Jeff Jenkins, who might jokingly call himself a “chubby black guy,” defies definition by weight or skin color. He is genuine, funny, inspirational, and now, famous. As the star of Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins, available on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu, he travels the world, engaging in thrilling outdoor adventures and immersive cultural experiences. Jenkins confronts personal fears, challenges related to his body size, and biases against him as a plus-sized black man, all while having a lot of fun.
From Choir Teacher to Travel Star
Jenkins grew up in Orlando, Florida, and initially worked as a high school choir teacher for nine years. Following an unexpected loss in his family, he decided to live his life beyond his comfort zone. In an interview with Outdoors.com, Jenkins recalls a pivotal moment during a trip to Rwanda, building water wells: “I kept asking myself the question, if money wasn’t an option . . . what would I do? And my answer, it took three days, was to travel the world, get paid to do it, and help people."
Jenkins launched Chubby Diaries, a blog and social media platform, to share his experiences as a plus-sized black man. “Then I started realizing, you know what, I don’t know anybody that’s talking about this,” Jenkins says.
Conquering Fears and Breaking Barriers
In Never Say Never, Jenkins achieves remarkable physical and mental feats in stunning outdoor locations. “We climb a rock face-like, actual mountain climbing. [. . .] I think I’m the largest person I’ve ever seen do it, but we go mountain climbing in the Adirondacks. We do scuba diving in a couple of places . . . and in Mexico I swim with sharks. I class-5 whitewater raft off of a waterfall-[a] 23-foot drop waterfall,” he says.
The show takes Jenkins to destinations such as New Zealand, Iceland, Japan, and Vietnam. He fondly recalls a street food tour in Vietnam: “We did this food tour, street food tour, and that was just epic. I was like, I can’t believe this is my life. Like, I am living it up. And it was just great times. I met so many people [. . .] so that was a lot of fun."
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Emotional Honesty
Amidst the fun, Jenkins also shares his emotional journey. He admits the show brought out a range of emotions, requiring him to become comfortable expressing himself and processing his feelings on camera. “I’ve had to learn how to just embrace some of the stuff I’m going through, but then also how to process [it],” he explains.
Although Jenkins didn’t face explicit discouragement from traveling, he felt weighed down by others projecting their fears onto him. “I know that there’s a lot of bias when people see me as well, so they just automatically assume that I can’t do something, and I don’t try to prove anybody, but I know I know my abilities and what I can do, and I’m pretty athletic-like, people are very surprised every single time, and that’s what I want to change,” he says.
Jenkins acknowledges hurdles such as stares, questions, size restrictions, and the mental challenge of flying and keeping up on physically demanding adventures. When asked about his goals for viewers of Never Say Never, Jenkins says: “I want you to question yourself [. . .] like where is my comfort zone? Am I stepping outside of my comfort zone? What does it look like to step outside of my comfort zone?"
The Pandemic Pause and a Renewed Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic, while halting travel, provided Jenkins with valuable time for reflection. He was captivated by stories of nature's regeneration, now free from human interference. "You could see the Earth healing itself," Jeff says, which reinforced his belief in travel's potential to heal, not harm.
Prior to Chubby Diaries, in 2018, he left his teaching position to participate in a mission trip to Rwanda, constructing gardens in Kageyo. "I remember thinking, ‘I want to do this more. I want to travel the world and help people,’” Jeff says.
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Intentional Travel and Coral Restoration
Upon resuming travel, Jenkins committed to being more intentional about his impact on destinations and communities. In Key Largo, Florida, he collaborated with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) to help reverse the near extinction of Florida’s Coral Reef. This ambitious project protects not only countless marine creatures but also coastal communities.
Jenkins, who overcame claustrophobia to become a certified scuba diver, found this trip fulfilling. His only concern was avoiding damage to the coral. The CRF's Exploration Center is where this important mission takes place. Roxane Boonstra, his instructor, has been snorkeling the Keys’ reefs since she was four years old. “I remember it being really full of life and active,” she says.
Coral reefs, crucial for marine biodiversity and the balance of life, are often called the “rainforests of the sea.” They also protect coastal communities from erosion and hurricane damage. Tragically, the world has lost over half of its coral reefs since 1950 due to climate change, pollution, and physical damage.
The CRF’s efforts to "farm" coral in offshore nurseries and transplant them back onto reefs have been remarkably successful. The nursery where Jenkins harvested coral is the world's largest, housing nearly 500 trees and capable of producing 30,000 reef-ready corals annually.
Jenkins also learned how to "outplant," which involves clearing space and securing coral with adhesive. After a classroom lesson, he was both nervous and excited to apply his new skill underwater.
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Underwater Accomplishments and Emotional Impact
At Rainbow Reef Dive Center, Jenkins confidently entered the water. Despite initial equipment struggles and wave surge, he quickly found a rhythm. At Pickles Reef, he helped introduce new coral members to a thriving, restored site.
The parallel between animals reclaiming their habitats during the pandemic and his role in rebuilding the reef was significant for Jenkins. He later admitted to being overwhelmed by the experience. “I know no one-I mean no one-who has done anything remotely like return coral to the wild,” he says.
Celebrating by the beach at the Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Jenkins shared his emotions with Roxane: “I felt like, yeah, I did this. I got to help." Roxane noted an increase in visitors to the Keys interested in preserving its beauty. The more people involved in CRF’s mission, the more the reefs will recover.
Inspiring Others
Jenkins encourages others to push their boundaries. “I’d never really thought about the ‘ripple effect’ before,” Jeff admits. “How coming out of your comfort zone can open the door to helping other people and the world.”
Refusing Societal Norms
Jeff Jenkins, along with Mark Henry and Roy Belzer, embodies a refusal to conform to societal body ideals. They have found self-love and confidence in their bodies, regardless of shape or size.
Jenkins recalls an incident in a grocery store where a child pointed out his weight. Jenkins responded, “No, I’m big and I’m strong,” turning the moment into a positive affirmation for both himself and the child.
He realized that he was committed to changing that scenario. My cousin told me, “You should talk about your experience as a fat Black guy traveling around the world.” I didn’t know anybody in the travel space doing this, so I started Chubby Diaries in October 2018. It was one of the first times I felt, It’s okay to just be you and do your thing. I want to bring the humanity back into people. Jeff Jenkins right now, at his 400 pounds, is having a human experience. I’m not here to promote obesity-I’m here to encourage people to live life now no matter what size they are. Some people would think them being my size is a death sentence, but it’s not. You can be okay with who you are and not the image of who you thought you had to be.
A Message of Hope and Action
Jeff Jenkins's journey is a testament to the power of self-acceptance, adventure, and making a positive impact on the world. He encourages everyone to question their comfort zones, pursue their passions, and embrace life, regardless of their size or societal expectations. Through his travels and advocacy, Jenkins inspires others to live fully and contribute to a better world.