'Fat isn't an insult - we're plus size models and love our curves'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The world of plus-size modeling is evolving, but for the women on the frontline of the movement, the path to self-love and acceptance isn’t always easy.

From battling societal stigma to overcoming industry limitations, four plus-size models share their personal journeys, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs of modeling in a larger body.

Aly Avina, 30, from Virginia, regularly models for brands like Unique and Fabletics and averages about $50,000 a year. Stepping into the industry began as a way to share body-positive messages with other plus-size women. “I wanted to reach plus-size women who weren’t comfortable with how they looked yet,” she declares. READ MORE: Woman jailed after paramedics had potatoes thrown and aerosol can spayed at them Posting on social media helped her build a following of over 200,000, but it also brought inevitable backlash. “There are always people who want to troll the plus-size community,” she says. “It's going to attract those that want to tear you down.

You’ll hear people say you’re glorifying obesity just because you’re in a larger body. "I've taken the power back and made my own videos to respond to them," Avina explains. "If someone wants to use 'fat' as a negative connotation, that's their prerogative, but I'm not going to take being called 'fat' as an insult because that's who I am." Despite the negativity, Avina stresses that body positivity is about accepting yourself at any size. “It’s about loving yourself, whether that’s a size 2 or a size 22,” she says.