Tess Holliday on why fat women and moms are 'robbed of their sexuality'

Nisean Lorde
·2 min read

Plus-size model Tess Holliday has always used her platform to remind women of all sizes that they are worthy and desirable, and now she’s encouraging new and expecting mothers to reclaim their sensuality.

The 31-year-old, who gave birth to son Bowie a year ago, suggests that society needs to stop letting other people determine their beauty standards.

“Gentle reminder to myself that as a mom, I deserve to feel sexy and desired,” Holliday wrote in a recent Instagram post that received nearly 40,000 likes in less than 24 hours. “Fat women and moms are robbed of our sexuality so I’m here to tell you to stop that sh-t. OK?”

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Gentle reminder to myself that as a mom, I deserve to feel sexy & desired. Fat women & moms are robbed of our sexuality so I'm here to tell you to stop that shit. Ok? ????????#effyourbeautystandards

A post shared by Plus Model • Mom • Feminist???? (@tessholliday) on Jun 13, 2017 at 9:22pm PDT

She poignantly ends the post with “#effyourbeautystandards,” a hashtag that’s spreading like fire across social media and one that’s meant to defy the conventional standards of beauty. Her followers have been super supportive, calling the model everything from inspirational to thanking her for instilling confidence in them.

“Ugh thank you!! I’ve been struggling with this very thing lately! My little porkchop is 6 months and I love her dearly but I’ve been so hard on myself not being back to what I was before. You are a god send Tess Holliday, thank you,” wrote one new mom.

“Thanks! Really needed to hear this today, I haven’t felt the same confidence in myself and body since my son nine months ago and I tell myself one day I’ll get my mama mojo back,” another comment stated.

Holliday believes that she was born to stand out, to make people question everything they thought they knew.

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I was born to stand out, to make people question everything they thought they knew & to exist fearlessly in a space that we are told bodies that look like mine don't deserve to be shown. I'm #QueenOf Boldness! I wear crop tops because they make me feel sexy & unstoppable.. & I'm not stopping ???????? What are you the #QueenOf? Tune-in to @QueenOnUSA's Season 2 premiere June 8th at 10/9c to watch other fierce ladies in action. #effyourbeautystandards #ad

A post shared by Plus Model • Mom • Feminist???? (@tessholliday) on Jun 6, 2017 at 7:09pm PDT

“(I) exist fearlessly in a space that we are told bodies that look like mine don’t deserve to be shown,” she stated in a recent post. “I’m #QueenOf Boldness! I wear crop tops because they make me feel sexy and unstoppable and I’m not stopping.”

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