I’m plus-size and face rude comments and rejection when I travel – but a European country was ‘obsessed’ with me
A PLUS-SIZE beauty with a travel bug has given her take on globe-trotting with curves.
She said one particular destination gave her a warm welcome, while another left her with a bad taste in her mouth.
Soraya Orelien, 31, spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun about her trips around the world — to the tune of over 15 countries and counting.
She said that her hourglass figure is nothing new to her, and she was always on the voluptuous side.
"I've always had a curvy body, athletic body build," she said.
Orelien said that as an adolescent, she didn't feel like she stood out, but she decided to take her own path.
"Growing up, I was never considered a pretty girl or a cool girl or a popular girl. I was always just someone."
COME FLY WITH ME
Things changed for Orelian when she decided to dive straight into influencing and even gave insight into traveling as a plus-size woman.
She said that one destination in particular did not give her a warm welcome.
"When I went to Japan a couple months ago, it was a challenge being curvy because the seats are smaller," she said.
"At times I would be sitting on top of the next person because there is no room — and I know the person next to me was really uncomfortable.
"And they actually said something to me in regards to me taking up more space.
"And I was like, 'Well, I apologize that the seats are small.'
"What I could do was try to switch myself around, but I can't do much.
"Either we're going to thug it out or you can move because I'm not moving — plain and simple."
You know what? I do weigh 230 and I look damn good.
Soraya Orelien
She said that her uncomfortable situations weren't just in Japan, but also in a popular spring break tourist destination.
"[In] Mexico, I wasn't able to do certain activities because of my weight. I exceeded the weight expectation," she said.
"At first it would hurt my feelings because I'm like, here we go again.
"Once again I can't do something because I weigh 230 pounds. All right. Whatever.
"But also I'm like, 'You know what? I do weigh 230 and I look damn good. Therefore, I don't care, it ain't that deep."
She said she takes a special approach to handling negative situations while traveling.
When the excursion tour guide said I could not zip line over the water, I got rejected.
Soraya Orelien
"Being rejected, on the first instinct, you're going to feel the rejection, but it's how you handle it," she said.
"So when the excursion tour guide said I could not zip line over the water, I got rejected.
"But then I was like, you know what? This gives me time to relax, because I'm tired anyway and I can't even swim. So what am I even doing here?"
PRETTY AS APHRODITE
Orelien shared that a certain Mediterranean gem has been a highlight in her travels.
"They love thick women, they love chocolate women, they love women who are curvy. And I felt loved and appreciated and seen."
Soraya Orelien
When I went to Greece, oh my gosh, they were obsessed with me," she said.
"They love thick women, they love chocolate women, they love women who are curvy. And I felt loved and appreciated and seen."
She said that the experience in the historically and culturally rich land left her with some pep in her step.
"I was like, 'OK, wait a minute, I love it here.'"
"And even sometimes with other countries, when they first see me, they're like, 'Oh my gosh, you're beautiful'
"Or 'you're curvy' or 'oh my, the way you dress, the way you smell,' because I come with the whole experience, I am an experience."
NO SHAME
Orelien added that traveling is not always all margaritas and good times — sometimes she faces discrimination.
"I have experienced people shaming me, body shaming me, or being mean to me because I'm black, because I'm dark-skinned, because I'm a woman," she said.
"I'm bald-headed as well. I'm a baldie. So, I've had that."
But she added that she doesn't let it get to her, because the good outweighs the bad.
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"I've also had experiences where I am loved and appreciated and seen," she said.
"So, I don't let those negative experiences because there's not a lot of it. I don't let those negative experiences trump myself."
