My Big Fat Fabulous Life’s Whitney Thore ‘dreads her birthday’ as she tackles ‘mid-life crisis’

Season 12 of My Big Fat Fabulous Life follows star Whitney Thore as she is on the cusp of 40, an age milestone that she absolutely dreads.

My Big Fat Fabulous Life has been a hit with American reality TV lovers since it premiered on TLC in 2015. Following the life of Whitney Way Thore, who started the show weighing-in at 380 pounds (170 kg). Over 11 seasons, Whitney has shed many pounds, and boyfriends, while gaining a new-found maturity and years of life-experience. The twelfth installment of this series dropped in July 2024 with six episodes already being released. This season follows a newly-single Whitney on the cusp of turning 40, who feels on the sidelines as her friends celebrate life’s joyous milestones.

‘We’re middle-aged. I’m having an existential crisis.’

From Episode 5, Get The Party Started, Whitney and best-friend Tal Fish take a moment to reflect on how being “middle-aged” is looming closer by the day.

In a clip of the pair, Tal is seen sorting through mail, he pulls out an invitation for a rehearsal dinner for friends Heath and Jamie’s wedding. Whitney excitedly talks about how she will organize a bachelorette party, complete with limo, decorations and games, when Tal asks the big question, “What are you doing for you?”

Whitney seems to miss a beat before remembering it’s a “monumental year” exclaiming, “because I’m turning 40?” She continues, “everybody stop, I mean I can’t process it personally.”

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Tal jokes about having an “existential crisis” about the new decade while Whitney claims, “that’s the thing, I’ve been in existential crisis since I was 18.” Adding, “and now I have another one like on top of the one I’m always having.”

‘Everyone else in my life is zooming past me.’

In a private confessional, Whitney opens up about how she can’t help but feel left behind as she moves towards this next age-landmark. She describes herself as being “stalled” on the “highway of life” as “everyone else in my life is zooming past me.”

She lists off the milestones of her friends and family, which include numerous weddings and new babies. Even BFF Tal has been in a serious relationship with his partner for over a year.

She continues with the highway metaphor saying, “Here I am, my license plate says I’m 40 and I’m stuck on the side of the road, with a white T-shirt hanging out my rolled up window, smoke billowing out of the hood, and ain’t nobody stopping. So, I have got to change my gears, because I would like to get back on the road and headed in a positive direction.”

Whitney is candid about the “little bit of a midlife crisis going on” that has lit a metaphorical fire under her caboose. Wanting to “start strong” in this “new phase” in her life, she talks about what she needs to do to achieve it.

“There is so much emotional, like, clutter that I just want to clear-out, so that I can make room for a lot of big joys in my life that I haven’t felt in a really long time.”

Let’s hope this new decade brings plenty more joy, and drama for the viewers, for our fabulous star.