Tess Holliday posts powerful message about body positivity as she debuts new magazine cover

Tess Holliday has announced that she is the cover star for Cosmopolitan UK's October issue - and the photos are stunning.

The plus-sized model shared shared a first look at the photoshoot on social media today [August 29], alongside a powerful message to her followers. She posted on Twitter:

"Phew, I’m literally a COSMO GIRL! Can’t believe I’m saying that! "Thank you @CosmopolitanUK for this incredible opportunity. "If I saw a body like mine on this magazine when I was a young girl, it would have changed my life."

https://twitter.com/Tess_Holliday/status/1034807072687177729 In the interview, the mum-of-two explained how she created her #effyourbeautystandards campaign "out of frustration". The movement has since taken off, with the hashtag being used more than 3.2 million times. She said:  

"I was angry and sad that people kept commenting on my pictures saying, 'You’re too fat to wear that!' or 'Cover up! No one wants to see that!' "And then one night I was lying in bed and thought, 'F*ck that!' So I posted an image with four photographs of myself wearing things that fat women are often told we 'can’t wear', and encouraged others to do the same."

The model, who has starred in a number of high-profile campaigns, also spoke about how she hasn't always felt so comfortable in herself. She said:

"I was a US size 16 to 18 my entire life before I had Rylee [her first son, who she had at 20]. "I look back on those photos now and I don’t wish I was that size, but what I wish is that I loved myself 120 pounds ago. "I’m at the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life now and it took me being the heaviest to finally love myself."

The October issue of Cosmopolitan UK hits stands on August 31.