Ohio-based fitness influencer and self-proclaimed body positivity advocate Mikayla Zazon (better known to her 1 million+ followers as @mikzazon) is facing intense backlash this week after a series of emotional posts lamenting a recent 15-pound weight gain. The problem is that Zazon’s brand is built on promoting self-love at every size. Critics are calling her recent breakdowns not just tone-deaf but totally hypocritical.
The controversy erupted on Reddit’s r/gymsnark forum, where users were quick to point out the disconnect between Zazon’s body-positive messaging and her clear distress over a body that, by most standards, still fits neatly within “straight-size” fashion.
“Wild to see someone profit off being in a ‘bigger body’ now crying about gaining 15 lbs and still being a size medium,” one of the top comments reads, garnering over 300 upvotes.
Zazon, who has publicly discussed recovering from eating disorders and overcoming body image struggles, has built a career around embracing imperfection and rejecting conventional beauty standards. But according to critics, her recent content –which includes shirt-lifting body checks, tearful videos, and complaints about being “uncomfortable” in her skin– suggests a return to old habits, both personally and professionally.
“Like STFU, you’re still skinny lmao,” wrote one user. “What a betrayal to everyone who followed her back then and saw her embracing her size and weight gain. Every single thing about this woman is a scam and a fraud and she will exploit it for views.”
Others pointed out the broader harm of Zazon’s messaging, especially for followers genuinely navigating recovery.
“She sells a health app and she’s a grifter,” one poster claimed. “She capitalized on her weight gain and used it to gain a following. Now she’s spiraling over normal fluctuations.”
Another commenter summed it up bluntly: “She promotes loving your body but only loves hers when it’s small.”
Zazon has yet to directly respond to the Reddit criticism, though she has recently addressed feeling “triggered” by weight loss content on her explore page, a point that didn’t go unnoticed by skeptics.
“It’s so hypocritical when she talks about her explore page being ‘triggering’… when that is very similar to the content she posts,” one user noted. “Bodies changing are a part of life. I’d rather see her not act like it’s the end of the world, because it really isn’t.”
Some defenders argue that Zazon, like anyone else, is allowed to struggle with body image and express discomfort, even if her body remains within societal norms. But the larger issue seems to be a lack of transparency.
“She doesn’t have to be bigger to be body positive,” one commenter clarified. “She’s just exploitative and not genuine. If she was honest that she preferred being smaller, this wouldn’t be an issue.”
The line between inspiration and contradiction is a precarious one in influencer culture, and for Mikayla Zazon, that balance appears to be unraveling. As the discourse continues, one thing is clear: authenticity in the wellness space isn’t just expected… it’s demanded.
For an influencer whose motto is “this body is deserving of love,” critics are asking: Which body, exactly?
