Before the viral "realistic hauls" and the red-carpet appearances, Remi Bader was just another New Yorker trying to figure out why her career wasn't looking anything like the vision board she’d built in college. Most people think she just woke up one day, posted a TikTok of a dress that didn’t fit, and became a household name overnight.
Honestly? That’s not how it happened at all.
The story of Remi Bader before the 2.2 million followers is actually a lot more relatable—and a lot more corporate—than you’d think. It wasn't about lighting or filters; it was about a girl who got laid off from her "dream" job and felt like she was failing at the one thing she was actually trained to do.
The Corporate Grind You Didn't See
Before she was the "queen of realistic hauls," Remi was deep in the world of high-pressure PR and marketing. She didn't start out wanting to be a model or a content creator. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in Interpersonal Communications, she had her sights set on the business side of fashion and entertainment.
She interned everywhere. Since 11th grade, she was the girl fetching coffee and drafting press releases. Her first "real" adult job was on the PR team at Bravo TV, working as an executive assistant. Imagine being in the room where the Real Housewives magic is managed, but you're the one behind the scenes doing the heavy lifting.
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After Bravo, she moved over to TIDAL—Jay-Z's music streaming service—where she worked in partnership marketing for over a year. She actually loved it. She thought she’d found her lane. But then, July 2020 happened.
The Pandemic Pivot That Changed Everything
Like millions of other people during the COVID-19 pandemic, Remi was let go. Suddenly, the career path she’d spent years building was gone. She was 25, living back at home, and felt completely lost.
She’s been very open about the fact that she didn't know what to do with herself. Her dad was actually the one who suggested she try curve modeling. At first, she thought it was a long shot, but she ended up signing with Stetts Models. Even then, things were slow. The world was still shut down, and there weren't many gigs.
TikTok started as a way to pass the time. It wasn't a business strategy. It was just Remi, in her room, being funny for her friends.
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The turning point came when she ordered a package of clothes from a popular brand, and nothing fit. Instead of crying about it (well, maybe a little), she filmed herself trying on the clothes and being brutally honest about how they actually looked on a size 14/16 body. She sent the videos to her friends first. They told her she had to post them.
That one decision—to be "too much" on the internet—is what ended the era of Remi Bader before she was famous.
The Physical Toll and the Medical Reality
As her fame grew, so did the scrutiny on her body. It’s easy to look at her now, in 2026, and forget how much she struggled behind the scenes during her rise. While she was becoming the face of "body neutrality," her health was actually in a pretty scary place.
By 2023, the humor in her videos was masking some serious physical pain. She’s since revealed that she was dealing with:
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- Pre-diabetes and insulin resistance.
- Chronic back and knee pain that made it hard to even stand for long periods.
- Severe Binge Eating Disorder (BED) that she’d been battling since 2019.
People love to debate "Remi Bader before and after" her weight loss, but the reality is much more complicated than a diet. She tried everything first. She was on Ozempic for a while but has been candid about how it made her projectile vomit and eventually led to her gaining "double the weight back" once she stopped.
She eventually opted for a SADI-S bariatric surgery in December 2023—a major procedure that involved removing about 80% of her stomach. It wasn't a "cheat code." She’s described the recovery as one of the darkest times of her life.
Why the "Before" Still Matters
What people get wrong about Remi is thinking that she "abandoned" the body-positive community by changing her size. If you listen to her now, she’s still the same girl who worked at TIDAL and cried over a dress that wouldn't zip.
She’s just a version of that girl who decided her survival was more important than being a "martyr" for a specific clothing size.
Actionable Insights from Remi's Journey
- Career pivots are rarely planned: If you're feeling stuck or have been laid off, remember that Remi's entire "empire" was built on the ruins of her corporate PR career. Sometimes the "wrong" turn is the one that gets you where you need to go.
- Health is a private battle with a public face: Remi’s experience with GLP-1 medications and surgery proves that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for metabolic health. If you're navigating similar issues, work with a specialist who understands the "brain-gut" connection, not just the number on the scale.
- Vulnerability is a double-edged sword: Remi taught us that you can build a massive community by being open, but you also have to set boundaries. It's okay to change your mind about how much of your life you want to share online.
The version of Remi from 2020—the one who was "just a New York City girl" looking for a job—is still there. She’s just wearing a different size and carrying a lot less physical pain.
Key Takeaway: Remi Bader's rise wasn't just about clothes; it was a masterclass in turning a "failure" (getting laid off) into a platform. Her "before" reminds us that authenticity isn't about staying the same—it's about being honest when you change.