Model Tess Holliday Hits Back At Body Shamers on Instagram With Pregnancy Snaps

Plus-size model Tess Holliday has taken to Instagram to hit back at body shamers. The 30-year-old shared a few snaps from a pregnancy shoot that she did with The Telegraph to encourage body acceptance. Alongside it, she wrote: “Just because we’re plus size, doesn’t mean we have to prove that we’re healthy, just as someone who is smaller than us or average size doesn’t have to prove they are healthy. We should be able to exist in our bodies. I am technically healthy but my body is no more valid than someone’s who isn’t… I was 7 months pregnant in these photos & loved every moment”.

A photo posted by Plus Model | Mom | Feminist? (@tessholliday) on May 14, 2016 at 7:21am PDT

The image certainly got people talking with many praising Tess for her inspirational approach to her body. One wrote: “You are truly a wonderful role model. Because of you and what you post I have come to love my body as it is. I will never be a size 2 and I am completely fine with that. I love my body because of you and your body positive message”. Others weren’t as supportive with another person saying: “Yea beauty is a wonderful thing to have, but intentionally putting your health on the back burner is a moronic thing to do. You are also putting that child's life at risk. Body acceptance is one thing. Promoting a deadly lifestyle and pretending your obesity doesn't matter are another [sic]”. Many were of the opinion that it didn’t matter whether Tess was healthy or not, people don’t have the right to tell others what they should look like or how they should live their lives. One of the remarks read: “Whilst I agree that there is no way in hell Tess is absolutely healthy at that weight, I don't have a right to tell her what her body should look like and what happiness is to her. She has a right to choose her own version of happiness. Maybe all of you should deal with your own problems first rather than feeling the need to insult her to feel better about your (probably) skinny fat/chubby bodies”.

"What I want to say to you is that when people told me I couldn’t model, I would always think, I’ve literally had some of the shittiest things happen to me and survived them, so me being a model is not the most ridiculous thing that I have had happen to me. I’ve never taken no for an answer." Another photo from my @telegraph shoot shot by @alexcayleystudio in NYC when I was 7 mos pregnant last month ???? hair by @elsahair mua @quinnmurphy1 #effyourbeautystandards A photo posted by Plus Model | Mom | Feminist? (@tessholliday) on May 17, 2016 at 7:57am PDT

This sentiment was echoed by another who argued: “Its not about that you don't look good but lets be real over weight people have more health problems.and its not okey eating for 5.anyway you are beautiful but eating right and being active matters [sic]”. The model, who certainly isn’t afraid to speak her mind, is expecting her first child with her husband Nick. She also has a 10-year-old son, Rylee, from a previous relationship. What do you think of Tess' post and the reaction to it? Let us know in the Facebook comments or get in touch on Twitter!   Top image via Instagram/Tess Holliday