Today, many people say we should love ourselves as we are because beauty has no single definition. But on social media, most pictures show perfect bodies, glowing skin, and lots of filters. One person who stands against this is Ady Del Valle, a plus-size model who is changing the fashion world.
Ady weighs 449 lbs and is openly gay. Their presence in the fashion industry has caught attention. Many are now asking—is the industry finally changing?
Back in 2015, Ady started posting selfies on Instagram. They had no plans to become a model but wanted to connect with people like them. Fashion seemed like a world they didn’t belong to, but social media gave them a way to be seen.
Born in Boston in 1987 to a Puerto Rican family, Ady grew up watching fashion shows, model interviews, and reality TV. In 2016, an independent designer approached them with an unexpected offer—to walk at New York Fashion Week.
At first, Ady hesitated. The idea of walking on a runway seemed impossible. But friends and family encouraged them, so they agreed. A month later, Ady was modeling in an old church in New York, alongside other plus-size models.
Ady’s work is about more than just fashion. Their photos challenge beauty standards. Their social media posts show them at the beach, by a pool, or sunbathing—sometimes in a swimsuit, sometimes with a bare torso. They wear bold outfits like lace bodices, tulle, and animal print, proving that plus-size fashion isn’t just about covering up.
Ady is now a plus-size activist and wants to change how people see bigger bodies. Instead of letting social media shape their image, they use it to push for change.
Ady points out that plus-size men’s swimsuit photos often get removed from Instagram. “Different bodies get deleted,” they say. But they believe people have power over social media, not the other way around.
“Since childhood, we’ve been told what beauty looks like,” Ady explains. “But now, social media helps people like me change that. Maybe one day, TV and magazines will show bodies like mine.”
Change is never easy, but Ady is proving that it’s possible.