A model who’s called for planes to have bigger seats has been forced to hit back at cruel trolls.
Gracie Bon, from Panama, is an Instagram star with almost seven million followers.
She posts fashion, lifestyle, and travel content on her social media page and has become well-known for her good looks.
She’s previously gone viral for sharing her unrecognizable before photos.
But the influencer has now found herself at the forefront of criticism after calling out planes for their seat sizes.
Whether larger people should pay for an extra plane seat has always divided opinion.
Plus-size travel influencer Jaelynn Chaney recently made headlines after saying that airline policies are ‘discriminatory’ towards bigger passengers.
She argues it’s unfair that plus-sized people have to pay more than those who are slimmer.
Chaney said: “Being forced to occupy only one seat can result in pain and vulnerability to poor treatment from fellow passengers, including hateful comments, disapproving looks, and even refusal to sit next to them.“
This mistreatment of plus-size passengers is unacceptable, and it highlights the urgent need for better policies that protect the dignity and rights of all passengers, regardless of size.
“Unfortunately, plus-size passengers often experience discomfort and discrimination when flying. The lack of a uniform customer-of-size airline policy is unacceptable and must be addressed.”
And now, Panamanian model Bon also exclaims that planes ‘should have bigger seats.’
The influencer has taken to social media and discussed the challenges of flying as a plus-sized woman, such as struggling to put a seatbelt on.
Bon said: “So today I had a flight and even if I was flying in first class, I couldn’t fit on the airplane – so this is a petition for all the airlines so big girls like me can fly.”
“It’s not my fault I have an a*** this big. Please just make them bigger.”
In the caption, she asked: “Can someone give me an ACTUAL solution,” alongside a weeping emoji.
While the post has garnered hundreds of comments, not everyone agrees with Bon.
One troll writes: “Buy two seats instead of one, clearly you’ve got plenty of money to afford them.”
“Easy to say but once they make seats bigger there will be less seats and higher prices and then you will complain again and say make it cheaper,” another says.
A third person comments: “Your choice, your problem.”
Fortunately, not everyone has been so unkind, with many taking to the comments and sharing words of encouragement for Bon.
In agreement, a fan says: “It’s so not fair.”
Another adds: “Omg I wish I had the same problems,” alongside a peach emoji.
“My butt [is] not even as big as hers and I be needing half of the other seat… my hips be on top of the other person next to me… Seats are just small,” somebody else shares.
Bon has since hit out at claims she’s had surgery to achieve her eye-popping physique.
Gracie writes on Instagram: “WHAT GOD GAVE ME. You can clearly see in the first picture how my ‘natural’ body looked and GUESS WHAT in that time they looked at me strangely and got body-shamed too because I look different and dress differently.”
She adds: “So because I’m a plus size girl I cannot wear whatever I want and go outside? Sorry, I’m not ashamed anymore of my curves and I’ll not hate my body because you hate it‼️some of you normalize hating on girls for nothing, just for being themselves. mind you, the thighs match ”