Virginie Grossat, in Lyon, September 2025. LUCAS CHANAVAT
With her false nails, form-fitting dresses and eyeliner as sharp as her sense of self-deprecating humor, Virginie Grossat, 37, has become one of the leading plus-size French influencers on TikTok. For several years, she also served as an ambassador for a British "inclusive" and "unapologetic" fast-fashion brand, though she prefers not to name it. "They used my image when I was a size 58 [French sizing, roughly equivalent to a US size 28]. I was a fan of the brand, so I was thrilled, both personally and as an activist," said the Lyon-born influencer, who has nearly 730,000 followers and has been active in the "body positivity" movement for a decade.
In 2025, that brand has changed course: After shifting to a more understated and "preppy" style, it is suddenly becoming discreet about its plus-size offerings. It is also ending its partnerships with influencers. "Overnight, you no longer fit the brand's image," the 30-something said with regret.
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