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.
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"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.
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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.
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"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."
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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."
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This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Plus-Size Model Tess Holliday Signs to Major Modeling Agency: Get the Details on Her Landmark Contract