Haley Morris-Cafiero (born 1976)[1] is an American photographer, Associate Professor of Photography and Acting Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Memphis College of Art.
She has since become a commentator on issues of anti-fat bias and obesity in the United States; as well as a Body Positivity and Anti-Bullying Workshop volunteer with Girls, Inc.
[5] Born in Atlanta, she is a graduate of the University of North Florida, where she earned a BA in Photography and a BFA in Ceramics in 1999.
[7] People respond more naturally when she seems distracted, so she attempts to perform actions that would give that impression; otherwise, she acts normally and does not draw attention to herself.
[8] New York magazine wrote, "The frequency with which Morris-Cafiero succeeds at documenting passersby's visible disdain for her body seems pretty depressing".
[9] Morris-Cafiero was not aware of the existence of the fat acceptance movement at the time she took the pictures, but she received a positive reception from those blogs.
[4] After several high-profile blogs highlighted her work, The Huffington Post in the US and The Daily Mail in the UK ran stories, which caused the series to go viral;[9] it eventually became a worldwide phenomenon.
[11] Following the viral popularity of her work, she was asked to appear on television news programs and provide commentary on fat shaming and other obesity-related topics.
[9] This series of photos enabled her to explore the modern issues surrounding body image and the ideal standard that people in society are often held to.
[14] Many negative online comments have speculated on the onlookers' reactions, including criticism of Morris-Cafiero's attractiveness and her fashion sense.