Tess Holliday: Model And Body Image Activist Says #EffYourBeautyStandards

Our Body Image Idol of the Week

History is in the making in the fashion industry. Fashion model Tess Holliday is the first woman of her size to land a contract with a major modeling agency, MiLK Management in London.

Now, Holliday is not only a model, but a Body Positive size activist who in a matter of days had almost a half a million posts on the hashtag #EffYourBeautyStandards on Instagram.

Fed Up With Body Image Pressure

The attention Holliday and MiLK Management are attracting is telling and speaks to the level to which people – and especially women – are fed up with trying to succumb to a certain body ideal.

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“I know other women relate to where I’ve been and the feelings of not quite being good enough. I hope through all of this that they realize they are good enough and beautiful no matter what size, color or shape they are,” said Holliday.

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Hear. Hear. The media attention around this news reminds me of the instant popularity of Meghan Trainor’s song, All About that Bass, due to the song’s lyrics about her being tired of trying to fit into the ‘thinner is better’ ideal.

The ‘thin is in’ is the current ideal standard; however, that changes based on the era and culture we live in. Check out this cool video below that highlights ideal body types throughout world history.

Watch Video: How Beauty Standards, Body Type Ideals Have Changed Historically

Tess Holliday: Modelling How To Embrace Your Body

Could the attention Holliday is getting indicate that the tides are changing? Maybe.

However, Holliday isn’t just receiving positive attention, she is receiving negative attention too. Pioneers and trail blazers often do. But Holliday chooses to ignore the negative attention and instead focus on how she feels about herself. And it’s working.

Seeing someone accept themselves for who they are – of not only embracing her body but doing it in way that embraces her sensuality and sexuality (gasp!) is cool. It sets the stage for ALL women to take a step closer to embracing their unique selves.

As women who live in a society that values body perfection, we could all use a little more gentle kindness. Don’t you think?

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