Who doesn’t love curves for days? What’s sexier than a woman who’s proud of her body and has the confidence to show it off? If that sounds awesome to you, then a big-beautiful-woman, or BBW, is just the lady you’re looking for. Larger women can be fun-loving, vivacious, and have self-confidence to spare. If you have a picture in your mind of who you’re looking for, and a curvy kitten fits the bill, we’re here to help you find her.
In this guide, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about BBW dating. We’ll share what BBW means, how to find a BBW woman, and some additional resources to help you understand this form of dating.
What Does BBW Mean?
BBW is an acronym that stands for Big Beautiful Women. It’s a phrase that refers to women (usually single women) who are proud of their bodies and embrace their larger size when dating. The BBW movement works in direct opposition to some of the themes pushed by the media that women should be unhappy with the way that they look. For many BBWs, it’s a way to feel comfortable in their own skin and gain the confidence needed to find love.
The BBW movement has not come without some controversy, though. Many, including some in the medical community, feel that embracing the BBW lifestyle may be unhealthy in regards to the health risks of being overweight.
We’re not here to judge, though! We just want to share all the aspects of what it means to be BBW to offer the most complete definition and information possible.
What is considered BBW?
To be considered BBW, you just have to meet the three requirements in the name. Here are our thoughts on what classifies as a BBW based on those components.
- Big – Generally, this refers to anyone that is not skinny. How big is BBW? That’s really up to you and how you feel. For some people, a BBW counts as a women who is curvy. For others, a woman would need to be significantly larger to classify.
- Beautiful – Again, this falls on the “eye of the beholder.” If you’re trying to see if you’re a BBW and you feel beautiful, you meet the criteria with flying colors! If it’s for another woman you’re interested in, if you find her attractive (and beautiful), she qualifies.
- Woman – Generally, the BBW term is just for women. The male equivalent of BBW is usually “BBW Guy’ or a BHM – Big Handsome Man.
How to Date a Big Beautiful Woman – Finding Single BBWs
If you’re seeking to date exclusively Big, Beautiful Women, it may be a challenge to meet new dates out and about. That doesn’t mean meeting a BBW who catches your eye will never happen in your day to day life, but there’s no “surefire” way to meet a Big Beautiful Woman by happenstance.
If you’re in a larger city, there may be group meet-ups or speed dating events tailored toward meeting BBWs, but if you’re not in a large city with a large population of single BBWs, you may have to try going online.
The better way in these situations to have success usually involves using a dating site or app that will connect you with plenty of single sexy, curvy women looking for someone who loves them for who they are. This could mean a site specifically for BBWs, or it could mean setting search filters for the curviest of curvy. While there’s more to a woman than just her body, a picture is worth a thousand words, and her profile pics will immediately let you know if she’s your kind of woman.
Here are a few of our favorite options for finding BBW women in your area, as well as some other options for you to try.
- BBW-focused online dating sites
- Top mainstream dating apps
- Local meet-up groups
- Volunteer opportunities
- Religious gatherings (if you’re looking for a faith-focused relationship)
- Fitness classes or the gym
| Rank | Site | Free Trial Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | eHarmony | Free Trial |  |
| #2 | Zoosk | Free Trial |  |
| #3 | Large Friends | Free Trial |  |
| #4 | WooPlus | Free Trial |  |
| #5 | Christian Mingle | Free Trial |  |
For You: The Best Dating Apps for BBW
Reviews of BBW Dating Apps
Curious why we’re so big on these particular BBW dating apps? We got you! In order to reach these rankings, we conduct a lot of reviews and analysis of the options that are available. If you’d like to see more information on these updated reviews, here are some links to get you started.
What BBW Dating Online is Really Like
If you’re completely brand new to online dating, that’s exciting! Having the courage to step out of your comfort zone and try something new really shows an awesome side of you.
But if this really is your first time (or first time in a while), you may be wondering what online dating in the BBW community is really like. Is it an accepting community? Is it fun? What can I expect?
All great questions! Here are some of the most important things you should know before you give things a try. Remember, everyone’s experience will be different, but these are some good general thoughts that are pretty consistent across the board.
