I’ve earned £25k & quit my job as a ‘fatfluencer’ – trolls call me a farm animal but I love showing my lumps in a bikini
TURNING on the camera, Lindsay McGlone films herself dancing about in a high-cut playsuit and moments later, she shares it with her 24k of followers online.
It’s a scene you see everyday on TikTok but Lindsay, 26, isn’t your usual size-eight model flaunting a tiny physique – she’s a size 24/26.
While Lindsay’s message promotes body confidence and pleases some of her fans, the majority of comments are disapproving and angry.
“Cardiac arrest approaching,” types one online troll. “You’re heading for an early grave,” adds another.
The scathing comments continue, with: “That’s disgusting. Did you eat all the pies?” Worse still, this one comes from someone who is hiding behind a fake profile.
But Lindsay, who posts using the hashtag, “what fat women actually wear”, says the more hate she receives online, the better it is for her bank balance.
Online engagement = cash
In fact she actively encourages it because so far she’s earned more than £25k through high engagement, enough to quit her full-time day job as a support worker.
“I love my trolls,” she says. “Their online engagement has earned me more than £25k. This has helped me quit my day job and set up my own business as a plus size activist and blogger.
“Many people only post carefully curated images of themselves. Those images are filtered and altered.
“I always get a huge response whenever I post pictures of myself in my bikinis.
“I love my body and show it off in all its glory. It’s what followers want.”
Splashing in the waves
According to Lindsay, when she posted a ‘real life image’ of her makeup free self splashing in the ocean in a new tropical green style bikini, she was inundated with messages.
“Followers told me they loved how real the image looked. They thanked me for not posting a picture which was ‘too glamorous” and posed,” she says.
“I knew then I was onto something. The more real life a video or picture looks, the more people can see themselves in you. That’s what my plus size followers want.
“They know if I can do it, they can.
“I love how my body looks in a bikini. I discovered the more fun you have on the beach or by the pool, the more confidence I exude.
People think fat people want to be ‘saved’. They assume if you are fat, you are unhealthy. They are wrong in my case. It is my right to stay fat.
Lindsay
While she’s applauded for embracing her shape, she often receives a deluge of negativity.
“Fat is fabulous. Trolls tell me I am a whale, a fat pig and will die early. I just laugh. My body is not a problem that needs fixing.
“People think fat people want to be ‘saved’. They assume if you are fat, you are unhealthy. They are wrong in my case. It is my right to stay fat.”
And Lindsay even goes as far as saying she’d like to meet her haters in person to thank them.
“I want to hug the trolls. Haters commenting on my pages, watching my videos and messaging me, it all increases my views,” she explains.
“I am unfiltered and direct. There is no topic that is taboo for me as a plus-size person.
“Fat is sexy. My curves and body are pleasing.”
Undeterred by haters, Lindsay goes onto post a video of herself enjoying ‘glitter-day’, in a plus size sparkly outfit.
She watches as the post goes viral – reaching more than 31k views in HOW LONG ROUGHLY, and the comments come in thick and fast.
“You are stunning. Smashing it. I wish I had your confidence,” types one fan.
Huge number of fans
“Finally, a playsuit in my size. Where did you get it from? ” messages another follower.
“You’re perfect! I love sequins for big girls,” comments a third.
Side hustles in numbers
Based on new research from Finder, an estimated 22.8 million Brits are using side hustles to top up their income.
Among those aged 18-23, 68 percent have a side hustle in 2024.
Those aged 24-42 aren’t far behind, with 65 per cent having an additional source of income.
Side hustles are less popular among older generations, with 40 percent of those aged 43-54 having one.
Whereas 23 percent of people aged 55-73 and just 7 per cent of those aged 74 and over are earning extra cash this way.
Lindsay, who lives in Barnsley, South Yorks, with her partner Tommy, 27, a support worker, began posting about fat phobia and ‘fat -fluencing’ in 2020 when she set up her social media platform @RolinwithLindsay.
She recalls: “I slowly developed a following on Instagram and Tik Tok. I found my people.
“I knew I could take on fat haters. I am smart, articulate and I make my argument.
“I also knew I could encourage people to embrace their size and own personal style. I did it. I am happier and healthier for it.
“I post about plus size clothing, fat issues and share my life warts and all. There is no topic I consider too taboo – from flying as a big person to wear to find plus size lingerie that fits. I show myself living it. I don’t weigh myself. I don’t know my BMI.
Challenging ideas
“I love challenging people’s preconceived ideas about plus size people. I know what I am talking about.”
Growing up, Lindsay says she was always bigger than other girls in her class.
By 13, she was a size 14.
“I was bullied more in secondary school. Boys especially would call me a fat b***h, a fat s**g and I had food thrown at me.
“There was one incident where a can of coke was chucked at me,” she says.
School bullying
“I experienced the brutal and ‘raw’ end of trolling. Today plus size people are accepted more, When I was at school acceptance didn’t exist.
“I was bullied in person and trolled online. I didn’t have a space where I was accepted.”
When Lindsay was in Year 12, students were allowed to wear their own clothes but the bullying continued – it was huge turning point.
“I wore vintage outfits and unusual styles,” she says.
“Then I was bullied for my outfit choices and not for being fat. That’s when I vowed to stand up to trolls and embrace my body and style.
“People constantly told me I should feel bad about my body.
Challenging taboos
“I decided no! I wasn’t having it. I dressed to please myself. I started challenging fat taboos.”
After leaving school in 2016, at 18 Lindsay started working in the care sector.
In 2023 she was well on her way to becoming a full-time plus size influencer and advocate as well a social media account manager.
“I built up my following over four years. Now as well as managing my social media platforms I help other people grow their followers and market themselves.”
Top five easiest side hustles
- Dog walking
- Babysitting
- Selling clothes on Vinted or Depop
- Start a Youtube or TikTok channel
- Tutoring
In May, Lindsay went viral when she shared what it was like to be a size 24 person flying on Ryanair.
She videoed herself asking for seat belt extenders and revealed how much space she took up in the seat.
“I wanted to show what really happens when you are fat and fly,” she explains.
“Many plus size people are scared to fly because they don’t know how to ask for help, use a seat belt extender or even if they can fit into the often-tiny toilets.”
Be the bigger person
“The summer holidays mean people need to know what type of flight you will have as a bigger person.”
The comments were encouraging.
“I’m so grateful you shared this video.” one fan commented.
“Awesome advice. It’s made me less anxious about flying now,” said another.
Ignoring the critics
But while she was praised by followers for offering practical, positive plus-size flying advice and helping relieve the stress around holiday flights, other comments were extremely brutal.
“Absurd you think this is acceptable,” typed one critic.
“Most people don’t stuff their faces like farm animals, so airline seats are not an issue.,” taunted another hater.
“Should have gone cargo,” added a third troll.
Lindsay says: “I don’t delete the comments. I have a giggle.
“Their comments are ridiculous. They are ill informed and unoriginal.
“Letting people see their silly remarks is a fantastic way to fight fat phobia.”
Bikini snaps
Now, Lindsay collaborates with companies all over the world including cosmetics giant Loreal, lingerie brand Tutti Rouge which caters for curvy women, sex toy manufacturers Love Honey as well as fashion company Yours and X-Plus Wear.
She’s adamant that she loves herself just the way she is and will keep on embracing her curves as the weather hots up.
“I don’t plan on losing weight. I love my size,” she says.
“This summer I am showing off my rolls, lumps and bumps. I refuse to hide them.
“Let the haters hate. I am laughing all the way to the bank.”