Paige VanZant promises to display more authenticity on social media after receiving body-shaming comments, stating that she has gained weight but also found happiness in the process.
Paige VanZant, a 29-year-old UFC and BKFC veteran, recently promised to show more authenticity on her social media channels after receiving a barrage of body-shaming comments online. VanZant took to Instagram to address the issue, stating that she’s been good at presenting her “best self” and the “prettiest” side of her, but not her true self. Acknowledging the weight gain she’s experienced recently, VanZant also highlighted her increased strength, power, muscle, and happiness. She reminded her followers that “happy people ain’t haters and haters ain’t happy,” promising to be more open about all aspects of herself going forward.
VanZant exited the UFC in 2020 and later signed a lucrative deal with BKFC, where she entered the world of bare-knuckle competition. Unfortunately, she lost her first two fights, suffering decisions against Britain Hart, the current BKFC strawweight champion, and Rachael Ostovich in 2021. She was set to compete again in August, but her bout with Charisa Sigala was cancelled last-minute, and she has not been rescheduled to compete since.
In the meantime, VanZant has been focusing on her online presence, launching a personal website and an OnlyFans page where fans can subscribe to access exclusive content. She’s stated in interviews that she’s earned far more from these online ventures than from her fighting career, but she still has plans to compete in the future. VanZant expressed that continuing to compete is driven by a desire for continued success, drawing comparisons to athletes like LeBron James and Tom Brady who keep playing despite not needing the money. For VanZant, her drive to compete is simply “in her blood.”