Born in Mississippi, Tess Holliday (FKA Tess Munster) has always considered herself a southern girl at heart. Never one to conform to mainstream standards of beauty, Tess never thought she could make it as a model. At least, that’s what all the high school bullies told her. In fact, even her own father would tell her that she couldn’t make it. But fast-forward to today and Tess has graced the pages of both Nylon and People magazine, starred in her very own Benefit make-up campaign, and has been named by Vogue Italia as one of the world’s most influential plus-sized models. She even made fashion history as the first size 26 model to ever be signed to a major agency. An inspiration to millions (she has over 900,000 Instagram followers), in Tess launched the hashtag #effyourbeautystandards in 2013, a defiant retort to the online bullying she was subjected to. Since then, the hashtag has gathered momentum, and her call for body positivity is being spread all over the world.
However, it hasn’t all been positive. On top of the regular body shaming abuse she suffers from online trolls, last month, hypnotherapist Steve Miller, dubbed the ‘Simon Cowell of slimming’ criticized the voluptuous beauty for promoting obesity, which is exactly the kind of hatred Tess has been campaigning against all her life. Of course she’s not promoting obesity. Unlike the rest of the world — in which we’re constantly being told what to eat, what to wear, how to look and, ultimately, who to be — Tess wants us to be who we are already, and you should be a lot more thankful for it.
Did you always want to be a model?
Not always. I didn’t know being a plus size model was a thing until about the age of 15. I thought you had to be a size 2 and 6 foot tall! Once I knew about it, it was all I wanted to do! Before that, I always thought I would be a fashion designer, makeup artist, or something to do with the arts.
How did you get discovered?
A casting director saw photos of me online in 2010 and asked me to come in for an audition, and I thought it was a scam. I went in and 10 months later I was the face of a national ad campaign for a TV show on A&E. The rest is history, as they say!
What does modeling mean to you?
It means being able to challenge the perceptions of beauty in a world that has always been so black and white about what was accepted. I get to do something I love and be myself. I’ve never had to compromise who I am for it, and never will.
How do you feel about the term “plus size”.
It’s a word, a descriptor. That’s it.
What do you stand for?
Diversity, transparency and self-love. I think it’s important to speak up for what you believe if you are in the public eye to help others that are suffering.
What’s the story behind #effyourbeautystandards?
I was tired of being bullied online by people and being told what I should be wearing and how I should present myself because of my size. I was told constantly that “fat girls shouldn’t show their arms, stomachs, etc.” and I thought, “fuck that!” I wanted to wear what I wanted, and embrace my sexuality as a plus woman in today’s diet obsessed society. So I posted four photos of myself on Instagram and told others to share a photo and hashtag #effyourbeautystandards if they agreed. Now, it has almost a million shares and we have five girls who help run it from all around the world, to help give differing perspectives. There’s a mental health counsellor, a LGBT advocate, a couple who battled eating disorders… It’s changed my life.
What advice would you give to young girls who aren’t as confident with their bodies as you are?
Surround yourself with people who support and love you. Also, don’t listen to anyone else about what to do with your body; it’s yours. Never let someone treat you like you are less than amazing because you might not be the traditional standard of “beauty.” It’s all a load of rubbish, and you play a special role in this world by just being you.
What are you working on right now?
So much! Possible book and TV deals, a fashion collaboration, speaking engagements and most importantly, raising my son.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
That my son will grow up in a world that celebrates his uniqueness and he knows that anything is possible, regardless of size, gender, race or abilities. We are all so complex and beautiful, there is a place for us all…Even if we have to blaze the path ourselves.