Body-positivity activist and author Tess Holliday was featured on the front of Self magazine’s first digital cover.
The image — Holliday posing in a backless pink dress — was met with some harsh criticism on social media.
https://twitter.com/BarryMoskow/status/1012071255384690689
Tess Holliday is not inspirational. She quite honestly disgusts me. Being overweight is not healthy or something to be proud of. Not sorry.
— Kara R. Callear (@kararcallear) June 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/emilyurdrunk/status/1012077999020236801
However, others praised both her cover and profile, written by contributor Ashley C. Ford.
https://twitter.com/heysaramurphy/status/1011636726194769920
Tess! I’m proud and happy for you! I loved the article and read it thoroughly. It was relatable in a lot of levels! Happy for your success.
— Josh (@joshmald89) June 27, 2018
If you haven’t taken a moment out of your day to take a look at Self magazines online cover model- do yourself a favor and do it now. #vproudofSelf #TessHolliday
— Jaycëë (@Jaycee_Foran) June 27, 2018
Holliday’s profile was featured as part of the magazine’s Weight Issue, a collection of short stories centered on discussions of weight and health. In a letter that served as a prologue to the stories, editor in chief Carolyn Kylstra wrote, “We chose to feature [Holliday] and give her a platform because she has insightful things to say about thriving in a world that devalues bodies of size.”
In the piece, Holliday touches on topics ranging from post-partum depression following the birth of her second child to concern-trolling, and explains how she deals with the latter.
“I just refuse to go down that road, and to feel like I need to prove my health and my worth to people that don’t care.”
