Influencer dubbed 'plus size Barbie' refuses to let trolls dictate her wardrobe

A young British woman, who calls herself a 'plus size Barbie', has said she's not going to let trolls dictate what she wears.

Caitlan Redding, who wears size 28 clothing, will continue to wear and share what she likes on social media and in life, despite the verbal abuse she receives.

The 22-year-old, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, says she's regularly tormented by cyber bullies who say she shouldn't be able to wear skimpy clothes.

But nevertheless, working to ignore these cruel fat shaming comments, Redding says bullies don't have the right to say what other people wear.

Redding's more recent support from brands promoting their plus size outfits has led to her being even more of a target.

The recently engaged recruitment administrator said, "I'm very proud of who I am and I won't hide away because people want to fat shame me for my size.

"When a big brand shares a photo of me wearing their outfits, I am happy and feel confident and I am so proud of that.

"I love to see comments supporting me but too many people still think it's ok to abuse strangers."

Redding says she hasn't only seen comments on her profile, but also TikTok videos made about her, "saying I am promoting obesity, brands should not accommodate my size and I deserve to be cheated on".

While she used to, naturally, be upset by the comments, she now ignores the hate. "I love my body how it is so I no longer take any notice of people's views on me.

"I've had people make fake accounts just to send me abuse – who has time for that?

"Everyone has an opinion but their opinion doesn't control my life."

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Redding is engaged to her teenage sweetheart, Sam Woolf, 23, who she met aged 15. They hope to marry in 2024.

Speaking on his reaction to the abuse, Redding said, "Sam does find the comments harder to deal with than I do.

"He is naturally defensive and protective of me, which is very sweet.

"Yes I was slimmer when we met but Sam loves me for me, regardless of my size."

In reference to the comments saying he's 'bound to cheat', she adds, "I don't want to waste our energy on that.

"I'm 22, happy in my relationship and I have every right to feel confident in whatever I choose to wear."

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Redding regularly posts her outfits on Instagram, whether they're gifted from brands, ads, promoting her clothes haul videos, or just what she's wearing that day, ranging from seasonal fits, to outfits for different occasions or lingerie.

"I feel amazing in the lingerie sets and I'm not going to let someone calling me grotesque stop me flaunting my body," she says.

"Whatever I wear, underwear or even jogging bottoms and jumpers, some people will always have something to say.

"I love my curves – and so does Sam – and that's all that matters."

Redding has near 100K followers on Instagram, more than 3K on Youtube and also hosts the podcast Cocktails with Cait with her friend Adam Stercz.

While she says she receives more nasty comments than positive, she adds, "but there is also an amazing community online of people who are similar size to me or are slimmer but happy to let everyone have their own style, shape and confidence".

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Touching on who the abuse comes from, she explains, "I would say 70% of the abuse comes from men, but the comments from women hit harder.

"They can be exceptionally cruel. Older women can be awful, I've had messages saying 'Id be ashamed if you were my daughter'."

And responding to the accusations of 'promoting' obesity, she says, "Yes, I am confident with my size but I am still conscious of what I eat. I don't abuse food. I try and eat as healthy as I can and exercise and I have joined a gym.

"But whatever size I am or whatever I do, that's for me, not in response to trolls. I'm not promoting being plus size, I'm promoting being confident and happy regardless of the size on the label.

"I won't be told what I can and can't wear by a stranger hiding behind a keyboard."

Additional reporting by Caters.