Whitney Way Thore is a vibrant American reality TV star, dancer, and fat acceptance activist who inspires millions through her TLC show My Big Fat Fabulous Life.

Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, she grew up with a passion for theater and dance, overcoming challenges like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to promote body positivity.

Profile

• Full Name: Whitney Way Thore
• Stage Name: Whitney Thore
• Born: April 14, 1984
• Age: 41 years old
• Birthplace: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Reality TV Star, Dancer, Activist, Author, Social Media Influencer
• Height: 162 cm (5 ft 4 in)
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. Glenn Thore and Mrs. Barbara “Babs” Thore
• Siblings: Hunter Thore (younger brother)
• Spouse: Nail Rayner
• Children: None
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $1.5 million to $5 million

Early Life

Whitney Way Thore was born on April 14, 1984, in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Glenn Thore, a VP General Manager at Millennium Print Group, and Barbara “Babs” Thore, who passed away in December 2022 from cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Her ethnicity is White Caucasian. Raised in a middle-class family with her younger brother Hunter, an actor and filmmaker, Whitney showed an early love for performing arts.

Education

Whitney attended Page High School in Greensboro, graduating in 2002. In 2000, she was accepted into the Theatre Summer Enrichment Program at the Governor’s School of North Carolina at Meredith College. She later enrolled at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, where she majored in Theatre and earned a bachelor’s degree.

Career

Whitney’s career took off after returning from South Korea, where she taught English. She worked as an on-air producer for the Greensboro radio show Jared & Katie in the Morning on 107.5 KZL. In February 2014, her dance video “A Fat Girl Dancing,” set to Jason Derulo’s “Wiggle,” went viral on the station’s YouTube channel, gaining national attention on outlets like ABC News, NBC’s Today Show, and The Huffington Post.

This led to her TLC reality show, My Big Fat Fabulous Life, which premiered in January 2015 and chronicles her life, weight-loss journey, and search for love. The show, featuring her family and friends like Buddy Bell, has aired 12 seasons by 2025, with high viewership in the U.S., Australia, India, and South Africa.

Whitney founded the No Body Shame campaign, promoting body acceptance through her website, nobodyshame.com, and blog. She released her memoir, I Do It with the Lights On: And 10 More Discoveries on the Road to a Blissfully Shame-Free Life, in May 2016.

She has appeared on shows such as Steve, The View, The Dr. Oz Show, and Megyn Kelly Today. Whitney also runs fitness classes, endorses brands like Snoga Athletics, and shares workout content, training with Ryan Andreas. Her advocacy and media presence have made her a leading voice in the fat acceptance movement.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @whitneywaythore
• TikTok handle: @whitneywaythore
• Facebook: Whitney Way Thore

Personal Life

Whitney, 41, lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, and has been in a long-distance relationship with Nail Rayner, a French man, since at least 2022. She was previously engaged to Chase Severino in 2019, but they split in 2020 after he fathered a child with another woman.

Whitney also dated Buddy Bell, a close friend and My Big Fat Fabulous Life co-star, with whom she shares matching tattoos, including a goose with the quote “It knows, It loves,” and another from Rocky saying “Cut me, Mick.” She has additional tattoos on her shoulder and ribs. Her height is 162 cm, and she weighs approximately 120 kg (264 lbs), influenced by PCOS.

Net Worth

Whitney Way Thore’s net worth is estimated between $1.5 million and $5 million. She earns $5,000 to $10,000 per episode of My Big Fat Fabulous Life, with additional income from her memoir, brand endorsements (e.g., Snoga Athletics), sponsored Instagram posts, and No Body Shame campaign activities. Her wealth reflects her success as a reality star and activist, built through hard work and media ventures, making her a proud American entrepreneur.