Plus size model Tess Holliday is 34 weeks preggers and still modeling.
The international phenom who made headlines as the first model size 22 to land a modeling contract with a major modeling agency is also fighting back against body shamers.
Last week, the Milk Model Management talent posted a bare bump photo on Instagram in defiance and response to Internet trolls who have been leaving negative comments on her photos and questioning whether her baby will be healthy. One person said she looked as if she is having quadruplets because of her body size.
“#33weeks #babyhollidayontheway” she captioned the photo. She added, “having another baby has been a beautiful process and at times, frustrating. As I enter my eighth month, my body overall looks the same other than my belly and I’m okay with that.”
However, she went on to say that it is ‘not cool’ that she has had to learn to be okay with the fact that people still think it’s okay to comment on her body.
“When ‘celebrities’ are pregnant in the press, they look glamorous, toned & are eager to talk about how they are going to get the baby weight off,” she wrote about the fallacy of the perfect pregnancy. “While I’ve done my best to look as put together as possible, that’s not real life, & it’s not for most women. I’m not the first plus size woman in the public eye to have a baby & share it with the world, & I certainly won’t be the last. However I’m part of a small minority that’s telling you it’s okay to not have a perfect baby bump, or not show at all, to be plus size & have a healthy child, & most importantly to find a care provider that doesn’t shame you about your size.”
And the shamers aren’t keeping her way from promoting on social media. This past Saturday, April 23, she posted a photo of herself modeling a black knit Forever 21 plus-size collection dress dress while leaning against a blue brick wall in Long Beach, California.
“Baby bump’n,” she captioned that image.
Tess has a 10-year old son from a previous relationship named Rylee. This is her first child with fiance Nick Holliday.
She is getting ready to launch her own clothing line, Fringe. Busy Busy, mama! Love it!