On Katie Winnen’s TikTok, Plus-Size Fashion Is About Personality

On TikTok, Katie Winnen’s 275,000-plus followers look to her for budget-friendly tips on how to accessorize a first-date outfit or find jeans for different plus-size body types.

Fittingly, her name lends itself to a positive affirmation that is her social handle (@katieiswinnen). Originally from the Peninsula, the Oakland-based influencer describes her out-loud style as grandma glam — think chunky sweaters, bold graphic tees and maximalist accessories interspersed with timeless basics. With her big smile and pink hair, she exudes a genuine confidence, and rejects toxic notions from her upbringing in the 1990s and 2000s, when thinness was considered the “ultimate accessory.”

For Winnen, personal style reinforces a sense of self. “[Fashion] feels like such a fun way to explore how I show up in the world, and how we can express who we are to other people,” she tells KQED. “Whether we want to communicate things like our creativity or profession, there are so many things you can showcase through your style and what you wear.”

Though the body positivity and body neutrality movements have made strides in recent years, size-inclusive fashion still has a long way to go when it comes to availability, fit and style. Winnen says a lot of advice for plus-size women is outdated, focusing on hiding body parts rather than highlighting personality. That’s why, beyond the basic tips like seasonal guides or finding the right concert look, Winnen sees an overall need for a supportive environment for plus-sized people.

Self-confidence first, clothes second

Winnen started her fashion journey by looking inward — and not just into her closet. Her career rise has mirrored her quest to wholeheartedly accept herself. It all stems from a mental reframe Winnen puts this way: “Maybe my body isn’t the problem. Maybe people who have a problem with my body are a problem.”

Prior to becoming a full-time TikTok creator in 2023, Winnen had been contributing to the platform for three years with some momentum. Her 30-day outfit challenge racked up 1.4 million views on one video alone, and accelerated everything. When she lost her day job upon moving to the East Bay, she made a gamble to turn plus-size content into her career.

“I never had any intention to be an influencer. … I don’t like to be the center of attention,” says Winnen, laughing. “Having a lot of focus on me has always felt a little like — I’ve had to adjust to that. It was never something that I sought out, so when it started to happen, I was definitely surprised that people were connecting with me specifically.”

She wasn’t surprised, however, that they related to her message of self-acceptance and -expression. Plus-sized women are an underserved group. And though they make up nearly 70% of U.S. women, most mainstream brands fail to cater to them.

Winnen loves the creativity and joy in fashion, and for that reason she works to make fashion accessible to an audience dealing with fatphobic social stigma. “Even if I get to the best place possible [with my body image], I’m still going to exist in a fatphobic society that’s going to make living in a larger body really hard,” says Winnen. “Understanding that was a reality helped me get further in having a positive relationship with myself.”

In her videos, she spotlights small businesses that serve the plus-sized community, plays with fun concepts like astrology-based fashion and connects with clients one-on-one as a personal stylist.

Her savvy comes from experience in different levels of the fashion industry: She worked retail, got merchandising and design degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and San Francisco State University, and worked for a plus-size ecommerce company before it folded.

“I don’t think people are just born with the ability to be stylish,” says Winnen. “It might come easier to some people, but I think for the most part, it’s just something you put time and energy into.”

Breaking through size stigmas

On social media, Winnen has found a positive feedback loop of encouragement and knowledge sharing. She credits other creators in the plus-sized community for breaking down concepts such as fat liberation and fat bias in straightforward ways. Local collective Fat Brunch and creator Fierce Fat Femme come to mind when Winnen shouts out fellow Bay Area creators that take up space proudly.

She learned from other creators how to defend oneself from fatphobic comments (especially as a non-confrontational person). In turn, she’s offered resources on navigating dismissive or callous medical visits, to which she got an overwhelming response of people realizing they are not alone.

Winnen’s work has national and even global reach. A sizable portion of her audience is in Texas. When she worked remotely for a company based in Armenia, she was shocked to find out a colleague in Yerevan was already a fan.

“There’s a lot the industry has to shift and change,” says Winnen. “I feel hopeful we can get there, but in the meantime it’s really challenging.”

Winnen acknowledges that plus-size fashion intersects with evolving conversations around mental health, disability and accessibility. “I think in general, when we talk about inclusivity, size is usually left out,” says Winnen. “I think being fatphobic is very accepted still in a majority of places, even in progressive, inclusive places like the Bay Area.”

Her videos are her way of working towards a more accepting world. And when it comes to fashion, she reminds us that a little compliment goes a long way.

“If you see a plus-sized person in a great outfit, just know that they had to work so hard to make that happen,” she says. “I’m always blown away by the creativity and ability that these other creators have to make things work when you’re not given very much in the first place.”

Katie Winnen is on TikTok and Instagram.