"You're so lucky you don't have to work out."
"Ugh, I wish I could eat junk food all the time, too."
Those are just a few of the comments I hear on-set, because I happen to be a plus-size model who weighs around 230 pounds. But these stereotypes aren't true; I'm not lazy or sedentary and I don't appreciate the assumptions that I am.
People think that because I'm bigger, I don't work out; but I'm quite strong. I take a lot of pride in that. My body is powerful, and I want to maintain this muscle. That takes a lot of calculated nutrition and specific workouts. Right now, I'm really into high-intensity interval training and weight lifting.
Everybody associates weight gain and being fat as being a negative thing.
On activewear shoots, straight-size models will be in speed training and kickboxing shots. Meanwhile, I'll be told to walk. Or do some lunges.
I'm like, "Okay, can you give me like the kettlebell or can you give me the jump rope? Can I do something?"
I would just like to see plus-size models get the same opportunities that straight-size models get, whether that's in activewear, high fashion, swimwear, or anything else. That's it.
I want to see plus-size models doing real workouts. I want to see them sweating on set. I want to see them sweating on screen. I want them to be panting just like the straight-size models do in commercials.
For years, media has been ingraining in us that fat is wrong, big is wrong, you can't do anything. But I'm here to change that.
Body inclusivity is the new body positivity.
The body positivity movement was started by fat women as a way to help them feel less like outcasts in society.
But until body inclusivity is really taken seriously, and brands start to make changes, I don't think we'll have much more progress in the "body positivity" movement.
Brands will use a size 12 model and call it "inclusive." But when you don't make any sizes bigger than a size 14, is it really?
I love my size right now.
As a plus-size model, it's important to me to broadcast myself at this size to show other women it's okay to embrace who you are at any size.
That's not to say I never want to lose weight; my health is important to me. But whether I want to gain weight, lose weight, or stay the same, I'm going to love myself at every stage of the process.
It's been a journey to get to this place. When I was in college, I gained 15 pounds and my friends weren't shy about pointing it out to me. It made me scrutinize every inch of my body. Eventually, I figured I had three choices: continue self-loathing, do something to change, or accept myself. I chose the latter.
A lot of people ask me who I look up to, or if someone inspired me to be this confident.
I find inspiration in others, but for the most part, my confidence just came from years of growing, years of finding myself, and being on a journey to self-love. I look up to myself.
As told to Amanda Woerner.
Read more about the women featured in our Naked Strength package in the September issue of Women’s Health.
