Whitney Way Thore, class of 2007, has turned her trials into triumph. While she was a theatre student at Appalachian she was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a hormonal issue that resulted in her gaining weight that far outpaced the typical “freshman 15.”
Whitney’s accelerated weight gain resulted in a loss of enthusiasm for dance. She says, “I just couldn’t stand seeing myself in the mirror.” Despite her struggle with the weight gain she never lost her desire to achieve her goals and in her senior year was cast as Ethel Hay in Moon Over Buffalo.
After graduation, Whitey pursued a career in radio but suffered from what she has described as “severe depression” because of her size. Determined to change her life she began dancing again and was coaxed by co-worker to post videos of her dance routines on YouTube and the “Fat Girl Dancing” went viral.
Based on the response to the viral video Whitney helped launch the No Body Shame Campaign and she received national attention appearing on the Today show and multiple internet media outlets. She was then approached by the TLC network about developing her own reality television show. My Big Fat Fabulous Life will premiere January 13, 2015 on the TLC network at 10/9 Central.
