One size doesn’t fit all for influencer Krystal Hall

COURTESY KRYSTAL HALL

Krystal Hall, a plus-size influencer from Charlotte, has opted to undergo gastric surgery to slim down. “I will miss some parts of it just because I was telling someone the other day that I built my brand off my size, you know?” she said.

Krystal Hall doesn’t want to be size 18 anymore.

An advocate for the plus-size community since 2016, with over 29,000 followers on her Instagram page (@thekrystalhall) Hall plans on having gastric sleeve surgery in December.

“I will miss some parts of it just because I was telling someone the other day that I built my brand off my size, you know?” Hall said. “However, I feel like no one ever stays the same totally. Some people do, don’t get me wrong but I feel like wanting change is OK and this is a change that will really be great for me.”

According to verywellhealth.com, gastric sleeve surgery is a weight loss procedure that surgically removes approximately 80% of the stomach. The stomach then cannot hold as much food resulting in loss of fatigue, an improved metabolism and better blood pressure. Patients are put on a liquid diet and slowly work their way back to solid foods post-surgery.

Hall, 25, doesn’t know how much weight she’ll lose but 90% of patients lose half their weight. Ideally, she would like to remain on the curvier side and represent the new “mid-size” genre of influences, ranging from sizes 10-12.

There was anticipation for the past six months, but Hall has decided it would be best to follow through with the procedure while she is still young and active. How a person sustains their health afterwards accounts for much of the long-term results.

“I will say, because being a plus-sized influencer is its own community I feel like I was more exclusive due to building my brand off that and now when I lose weight, I’m like, ‘dang, I’m kind of going to be just a regular girl,’ but no I’m not. I’m still going to be Krystal Hall,” she said.

“I’m still going to do the things I like and love and I’m still going to build my platform and keep my platform. It’s just going to be a little bit different now.”

Hall’s mother, a nurse, had a successful full gastric bypass prior to Hall’s first consultation which brings her comfort that she will be in good hands while she recovers. Neither surgery contain a high risk of death, but every surgery has its concerns. Verywellhealth.com states gastric bypass is thought to be more complex, involving multiple steps such as stapling the stomach, creating a small upper pouch and blocking off the lower portion.

Gastric bypass surgery is associated with more risks as well. Side effects may include bowel obstruction, stomach ulcers, and dumping syndrome. Verywellhealth describes dumping syndrome as a sick feeling after eating due to improper digestion. 

Courage and confidence

Hall advises anyone considering weight loss surgery to have a heart to heart with themselves and whomever one’s higher power may be. The surgery doesn’t mean a lack of self-love or confidence. The decision comes down to an individual and personal goals.

“I appreciate you guys for saying you love my size, being supportive and just letting me know you’re in my corner but this is a decision I made,” she said. “This is my body, and this is a change that I see fit for myself. If you’re going to support, do that but I don’t need to hear, ‘oh I love your size.’

“You might, but what if I didn’t? Why can’t I want to make that change?”

Hall’s confidence was learned through a process of difficult challenges. The validation from others, to be seen, heard, and recognized commonly results in instant gratification to Gen Z individuals, especially via the internet.

But people online can be cruel. Negative comments began when Hall’s platform gained viral recognition – often referring to her weight and comparing her to large animals. Through it all Hall kept her head high.  

“When it comes to the plus sized community, we can do everything just like everyone else and we can do it damn good,” she said. “Our weight doesn’t inhibit us from doing things and it shouldn’t and so starting my platform, continuing to grow my platform and not lose faith in my platform I would say has been one of my best journeys of life so far. Just putting it on for our community, that’s the goal, and making people mad that don’t like our community because there are people that despise people of our size.”

Ultimately, it was the love and support of her followers that gave her the ammunition to keep going. She wanted to prove that she was more than capable of achieving anything she wanted to, not naysayers but herself and everybody else, especially like-bodied people.

“It takes a lot of courage,” Hall said. “Being a face for the plus-size community, not only are you putting on for people who are like you and who endure some of the same things as you but also, you’re setting yourself apart from everyone else which makes it hard as well sometimes. You’re trying to show people why you are different, why you deserve to be in set spaces that weren’t created with you in mind.”  

Hall believes losing weight will open opportunities for more brand deals. The fashion industry often caters exclusively to smaller sizes. Companies that have reached out to her could not be worked with due to their not providing anything above a size XXL, or XL for that matter.

“As I continue to grow, I’ve learned it’s cool to get that validation and seek others’ opinions, but you really have to ultimately love yourself first and love what you’re doing and know why you’re doing it and then you will be able to move forward and it makes everything so much easier whether you have the validation or not,” Hall said .

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