People Are Accepting…But Not Everyone
Most of the people you interact with when dating online are going to be awesome. Sure, not every one of them is going to be into you (and you’re not going to be into all of them). But most of them are going to be friendly, respectful adults.
That being said, not everyone in the world is a nice person. There are some people out there (online and in-person) who are just crummy people with low self-esteem that only build themselves up by tearing other people down.
Are you going to run into anyone like this when dating online as a curvy women or man? We hope not. But it’s possible. Here’s the great part, though. In-person, you’re limited with your options. Online? You’ve got options. You can block them completely or you can even report them and get them kicked off the dating app!
Online dating apps (BBW or not) only survive if they look out for their people. This means protecting you and the other singles out there from the few jerks who just can’t seem to figure out how to be a nice person. It’s really nice to know you have someone in your corner that has your back!
There Are People of All Shapes and Sizes
A few of the BBW dating sites we’ve recommended are 100% dedicated to curvy singles. And while that’s really nice, those options do have fewer people because they’re niche-focused. But we’ve also included some mainstream dating apps.
And, as you might expect, these sites have people of all shapes and sizes! What does this mean for you? A few things…
- You may find non-curvy singles who are interested in dating you.
- You may find non-curvy singles who aren’t interested in dating you.
- You may find curvy singles who are interested in dating you.
- You may find curvy singles who are not interested in dating you.
See what we did there? You’re not only going to find singles of all different shapes and sizes, but you’re also going to find singles who are looking for all different kinds of people.
Embrace that! Enjoy that! And don’t get upset if someone you talk to isn’t into you. What’s really nice about the BBW dating sites we’ve recommended is that they have algorithms where people can put in their preferences, how important those preferences are, and what they’re looking for in a partner (both body-focused and personality-focused). This means that the sites will do a lot to help match you up with singles men and women who are looking for someone just like you.
Top Tips for Dating a BBW
Be as proud of her body as she is.
You’re interested in Big, Beautiful Women because of those gorgeous curves. Don’t let anyone else’s tastes keep you from treating your BBW like the treasure she is.
Don’t Make it All About Weight
While it’s amazing to support your girl and let her know that she looks great, don’t make it all about her weight and her body all the time. Remember, she’s a woman and deserves the emotional support and everything else that comes with the relationship. If you’re struggling not to focus on just her body, that’s an unhealthy relationship. Either you’re a fetishist, or you’re someone that needs to focus on what’s on the inside a little bit more.
Looking for someone to lose weight with? Move along.
Nothing is a bigger turn-off than someone who wants to change a person. If she loves the way she looks, you should too.
Support her goals.
You may have an itch to see your love looking even curvier. If she’d like that too, support her in finding that perfect curve. If she’d like to define her muscle a little bit, that’s fine too—It’s her choice, not yours.
Tips for Meeting BBW Singles
So, you’ve decided to get back out there—awesome! While we’ve shown you some really cool dating sites and places to meet singles, we wanted to go a step further to help. We want to give you some tips for BBW dating to help you succeed and find what you’re looking for.
Know What You’re Looking For
Are you looking for another curvy single or are you open to someone of any shape or size? What type of personality are you looking for? What sort of goals does your ideal man or woman have? What do they like to do? The more you can dial in on what you’re looking for, the better your online dating journey is going to be.
Take a few minutes before you begin your search to write down what your wants are and what your needs are. It’s way easier to find what you’re looking for when you know where you’re going.
Consider Giving Online Dating a Try
Online dating has come so far in the over two decades since it began! It’s helped millions of people of all shapes and sizes meet someone special. We’d encourage you to take a chance and try something new, especially if you haven’t been having much luck in other realms. You might be surprised how much it helps.
Be Confident in Who You Are
Confidence is sexy. Be confident in who you are and what makes you—you. If this is something you’re working on, great. It’s okay if it’s a work in progress. Just make sure you’re not looking for a man or a woman to make you feel good about yourself. Be happy with yourself first, and then look for someone to compliment that. If you get those out of order, you may be setting yourself up for a tough time.
Don’t Try and Mislead Anyone
It may be tempting for some people to try and mislead people (especially online) with how you look. No matter what, never do this. First, it goes against what we just talked about (being confident in who you are). Second, it’s not fair to the other person. There are plenty of single men and women out there who are going to love you for who you are. Be patient, and be who you are.
