Paige VanZant in all probability is aware of higher than most that social media isn’t actual life, however she’s promising to supply extra authenticity transferring ahead on her varied channels after she obtained body-shaming feedback on-line.
The 29-year-old UFC and BKFC veteran addressed the topic in a prolonged publish on Instagram the place she fired again at criticism she’s obtained in current months. If there was a constructive consequence from the web bullying it’s that VanZant realized that she wished to start out sharing photographs that current all sides of herself and she or he definitely isn’t going to apologize for the way in which she appears to be like.
“I’ve been actually good at placing my greatest self ahead,” VanZant wrote. “Ensuring the world sees the ‘prettiest’ facet of me. The place I fell brief is that I by no means confirmed the true me. Till now. The reality is, sure, I’ve gained a whole lot of weight … in all probability 20-plus kilos, however I additionally gained energy, energy, muscle and a f*** ton of happiness. I see each single touch upon my YouTube channel about how I look pregnant, overweight, fats as f***, and gained’t have the ability to match by way of a door quickly. However one factor I’ve at all times remembered — pleased individuals ain’t haters and haters ain’t pleased.
“So all you haters on the market carry on commenting, you’re solely rising my platform. And I promise from at the present time ahead to indicate the true me, ceaselessly. The fats me, the damaged me, the thin me, and the happiest f****** model of me I’ve ever been. Social media won’t ever be actual however I’ll try to be higher. Anyway, take a look at my YouTube channel. As a result of I’ll be damned if I don’t proceed to revenue off of THE BEST HATERS IN THE WORLD. Yours in thickness.”
VanZant, who exited the UFC in 2020 after the top of her contract with the promotion, finally examined herself in bare-knuckle competitors after inking a profitable take care of BKFC.
She went 0-2 in her first two fights, dropping choices to present BKFC strawweight champion Britain Hart and Rachael Ostovich in 2021.
VanZant was initially scheduled to compete once more this previous August, however her bout in opposition to Charisa Sigala was pulled from a BKFC card in London on the final minute. She hasn’t been rescheduled to compete since that point.
Whereas she hasn’t been lively in her battle profession, VanZant has stayed busy together with her on-line presence, constructing a private web site and OnlyFans web page the place followers pay a month-to-month subscription to see photographs and movies of the ex-UFC star.
VanZant beforehand informed MMA Preventing that she’s earned far more cash from these web sites than she ever did throughout her preventing profession, although she nonetheless deliberate on competing once more sooner or later.
“Theoretically I might [retire],” VanZant mentioned this previous August. “I don’t should battle one other day in my life. It’s an athlete factor and a few individuals wouldn’t perceive it. Should you ask LeBron James why do you continue to play basketball? You don’t have to. Why do all these NBA gamers, NFL gamers get to a degree of their profession like Tom Brady — he doesn’t have to play soccer anymore, however why does he? As a result of he’s the best of all time, as a result of he desires to proceed to compete. It’s what he does. It’s in his blood.
“I don’t examine myself to these individuals and their greatness, however positively to their drive to need to proceed to achieve success. I really feel like that’s part of me as nicely.”
