SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 10, 2025 – While fashion trends flirt once again with ultra-thin catwalk ideals, a new body-confidence report from BBW dating app Bustr tells a very different story from the one splashed across runways and social feeds: real people still deeply desire curves, emotional safety and body-inclusive love.
When Fashion Says “Thin” but Real Life Says “Curvy”
Headlines about fewer plus-size models and a “return” to early-2000s thinness can feel like déjà vu for anyone who thought the Body Positivity era had finally changed the game. But Bustr’s 2025 Body Confidence and Social Trends Report suggests that offline hearts haven’t suddenly rewritten their preferences just because aesthetics on the runway shifted.
The global plus-size fashion economy is still projected to grow strongly, and inside the app, that demand for curves shows up in behavior: Bustr reports a 25% year-over-year increase in active users and a 15% jump in premium memberships in the last quarter alone. For many, it’s a quiet vote of confidence against a culture that’s once again flirting with narrow beauty rules.
From Anxiety to “He Actually Wants My Body”
Behind the data are very human stories of relief. On mainstream dating apps, curvy women often feel forced to edit themselves—literally. One 28-year-old graphic designer describes how dating used to feel like walking a tightrope between self-erasure and fear of rejection.
“I used to spend hours facetuning my waist and jawline, terrified of being accused of catfishing if I showed up looking like my real self,” she explains. “The anxiety took the fun out of dating. After switching to Bustr, the men here aren't just okay with my body; they actively desire it. Being held by someone who genuinely adores every curve gave me a confidence I never found on other apps. I finally feel comfortable in my own skin.”
This is the emotional heart of body positivity in 2025: it’s much less about hashtags and more about what it feels like to walk into a date without bracing yourself for comments about your size.
A Safe Space for Real Preferences – Without the Fetish Lens
Body shaming isn’t the only issue in mainstream dating spaces; men who are openly attracted to fuller figures often feel mocked or misunderstood as well. A 32-year-old male user explains how Bustr lets him show up honestly.
“I've always been drawn to curvy women—there is a distinct warmth and femininity to them that I find incredibly grounding, but in regular social circles, expressing that preference can sometimes attract judgment or mocking labels,” shares he. “On Bustr, the dynamic is different. It's not a fetish; it's just a preference. It's about the feeling of a real, substantial cuddle—the comfort and softness that only a fuller or curvy figure embodies. It feels less like an image and more like a real connection.”
By centering curvy women as the norm—not the exception—Bustr reframes the whole vibe of online dating for this community.
“Curvy to the Bottom of the Deck”? Not on This App
On many mainstream platforms, algorithms and user behavior can push larger bodies out of visibility. Kevin, PM of Bustr, doesn’t mince words about that experience.
“Mainstream dating apps are becoming hostile environments for body diversity, often pushing curvy profiles to the bottom of the deck,” says Kevin, PM of Bustr. “Users are flocking to Bustr not just for a date, but for a digital sanctuary where curves are the celebrated standard, not the tolerated exception.”
He’s clear that for Bustr, body positivity isn’t a seasonal marketing angle.
“Inclusivity isn't a marketing buzzword for us; it is the foundation of our brand,” says Kevin, PM of Bustr. “Current trends are sending a message that 'thin is the only right way to be,' which is damaging. This creates a vacuum of validation for curvy individuals. Bustr steps in to fill that void, proving that confidence and compatibility transcend the scale.”
To back that promise, the app enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against harassment and gives users easy tools to block or report anyone who objectifies rather than genuinely connects.
Mini FAQ: Body-Positive Dating with Bustr
Is Bustr just another niche app?
No. For many users it functions as a “main home base” for dating, especially if they’ve felt sidelined or judged on bigger platforms.
Is it only about looks?
The app is designed around attraction to curves, but the stories users share highlight emotional safety, validation and genuine compatibility—not just photos.
Is this about fetishizing body types?
Users and the team are clear: “It's not a fetish; it's just a preference.” The focus is on mutual respect, softness, warmth and real-life connection.
Who is Bustr for?
Curvy women who refuse to shrink themselves to fit a trend, and men who aren’t afraid to stand by their preference for fuller figures.
More Than a Trend: Curves as a “Badge of Honor”
In a culture that cycles through body ideals as fast as runway collections, Bustr positions itself as a place where curves and confidence are not negotiable or temporary. As the brand puts it, fullness is “a gift” and “curve is a badge of honor”—and the rising user numbers suggest that many people agree.
For anyone exhausted by filters, side angles and quiet shame, a space that treats body diversity as standard—not special programming—can be life-changing. Here, body positivity isn’t an era that can “end” when fashion moves on; it’s built into every match, every cuddle story, every profile that finally shows a body as it really is.
To learn more about Bustr or join the BBW dating community, visit https://www.bbwdatingapp.net.