@ Claire specifically: I donīt know why you posted this thread, except for finding out if there are men/women who fancy thick ladies.
Of course there are. Not even few. There are even webforums specially dedicated to BBW, at least thatīs what I heard.

Nevertheless: If you donīt feel comfortable in your own body, 1,000,000 people telling you you look great wonīt help.
Itīs your own image that matters. Not anybody elseīs.

My teenage female friends were always on about how they would love to be as skinny as me. I did not get it. To me, they were beautiful, I wanted to look like them. They had curvy breasts, recognizable hips, they looked like women.

The right thing to do for you would be to work on your self-esteem, or on your weight, or both. Stop looking to other people for approval. They donīt matter.
You matter. Enough said.