Plus-size model Tess Holliday has shared an intimate selfie of her pregnant body, hitting back at critics who say they 'can't even tell' she's expecting because of her size.
Tess, a UK size 26 model who is expecting her second child, posted the photo to her Instagram account, telling her 1.2 million followers, 'When people say to me "I can't tell you're pregnant" & my face is like 😏😂 I will continue to live unapologetically, to thrive in this body, prove the naysayers wrong & laugh at the ignorance #babyhollidayontheway #37weeks #effyourbeautystandards #plussizepregnancy'
In an interview with Entertainment Times, she added, 'I literally saw my OB/GYN yesterday and everything's fine.
'The more they don't want to see things like that or are criticizing my body, the more I want to do it,' she said. 'Since you are complaining about my covered-up photo, I am going to give you a nude photo to make you even angrier.'
The 30 year old is already mum to son Rylee, 10, from a previous relationship
Tess has dealt with unwanted commentary about her body throughout her career, which has seen her grace the cover of People magazine, model for brands such as H&M and develop her own clothing line. She recently told The Telegraph, 'When I tell people I'm a model, they look at me like I've said I've murdered someone.
'Their jaw will drop and they will stare blankly at me. I can see the wheels turning, that they're trying to work out if they've heard me correctly.'
Tess pictured with her fiancé Nick Holliday at the couple's baby shower
Since announcing her pregnancy, she's also had weight-related comments about everything from her conception to her bump.
'I've been asked a lot lately if I had a hard time getting pregnant. I've been asked how I conceived. In the same way everyone else does!' she exclaimed.
However, Tess, who works out with a personal trainer and says that her body is 'technically healthy', has chosen not to take the negative messages lying down.
In a previous Instagram post, she wrote, '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.'
The model has been posting frequent pregnancy updates on her social media accounts
'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.'
'It's also okay to tell someone to f*ck off when they give you unsolicited advice about what's "best" for you & your baby. As women, we know what's best & that's our business.. No one else's.'
