Tess Holliday’s career reached a major corner in January 2015 when Milk Model Management inked her to their plus- size division, Angles. At a U.S. size 22, she came the first model of her height and size to secure a contract with a mainstream agency, a groundbreaking achievement in an assiduity long blamed for its lack of diversity. That time, she appeared in H&M’s sustainable fashion crusade, Addition Elle’s fall capsule collection, and Marie Claire UK’s December issue. Her cover point in People magazine further amplified her visibility, situating her as a trailblazer for plus- size representation.
In 2013, Tess launched the#effyourbeautystandards movement on Instagram, inspired by cruel commentary she entered online. The crusade encouraged women of all sizes to embrace their bodies and reject restrictive beauty morals, reverberating with millions worldwide. By 2014, she banded with plus- size bloggers Gabi Gregg and Nadia Aboulhosn in the viral Vimeo videotape#everyBODYisflawless, lip- syncing to Beyoncé’s “ indefectible. ” The videotape celebrated body diversity and tone- love, further cementing Tess’s part as a body positivity activist.
Tess’s advocacy extended beyond social media. In 2017, she published her bio, The Not So Subtle Art of Being a Fat Girl Loving the Skin You’re In, which offered an unyielding look at her traumatic nonage, career struggles, and trip toward tone- acceptance. The book reverberated with compendiums , particularly those who felt marginalized by societal beauty norms. Tess also launched apparel lines, including the Eff Your Beauty norms collection with Fashion to Figure and the MLBM “ rocker- enthusiasm ” line with Penningtons, prioritizing inclusivity by featuring different models in her juggernauts. Her podcast, Slumber Party with Tess Holliday, launched in 2021, explores candid exchanges with guests, drawing alleviation from the intimate spirit of nonage sleepovers. Tess’s media presence grew with appearances in television shows like The Bold Type( 2017), Gay of Thrones( 2013), and Orville Peck Queen of the Rodeo( 2020), showcasing her versatility and seductiveness.
Personal Life and Adaptability
Tess’s particular life has been a complex shade of joy, challenges, and particular growth. At 20, she gave birth to her son Rylee, raising him as a single mama after parting ways with his father. In 2012, she met Australian businessman, shooter, and artist Nick Holliday on Tumblr. After seven months of online communication, they met in person, and Nick dislocated to Los Angeles in 2015. They got engaged on July 5, 2014, and married in a private Las Vegas form on July 5, 2015. In June 2016, Tess gave birth to their son, Bowie Juniper Holliday. still, their marriage faced significant challenges. By September 2019, Nick had returned to Australia, and Tess latterly described the relationship as “vituperative” and “poisonous” professing emotional manipulation and gaslighting. They separated in 2020, with Tess publicizing the split on Instagram in October, emphasizing her decision to prioritize her well- being. She has since concentrated on raising her sons and mending as a single mama in Los Angeles, supported by her mama.
In July 2019, Tess came out as pansexual, expressing openness to connections with women ornon-gendered individualities, a disclosure that further aligned with her advocacy for inclusivity. In 2021, she participated her recovery from anorexia, challenging conceptions about eating diseases. She revealed that she had confined food input since nonage, a geste embedded in societal pressure and bullying. Tess faced counterreaction for her opinion, with some criminating her of seeking attention, but she used her platform to educate others, stating, “ Eating diseases do n’t have a specific look. ” Her openness about internal health and body image has inspired numerous to seek help and challenge smirch.
Physical Appearance and hand Style
Tess stands at 5 bases 5 elevation altitudinous and weighs roughly 127 kg, with body measures of52-49-59 elevation, a bra size of 46F, and a dress size of 22( U.S.). Her dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and pale complexion contribute to her distinctive look. Tess’s expansive tattoo collection, estimated at over 30, is a hallmark of her bold personality. Her tattoos pay homage to artistic icons like Dolly Parton, Mae West, Miss Piggy, Divine, Marilyn Monroe, and Hello Kitty, as well as a life- size naiad, reflecting her miscellaneous tastes and intrepid tone- expression. Her fashion choices, frequently vibrant and unapologetic, challenge conventional plus- size styling, blending quaint- inspired pieces with ultramodern, edgy aesthetics.
Net Worth and Digital Influence
As of 2025, Tess Holliday’s estimated net worth is roughly$ 3 million, amassed through modeling contracts, apparel lines, speaking engagements, book deals, and media appearances. Her digital presence is redoubtable, with over 2.5 million Instagram followers, 2.1 million on Facebook, and 91.5 k on Twitter. Her YouTube channel, Slumber Party with Tess Holliday, launched in 2021, has over 600 subscribers and serves as a platform for her podcast and particular updates. Tess leverages her social media to promote body positivity, share career mileposts, and advocate for causes like eating complaint mindfulness, intimate mate violence, and internal health.
Difficulties and Public Perception
Tess’s open advocacy and unapologetic presence have n’t been without contestation. She has faced grim online trolling, particularly regarding her size and health. Critics have indicted her of promoting rotundity, a claim she refutes by emphasizing body autonomy and tone- love. Her 2021 anorexia opinion sparked debate, with some questioning its validity due to her size, pressing wide misconceptions about eating diseases. Tess has constantly addressed these examens head- on, using her platform to educate and challenge conceptions. Her adaptability in the face of adversity has earned her both hot sympathizers and detractors, but her impact on the body positivity movement remains inarguable.
Heritage and Cultural Impact
Tess Holliday has left an unforgettable mark on the fashion assiduity and popular culture. As the first size 22 model inked to a major agency, she shattered walls, paving the way for lesser representation of plus- size individualities in mainstream media. Her#effyourbeautystandards movement has empowered millions to reject societal pressures and embrace their bodies, fostering a global dialogue on inclusivity. Tess’s candid conversations about abuse, internal health, and eating diseases have disassembled smirch, offering a voice to those frequently silenced. Her appearances in Vogue Italia, Cosmopolitan UK( August 2018 cover), and Marie Claire, coupled with her entrepreneurial gambles, have solidified her as a artistic icon.
Beyond her professional achievements, Tess’s heritage lies in her authenticity and vulnerability. She has converted particular pain into a platform for change, inspiring others to endorse for themselves and challenge systemic impulses. As a single mama , pansexual woman, and survivor of trauma, she embodies adaptability, proving that beauty and strength transcend conventional morals. Her influence continues to shape the fashion assiduity, encouraging brands to prioritize diversity and inclusivity.
Fun Data
- Name evolution: Born Ryann Hoven, Tess espoused aliases like Tess Typhoon and Tess Munster, the ultimate inspired by The Munsters TV show, before settling on Tess Holliday after her marriage.
- Tattoo Passion: Her expansive tattoo collection includes a life- size naiad and paeans to pop culture icons, reflecting her bold and sportful personality.
- Hurricane Katrina Survivor: The 2005 disaster forced Tess to dislocate, shaping her adaptability and determination to pursue her dreams.
- Pansexual Pride: Tess’s 2019 coming out as pansexual was a significant moment, aligning with her advocacy for inclusivity across individualities.
