-- Bustr, the leading BBW (Big Beautiful Women) dating app for plus-size, curvy and chubby singles and the people who admire them, today released its 11th Anniversary User Ecosystem Trends Report as the platform approaches 11 years since its 2015 launch. The report finds that women now initiate 68% of chats and matches on the platform, a sign of a broader shift in how plus-size singles approach dating: from waiting to be chosen to choosing for themselves.
As of Q3 2026, Bustr has more than 13 million registered users worldwide. Members have made more than 500 million matches and had over 80 million in-depth interactions on the platform, and Bustr has helped bring about more than 3 million offline dates and long-term relationships. Ahead of its anniversary, Bustr is also launching limited-time perks for new and existing members, including a free month of Premium membership and 11 weeks of Super Boost visibility.
Women Take the Lead, and Their Conversations Go Further
More than the platform’s scale, the report’s most notable finding is a deeper change in online dating culture. Women now start 68% of chats and matches on Bustr, up sharply from the platform’s early days after its 2015 launch. Conversations started by women are also about 17% more likely than those started by men to grow into in-depth exchanges and offline dates, which makes matches more genuine and connections more efficient.
The data suggests that a dedicated community free of body anxiety is giving plus-size and curvy women real control over how relationships begin, moving them out of the passive role they are too often cast in on conventional dating platforms.
From Being Chosen to Choosing
On conventional dating apps, plus-size and curvy women often find themselves waiting to be noticed, or wrestling with body anxiety fueled by narrow beauty standards. Bustr’s latest data points to a fundamental change in mindset among today’s plus-size daters. They no longer look for others’ tolerance or permission for their bodies, and they do not feel they must champion body positivity from a defensive or insecure place. Instead, with a clear sense of self and real confidence, they choose partners based on genuine attraction, relationship goals and personal preference.
“Plus-size singles used to spend a great deal of energy looking for a needle in a haystack among circles that weren’t the right fit. Today, women are increasingly going straight to a community that naturally appreciates them and connecting with people who truly suit them,” said a community behavior analyst cited in the report.
In Their Stories: Dating Where Attraction Runs Both Ways
That shift in who holds the power shows up in members’ own dating stories.
Hannah (a pseudonym), 31, of New York, said: “Before Bustr, I used to pick my most flattering photo and angle and compete with women with ‘perfect’ bodies, hoping for more likes and matches. On Bustr, for the first time, I’m truly in charge of my own dating story. I don’t have to prove my appeal to anyone. I get to decide who meets my standards.”
Marcus (a pseudonym), 29, of London, said: “The conversations here are efficient and candid. I’ve always preferred fuller-figured women, so I really enjoy being chosen and admired by the type of woman I’m drawn to. That kind of mutual fit lets a relationship start with honesty, and it makes dating a lot more efficient.”
From Safe Haven to Movement: What Comes Next
For Bustr, helping plus-size and curvy women move from being chosen to choosing has meant more than changing how millions of people date. It also contributes to broader appreciation of diverse body types and to a stronger sense of agency for women.
“Nearly 11 years ago, Bustr was founded to give plus-size people a safe haven from bias and body anxiety. Today, it has grown into a movement that empowers women to take charge of their own love lives,” said Kevin, Product Manager at Bustr, in a statement ahead of the anniversary. “As we head into our 11th anniversary, we will keep investing in technology and product innovation and deepen our localized operations in key markets such as North America and Europe, so that more plus-size women and the people who admire them can connect in a way that is safe, equal and high-quality.”
Anniversary Perks: One Month of Premium and 11 Weeks of Super Boost
Ahead of its 11th anniversary, Bustr is offering limited-time perks to encourage more singles and admirers to experience the freedom of dating without bias and on their own terms:
- New members: Download Bustr after reading this announcement and send “Happy 11th Anniversary, Bustr!” through the in-app feedback feature to receive one month of Premium membership.
- Existing members: Share Bustr’s anniversary content on social media and keep it posted for at least three days to receive one month of Premium membership.
- Inviting friends: Members who successfully invite friends to sign up also receive 11 weeks of Super Boost visibility, plus an icebreaker gift pack.
The offers are Bustr’s way of thanking its community and encouraging more genuine interaction and connection.
About Bustr
Founded in 2015, Bustr is the world’s largest BBW dating app, built for plus-size, curvy and chubby singles, including BBW and BHM, and the people who admire them. It rests on a simple belief: every member deserves to be seen, valued and in charge of their own dating story. That belief has grown Bustr into a community of more than 13 million registered users across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and beyond. Through innovative matching technology and active community moderation, Bustr continues to promote greater diversity in beauty standards and a more inclusive, equitable approach to social connection worldwide.
Get Bustr
Click here to download Bustr from the Apple App Store. Click here to download Bustr from Google Play.
Contact Info:
Name: Freyja
Email: Send Email
Organization: GoMatch Limited
Website: https://www.bbwdatingapp.net/
Release ID: 89205381
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