Megan Stier has achieved a remarkable transformation, dropping six dress sizes from size 18 to size 6. Despite this significant weight loss, she refuses to share her “before” photos.
The actress, based in New York, often shares insights about things she wished she had known before losing weight and compares how she was treated then versus now. However, she never discusses her weight loss methods, past weight or shares images. Stier, 27, explained to Newsweek her reasons for this discretion.
“The before photos remind me of a time I was mentally unhealthy,” she said. “I don’t want to see a reminder of that time and I often highly edited/photoshopped my photos and I don’t want to show an unreal expectation on the internet for others.
“For me, the value isn’t in the weight loss; it’s in respecting human beings and valuing the person over physical appearance.”
This approach is almost unheard of, especially on social media where there are 8.6 million posts tagged #weightloss on TikTok. Many users treat their platforms as online diaries to showcase their progress, inspire others and maintain accountability. However, a study by Asics, reported by The Daily Mirror, found that 70 percent of 2,000 British adults feel that weight loss content on social media does not motivate them to exercise.
A study by the National Center for Health Statistics found that nearly half of U.S. adults tried to lose weight in recent years, with the majority employing multiple methods such as exercising and dietary changes. This reflects a broader societal trend toward prioritizing health and well-being over mere aesthetic changes.
Stier’s decision highlights a shift in perspective on weight loss and body image. Instead of focusing on the physical changes, she emphasizes the importance of inner values and self-respect. Her approach resonates in an age when social media often amplifies superficial aspects of transformations, potentially overshadowing the deeper, more significant personal growth.
In another video shared last year, she can be seen wearing a baggy T-shirt as a dress while responding to a comment from a user who asked to see her transformation. She pointed out that she isn’t ashamed of her before photos. Instead, it’s because she knows people will praise her, but she has worked hard to not make her self-worth based on her looks.
“I’ve worked really hard to have a great career and happy life and a good set of friends and that’s what I want people celebrating right now,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with sharing before and after photos. There’s also nothing wrong with not sharing them.”
Stier told Newsweek: “As a performer, we do a lot of dancing, and I would often be told I can sit it out—despite being capable when larger. Now I am involved, it’s strange. Losing weight is a double-edged sword, I am grateful that I can do all of these things but angry that it took me losing weight to be valued as a person.”
Skinny Privilege
Skinny privilege refers to the societal advantage people who have lost weight experience, receiving preferential treatment compared to those who haven’t, according to Real Research, a blockchain-based research tool.
Stier explained that she was an athlete as a teenager but suffered from a brain injury when she was 17. She told Newsweek that she gained “a lot of weight” because of all the down time and began her adult life as a plus-size woman.
She said: “People dismissing and disrespecting me was all I ever knew. I thought that’s just how it is.” But after four years of losing weight and achieving her size six frame in 2022, she has noticed not only a change in her appearance but in how other people treat her.
Bringing attention to societal biases, Stier told Newsweek: “Skinny privilege has been a big thing for me—there’s a lot of plus size speaking about it, but no one takes it seriously. I wanted to shed a different light on it.”
She explained how her interactions have changed since her weight loss.
“It’s the little things like people will make eye contact with me now or suddenly my opinion is valued in the workspace,” she said.
In a survey conducted by Real Research, 57 percent of 10,000 respondents said that skinny privilege is harmful to a select group, while 43 percent said it affects everyone. Additionally, 40 percent believed skinny privilege is a problem on par with racism.
In another TikTok video, Stier shared a topic that nobody talks about—feeling guilty for losing weight. During the clip that has 22,800 views, she highlights how feelings of guilt continue to “creep” into her life as she sometimes feels like she has let down the plus-size community.
She stresses that she doesn’t want plus-size people to feel like she is better than them because she has lost weight.
“No one ever talks about this because we’re constantly told that losing weight is something that we should be proud of, and it can be but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come along with other emotions as well,” she said.
Her feelings are echoed in the comment section, where one user said: “I lost 75 pounds and I hate it when anyone mentions it. Guilt? Embarrassment? I don’t know.”
Her insights into the struggles faced by women of all sizes underscore a pervasive issue.
“I was in a show and a lot of women,” she said. “They were going through the same struggle, even the smaller ones, weird stigma around weight. People believe the smaller they are, the more valued they are. So many women have gone through similar things, no matter what their size.”
Stier’s journey and her refusal to share before photos challenge societal norms and encourage a more holistic view of health and self-worth. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that true value lies beyond physical appearance, in the respect and dignity afforded to every individual.
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