“It just hasn’t hit me yet” —Jessica Powell shares the loss of her father on My Big Fat Fabulous life

Jessica Powell's emotional breakdown on camera was a long-awaited moment for viewers of My Big Fat Fabulous Life. In the premiere episode of the latest season, Jessica talked candidly about her father, fitness guru William "Will" Powell, who passed away in early January after a prolonged fight with cancer.

As Jessica reflected on her loss with Whitney Thore, she recalled a poignant memory,

"The first thing he said after the oncologist told him that there wasn’t anything left that they could do, he asked what was going to happen to the gym and if I’d train his clients… The irony in dad’s advice is that maybe it just hasn’t hit me yet, but every time I want to talk to him and I realize I can’t, it really messes me up."

This revelation provided a heartwarming glimpse into Will's steadfast commitment to fitness and his daughter, even in his last days.

The loss struck a profound chord with the My Big Fat Fabulous Life family off-camera. In a tribute, longtime friend Whitney Way Thore referred to Will as a buddy, coach, and mentor and mentioned his soothing influence on her own fitness path.

It's clear from Jessica's tearful confession and Whitney's tribute that Will was an indelible part of the show, shaping the show's emotional heart and leaving behind a legacy of integrity, love, and strength.

Jessica Powell reflects on grief and her father’s legacy on My Big Fat Fabulous Life

My Big Fat Fabulous Life was hugely moving this week as Jessica Powell opened up about the loss of her father, William “Will” Powell. As she described how he continued to be devoted to his family and fitness until the very end, we gained a complete understanding of her vulnerability.

A coach until his last breath

Jessica described how, despite hearing the terrible news, her father's attention stayed on other people, asking about the gym and whether she would still be working with his clients as he approached the end of his life. His identity was deeply rooted in such selflessness, which also profoundly influenced Jessica's sense of duty and purpose.

Her sincere admission of the constant pain of being unable to communicate with him highlighted the intense emotional impact. It was the abrupt loss of a guiding voice she depended on every day, not merely the death of a parent.

A legacy that continued

My Big Fat Fabulous Life’s viewers poured in with tributes. He was a “coach, mentor, friend, and father figure,” according to Whitney Way Thore, emphasizing how far-reaching an impact he had on more than one family.

In sharing her story, Jessica enables the audience to accompany her on a heart-wrenching journey that pays tribute to her father’s lasting influence. Her openness will ensure Will’s legacy lives on in the best way we know how as MBFFL continues to forge ahead, by doing the best we can to live each day with the kindness and fortitude that Will showed every single day.

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