All her life, Tess Holliday was always told that she was either too short or too big to ever make it in the modeling industry. At 5’5” and a size 22, Tess is very different from the stereotypical tall, and thin fashion model.
Earlier this month, Tess Holliday scored a modeling contract with MiLK Modeling Agency. Typically, most plus size models are at least 5’8” and range from size 8 to 16. But Tess is the very first model of her size to ever sign with a “mainstream” agency. But that’s not all, in the past, Tess has also worked on a campaign with Benefit Cosmetics, been named one of the top plus-size models by Vogue Italia and Refinery 29, and posed for countless fashion designers.
After finding Tess through Instagram, MiLK offered her a contract. Anna Shillinglaw, the owner of MiLk Model Management thought Tess was an important role model for all women.
Throughout her childhood, Tess was relentlessly bullied and picked on her for size and weight. But in 2010 she moved to Los Angeles and decided to officially became a full-time plus-size model.
At only 29 years old, Tess has over half a million followers on Facebook and over 430,000 followers on Instagram. She posts photos of her proudly flaunting her curves and always has positive thoughts on how to stay positive and healthy. She constantly aims to encourage women to embrace their shape and size, and reminds women that it’s okay to be yourself. She also reminds people that she’s in fact very active. Tess has a personal trainer and strives to work out at least four days a week and loves to swim and take hikes.
Besides being a model, Tess Holliday also loves being an activist on social media and is responsible for launching the viral hashtag #EffYourBeautyStandards. The hashtag allows women to share selfies of themselves to promote self confidence and self love. “I created the hashtag [#EffYourBeautyStandards] because I was tired of being told what I could and couldn’t wear by the media and how I should cover my body because of my size,” Holliday told The Huffington Post. “I decided ‘eff that,’ I will wear what I want!”
Tess’ modeling contract also signifies a change in our culture; consumers are looking for more different looks, whether they be diverse in their looks, faces, bodies, ethnicities or genders and plus size models are finally starting to break ground in the fashion industry. “I understand not everyone understands what I’m about,” said Holliday. “But to me it’s such a simple concept. It’s all about loving your body regardless of your size and chasing your dreams.”