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In a move that is sure to cost them more than a few subscribers, Self magazine has made Tess Holliday their July cover model. Tess, known for her stunningly iconic beauty and fabulous fashion sense, is also sadly known by many as “that fat model.” The first size 22 model signed to a major agency, you might say Tess has paved the way for fat women around the globe — including yours truly.
I can’t remember the day I first saw Tess’ face, I can only remember that I wished I could apply makeup in such a way that it didn’t look like my six-year-old son did it — blindfolded and using a brush from his crayola watercolors. I followed her. I wrote about her. I cited her to others as a “must see” model in the fat positive movement.
And now, here she is, in all her glorious backfat beauty, on the cover of Self.
In the accompanying article, titled “Tess Holliday’s Health Is None of Your Business”, Self contributor Ashley H. Ford spends some time with Tess asking questions, talking about things like “concern trolls,” postpartum depression, and, of course, the happiest place on earth, and possibly Tess’ favorite, Disneyland.
It’ll be hard, if not impossible, for the fatphobes to get past the photos. After all, she’s fat.
A couple of years ago, I took some photos with Substantia Jones of The Adipositivity Project, showcasing my own backfat and pregnant looking — but not at all pregnant — belly and butt and boobs (which I have obscured so as to not be banned from Facebrat).
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This story by Joni Edelman, RN originally appeared on Ravishly, a feminist news+culture website. Follow us on Twitter & Facebook and check out these related stories:
Take The Cake: More Fat Face Representation Please
I Got Naked For The Camera Because Fat Bodies Need To Be Seen
Take The Cake: Medical Fatphobia Almost Killed My Friend
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