Tess Munster has been told all her life that she’d never make it in the modelling industry. At 5’5, 260 pounds, and a size 22, her height and waist size don’t fit the mold of traditional plus size girls, who are usually over 5’8 and between sizes eight to 16. But that hasn’t stopped Munster (also known as Tess Holliday on Instagram) from breaking into the industry full force.
After founding her own social media campaign #EffYourBeautyStandards to encourage body positivity and appearing in Vogue Italia, the Los Angeles-based Munster became the first of her size and height to ink a deal with a major agency when MiLk Model Management signed her on Thursday.
Tess joins other plus size models making serious names in the industry, including Calvin Klein’s new face Myla Dalbesio. Taken with Vogue’s all size lingerie editorial, the industry seems to finally be walking its all-inclusive talk. “I feel like it’s breaking ground. This is a milestone,” Tess told the New York Daily News. “I never could have imagined that I could be here.”
Credits
Text Emily Manning
Image via @Tess Holliday