A plus-sized model has taken a rather unique step in her battle against commercial airlines by flying on private jets instead.
You might be aware of Gracie Bon as she can often be found sharing videos with her 9.4 million Instagram followers.
Bon, a 27-year-old from Panama, says her curvaceous figure has led to numerous challenges when flying commercially.
In a previous Instagram post, the social media star documented her travel experience, starting with a clip of herself en route to the boarding gate.
Once seated on the plane, Bon demonstrated the challenges of fitting into her seat, resorting to a seatbelt extender that, while fitting loosely around her waist, was necessary due to her hips.
“Airplanes should have bigger seats,” she told her followers. “So today I had a flight, and even if I was flying in first class, I couldn’t fit on the airplane seat. So this is a petition for all the airlines so big girls like me can fly. It’s not my fault to have an a** this big. Please just make them bigger!”
Well, it seems like she’s found a solution to her problem… and it’s expensive.
Taking to Instagram, she shared glimpses of her new travel arrangements, which she claims offer her the space she needs.
“Some airlines banned me, so this is how I have to travel every time,” Bon explained. “I used to buy two or three seats, so I started a campaign requesting bigger seats, and they didn’t like it. Now flying private jet is my only solution.”
Bon highlighted her comfort aboard a private jet, showcasing the plane’s spacious interior, including a “VIP” bathroom where she can easily freshen up.
While showing off the luxurious amenities, she admitted with a laugh: “I’m not sure I’m going to fit in this [toilet], but we’ll see.”
During her 10-hour private flight, Bon enjoyed what she described as a “perfect, healthy snack” – a chicken wrap, salad, and fruit. She also took a restful three-hour nap, saying she “slept like a queen.”
Reflecting on her new mode of travel, Bon stated that private flights have been “the best thing that has happened” since her alleged airline ban.
“Is flying private the solution for big girls like me?” she asked her followers.
Naturally, people had a lot to say.
“You are not banned. They just told you if you wanted two seats that you had to pay for the second seat,” one person said.
A second added: “Who else’s fault is it? No one forced you to get the surgeries.”
However, there were also people who supported Bon.
One person said: “Go girl have fun do your thing you are living way better and look 100 times better than a lot of your haters.”
Bon also caused a debate earlier this year when she accused people of “body shaming” her at Disneyland.
In the video post, Bon described how she felt singled out because of her body shape. “I was body-shamed during my trip to Disneyland – people wouldn’t stop staring at my curvy body, but it’s what makes me unique,” she wrote. “It’s time to stop body-shaming. We’re all different shapes and sizes, and that’s what makes us unique.”
The video shows Bon attracting unwanted attention as she moved through the park.
In her caption, she shared her frustration over the behavior she observed, saying: “I was at Disneyland today, I wanted to have fun with my siblings, but our day was ruined by all the people making fun of the size of my body. The worst part is that they teach their kids to do the same.”
Bon explained that the body-shaming persisted throughout the day, stating, “They kept taking photos of me, they gave me bad looks all the time, or just kept laughing at me.”
She also addressed critics who may question her account. “I know you may think that I am exaggerating and that it’s my fault for being a big girl, but this is literally what God gave me, and I have to embrace every single part of me,” Bon wrote, adding, “Even if you have a condition or you look different, you shouldn’t be bullied for the way you look.”
Bon ended her message with a call for respect: “I would never talk negatively about someone else’s appearance. Respect is key. This should be a safe space where everyone feels comfortable, and I wasn’t doing anything, just existing. At the end of the day, I just wanted to have fun like everyone else. If you don’t like something, stop hating and keep it to yourself.”