Model Denied Boarding for "Too Big Buttocks"

The story of a woman who was denied boarding by airlines because of her large hips is drawing attention.

Plus-size model Gracie Bone (27) recently posted a short video on her Instagram with the caption "How I travel needing bigger seats." She is an influencer from Panama with over 9 million Instagram followers, known for her hips measuring 55 inches (about 140 cm).

[Photo by Gracie Vaughn Instagram capture]

In the video, Gracie Bone said, "Some airlines have banned me," adding, "Private flights are my only solution." With a weight approaching 140 kg and hips measuring 55 inches, she needs at least two seats to board a regular airplane.

Gracie Bone said, "Flying on a private plane is a game changer," and "It is a good solution for women like me who are plus-size." She shared footage of herself enjoying a flight in a spacious private plane. However, she did not disclose whether the plane was a private jet or a chartered flight.

Previously, Gracie Bone faced suspicions that she had undergone a "hip augmentation surgery," but she denied it, saying it was "a gift from God." People suspect she might have had a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), a cosmetic surgery that transfers fat from the chest, abdomen, or other upper body areas to the hips, creating a slimmer waist and larger hips. According to The New York Times (NYT) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, hip augmentation surgeries have recently surged the most among cosmetic procedures in the U.S. The number of hip augmentation surgeries has steadily increased by 2 to 5 times annually from 2015 to 2021.

However, BBL is considered one of the most dangerous cosmetic surgeries with the highest mortality rate. According to the UK's National Health Service (NHS), the risk of death from BBL is at least 10 times higher than other cosmetic procedures. In May last year, a U.S. female model who admired the figure of Kim Kardashian, famous for her hips, died of cardiac arrest after receiving silicone injections in her hips.

Netizens reacted negatively to her claim of being denied boarding by airlines, saying things like "No one forced her to have surgery" and "The airline's refusal is justified." Some also defended her, acknowledging that "airplane seats are indeed small."