Pros of Dating a BBW
- Dating a confident woman. – There’s so much societal pressure for women to be slim, muscular, and in traditional supermodel mode. We all know that there’s more than one shape that’s beautiful, and dating a woman who calls herself a BBW is a surefire way to find a woman who knows her curves are beautiful. Big, Beautiful Woman is a compliment, and she won’t waste her time with anyone who doesn’t understand that.
- Know she’ll accept you for who you are, too – Women have a type, too, and she’ll know from the start whether you’re her physical type or not. Just as she’s proud of her body, she’ll likely expect that you’re proud of your own. Be yourself, and let the sparks fly.
- You may find it easier to get comfortable – If you’re dating a BBW, she knows who she is. There’s no need to talk around it. While she’s not everyone’s type, she knows off the bat she’s your type, so there’s no need for an icebreaker there.
- Let’s face it—she’s gorgeous! – Looks aren’t everything, but if you’re looking for BBWs to date, you like a curvy woman. There’s no need to “settle” for a skinnier woman when there are BBW stunners to catch your eye.
Challenges of Dating a BBW
- BBWs are hard to find – Outside of a large city, it may be tough to find your curvy dream date living nearby. Even so, you two may not hit it off. This is where a good dating site or app comes in handy—it’s never bad to have choices.
- Some people just won’t get it – Some people are so locked in to society’s expectations that some of your friends might not understand the appeal of dating a BBW. Ignore them! They’ve got their type, and you’ve got yours.
- It can be hard not to fetishize – You love curvy, confident women, but it doesn’t stop there. If you want a relationship to last, make sure you want to know the woman inside the body, too.
- Know she’s got plenty of suitors – Chances are you’re not the only potential date your BBW can meet. She knows she’s beautiful, and she knows there are plenty of fish in the sea. Treat her with respect or she’ll cast her fishing rod again.
BBW Statistics
Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of publicized studies or stats about the BBW dating community or industry as a whole. That being said, we did find some statistics and trends that we do think are pertinent. These should help you get a decent idea about how the industry operates as a whole and what opportunities are out there for singles looing for BBW dating.
- 69% of adults in the United States are in the overweight or obese category. With roughly 166.7 million females in the U.S., that means that there are about 115.0 million women who fall into that category.
- According to the most recent Census, 52% of women in the U.S. are single (not married). That means we can estimate that there are about 59.8 million BBW women in the U.S.
- Based on the aggregation of recent Google Trends Data from the past 12 months, online search traffic and interest for BBW dating is most popular in the state of Nebraska. The full top-10 list is included here:
- 1. Nebraska
- 2. Illinois
- 3. Michigan
- 4. Oregon
- 5. Tennessee
- 6. North Carolina
- 7. Virginia
- 8. Ohio
- 9. California
- 10. Massachusetts
- Based on a 2016 survey by the plus-sized dating app WooPlus, 71% of the women poled reported that they had been harassed about their body on regular mainstream dating apps.
FAQ for Dating a BBW
Why do mean like BBWs?
Who do men like anything? Why does anyone like anything? It’s because it’s something that they enjoy or find attractive. Many men love the concept of more to love and find that larger women are what they are more attracted to.
Is it okay for me to comment on my date’s body?
Feel free to let her know you think she’s gorgeous, but be a gentleman. Leave the dirty talk for later—if you get to that point. There’s no need to be crass, even if you think you’re being complimentary.
Will she mind if I’m a little on the larger side, too?
Maybe, maybe not. You have a type, and she does too. You won’t know until you meet. Plenty of women, BBWs and otherwise, care more about brains than brawn, but just she’s big and beautiful doesn’t mean that’s her type, too.
What do I say to my friends who don’t “get it?”
Nothing. She may not be their type, but that’s not what matters—BBWs are your type. If your friends are so shallow that they can’t get past a curvy figure, they’re probably not friends worth your time.
What’s the best place for a first date with a Big Beautiful Woman?
Any place you’d go on any other first date! There can be a misconception that BBWs are food-obsessed, but that’s not always the case, and she’s got other interests, too. If you’ve been chatting in advance, you know her hobbies and interests. Plan accordingly.