‘My Big Fat Fabulous Life’: Whitney Thore Has Been BFFs With Heather Sykes Since 2002

Fans of TLC‘s My Big Fat Fabulous Life certainly know Whitney Thore, the television personality who became famous after uploading a video of herself to YouTube, which promoted positive body image and sent the message of self-acceptance to people all over the world. She went on to star in the reality television show which follows her day-to-day activities, documenting her journey as an overweight woman with polycystic ovary syndrome and detailing her relationships with others. Thore is an advocate for those who are overweight and combats people who practice body-shaming. She has an amazing personality on top of everything else, and fans love her close relationships. Being such a giving and generous person, it is really no surprise that Whitney Thore has been BFFs with Heather Sykes since 2002 — well before My Big Fat Fabulous Life started airing.

Who are Thore’s closest friends?

There is no doubt that Thore is quite an amazing person, so naturally, people just gravitate toward her. The show — which according to TLC, tells her story of gaining over 230 pounds due to her PCOS diagnosis, and trying to navigate her way around a world that can be extremely judgmental regarding the way people look — has also shown that Thore has a very supportive circle of friends who have been by her side no matter what.

The reality star and dancer’s core group of close friends includes Ashley Baynes, Tal Fish, Todd Beasley, Buddy Bell, and of course, Heather Sykes. Thore’s friends have stuck by her through thick and thin, and for 9 seasons of the show, it has become obvious that these friendships were built to last.

Thore has been best friends with Heather Sykes since 2002

Not many people can say that they have been best friends with the same person for almost twenty years, but that is how long My Big Fat Fabulous Life‘s Whitney Thore and Heather Sykes have been BFFs.

Sykes makes regular appearances on the show, and she has always encouraged Thore to follow her dreams and do what is right for her. Fans of the show say that she is actually a “ride-or-die” kind of person, noting that everyone needs a friend like Heather in their lives.

Having been friends for so many years, Thore recently shared a birthday tribute to her friend, posting a throwback photograph via Instagram.

“I have enjoyed the longest-lasting and best friendship of my life, and I am so grateful for Heather,” Thore captioned a carousel of photographs in November 2021. “What a gift it is to have a friend who is loyal, steadfast, and always wants the best for you. A friend who I’ve shared my best times, worst times, and biggest laughs with.”

Sounds like Thore knows how lucky she is to have had such a close friend for so many years, and it looks like their friendship will be going just as strong for many more years to come.

Whitney Thore and Heather Sykes’ friendship goes very deep, as shown on ‘My Big Fat Fabulous Life’

Thore and Sykes are so close, that they share even their deepest personal situations with each other. Thore has been open about the fact that she longs to be a mother — however, getting pregnant isn’t always so easy for women with PCOS.

The reality star has once again turned to her friend for support after freezing her eggs, asking if her friend would consider being her gestational carrier when the time comes. Although Heather had some initial hesitations, she agreed to see her doctor to make sure she was an ideal candidate to serve as Thore’s surrogate.

It is wonderful that Thore and Sykes are such good friends, and know that they can always turn to each other whenever they need to.