It took a while, but it seems like the standards in the fashion industry might finally be changing. On Jan. 22, UK-based Milk Model Management announced a new partnership with plus-size model Tess Holliday. The 29-year-old beauty is 5'5", wears a size 22, and proudly shares photos of herself in skimpy bikinis online.
"I feel like its breaking ground. This is a milestone," Holliday said in an interview with the New York Daily News. "I never could have imagined that I could be here."
The Mississippi native, who also moonlights as a fashion blogger, was first recognized for her looks in 2011, when she was working as a receptionist in Los Angeles. Her first major gig was on the A&E show Heavy, a short-lived reality show about people dealing with obesity.
Today, Holliday touts over 350,000 loyal followers on Instagram, where she offers an inside look into her many fashion photo shoots. The burgeoning model is also credited for creating the #EffYourBeautyStandards social media movement, which sends who a loud message to supporters and naysayers alike.
"I see a lot of negative comments as well, and I ignore those," Milk Model spokesperson Anna Shillinglaw said about Holliday. "I know she's healthy and active."
Holliday is in awe of how far she's made it. "It doesn't feel like it's me," she said. "Every time I have a big thing it's an out of body experience."