Tess Holliday Now: 5 Shocking Updates On Her Anorexia Recovery, New Career Moves, And Body Positivity Stance

Tess Holliday remains one of the most polarizing and powerful figures in the modern body positivity movement, and as of December 2025, her life is defined by profound personal evolution and groundbreaking new career ventures. The model, author, and activist has been fiercely candid about her ongoing recovery from an anorexia nervosa diagnosis, a revelation that shattered stereotypes and redefined public understanding of eating disorders. Beyond her deeply personal health journey, Holliday is actively reshaping the travel industry and continuing her vocal advocacy for true size diversity in fashion, proving that her mission to "Take Up Space" is far from over. The past year has seen Holliday embrace significant changes, both physically and professionally, navigating the complexities of healing while simultaneously launching ambitious projects. From leading a revolutionary size-inclusive tour through Italy to speaking out about the concerning shift she perceives in the fashion industry's approach to plus-size models, her current endeavors are a testament to her tenacity. This deep dive explores the most recent and relevant updates on Tess Holliday's life, health, and career in late 2025, revealing the multi-faceted reality of a true trailblazer.

Tess Holliday: Complete Biography and Profile

Tess Holliday, born Ryann Maegen Hoven, is an American plus-size model, author, blogger, and makeup artist who has become a global icon for body positivity and self-acceptance.

• Full Name: Ryann Maegen Hoven (professionally known as Tess Holliday, formerly Tess Munster)
• Date of Birth: July 5, 1985
• Age (as of December 2025): 40
• Place of Birth: Laurel, Mississippi, USA
• Occupation: Plus-Size Model, Author, Body Positivity Activist, Blogger, Entrepreneur
• Career Milestone: In 2015, she became the first woman over a size 20 to be signed by a major modeling agency (MiLK Model Management).
• Notable Works: Author of the memoir *The Not So Subtle Art of Being a Fat Girl* and *Take Up Space, Y'all: Your Bold & Bright Guide to Self-Love*.
• Key Advocacy: Breaking down beauty standards, challenging fatphobia, and raising awareness about eating disorders in all body types.
• Personal Life: Tess is a mother of two children.

The Bold New Chapter: Leading Size-Inclusive Travel in 2025

In a groundbreaking professional move for 2025, Tess Holliday has taken her "Take Up Space" ethos into the travel sector. She is currently leading a size-inclusive Italy tour in collaboration with Stellavision Travel.

This venture directly addresses a significant, yet often ignored, barrier for plus-size individuals: the difficulty of comfortable travel. Standard travel experiences often involve issues like small airplane seats, restrictive restaurant seating, and a lack of understanding from tour operators.

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Holliday’s involvement ensures that the Italy tour is curated specifically for larger bodies, making travel an accessible and joyful experience for all participants. This project showcases her commitment to not just talk about body acceptance, but to actively create real-world spaces where people of all sizes can thrive without restriction or judgment. This shift from modeling and traditional activism to experiential, size-inclusive entrepreneurship is a major highlight of her current work.

A Candid Look at Anorexia Recovery and Body Changes

One of the most defining aspects of Tess Holliday’s public life in recent years has been her transparency regarding her health. She was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder typically associated with underweight individuals, a revelation that sparked global conversation about who can be affected by the condition.

The Ongoing Recovery Journey: As of late 2025, Holliday continues to share updates on her recovery, emphasizing that healing is a non-linear process. Her candidness is aimed at dismantling the harmful stereotype that only "very underweight people can have anorexia."

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Physical Evolution and Unexpected Changes: Holliday has been open about her body changing as she focuses on recovery and health. In a recent update, she humorously noted that she has lost a little bit of weight, joking that her stomach is now "too small" to hold her phone underneath it. While the comment was lighthearted, it underscores the reality of her body’s transformation and her continued effort to maintain a healthy relationship with her changing physique, separate from societal pressure.

Her openness about this journey, which includes discussing the frustration of weight-focused comments, reinforces her dedication to body neutrality—the idea that a person’s worth is not tied to their weight or appearance.

The State of Body Positivity: Holliday’s Concerns for the Future

While Tess Holliday is a founding pillar of the modern body positivity movement, she has recently voiced significant concerns about the direction of the fashion industry and society's beauty standards.

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The Return of "Skinny" Pressure: Holliday has expressed worry that the pressure to be "skinny" may be returning to today's society. She noted her concern that plus-size models are not being hired as frequently as they once were, suggesting a regression in the industry's commitment to size diversity.

This critique is crucial because it comes from a model who broke the size barrier, becoming the first size 20 woman to sign with a major agency. Her observations serve as a warning to the community that the progress made is fragile and requires constant vigilance against the forces of diet culture and fatphobia.

The "Take Up Space" Mantra: Her book, *Take Up Space, Y'all: Your Bold & Bright Guide to Self-Love*, remains a central part of her message, encouraging individuals to combat the immense pressures of society and unapologetically occupy their space in the world. This advocacy work, coupled with her public speaking engagements, keeps her at the forefront of the cultural conversation about self-worth and acceptance.

Embracing 40: Aging as a "Tremendous Gift"

A final, important update on Tess Holliday's current perspective is her view on aging. As she recently celebrated her 40th birthday, she shared a message of gratitude, calling aging a "tremendous gift." In an industry that often prioritizes youth, this public celebration of reaching a milestone birthday is a powerful act of self-love and a rejection of ageism.

Her personal and professional life in late 2025 is a complex tapestry of healing, advocacy, and innovation. Tess Holliday is not just a model; she is a revolutionary creating real-world change, from the therapist's couch to the cobblestone streets of Italy, cementing her legacy as a fierce and vital voice for marginalized bodies everywhere.