In our era of widespread GLP-1 use, plus-size celebrities have become a rare species. But a breakout star in San Francisco is bucking the trend.
An enormous sea lion nicknamed Chonkers is drawing big crowds to the city's waterfront Pier 39 retail and entertainment complex.
First spotted basking on the pier's floating docks in March, Chonkers rose to viral fame via social media, where photo and video posts illustrate his massive size relative to the other sea lions that famously delight Pier 39 tourists.
Chonkers is a Steller sea lion, a considerably larger species than the darker, more common California sea lions he shares the docks with.
He likely came down to San Francisco from off the coast of Washington or Oregon and is estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, according to the Associated Press.
Steller sea lions don't often join California sea lions on the docks, and a Pier 39 rep told us it's unusual that Chonkers has made appearances for over a month.
However, San Francisco Bay is well-stocked with anchovies and other fish at the moment, the rep continued, so Chonkers "has been eating well."
Evidently so.
Where and when to see Chonkers in San Francisco
The giant Steller sea lion is easy to find among the other pinnipeds lounging on Pier 39's K-Dock.
Incidentally, sea lions only began congregating here in 1989, following the Loma Prieta earthquake, the marina explains.
Chonkers is most likely to show up in the morning before 10am, though he has dropped by in the afternoon on rare occasions.
The Pier 39 rep we contacted said it's unknown whether visitors might see Chonkers into the summer. Steller sea lions typically prefer colder northern waters.