EXCLUSIVE: Size 22 Model Tess Holliday Talks 'Fighting Back' Against Haters With Nude Pregnancy Pic
Size 22 model Tess Holliday ignited a national conversation about body image when she covered People's body issue last year, but how much has actually changed?
"There's more conversation around body positivity and accepting people for who they are, so I think things are changing," Holliday tells ET. "I had quite a few celebs reach out to me: Ricki Lake, Amber Riley, Mia Tyler. It was really nice to see the unity in people saying they appreciate seeing something like that."
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While change might be seeping in, there are still haters holding on to their bullying ways. Critics came out in full force after Holliday posted a pregnancy photo of herself in which she is nearly nude save for a white sheet held across her chest.
"I really don't care if people think I'm unhealthy," Holliday says. "I feel like it's so clear. Our bodies are our business, and it's OK to be who you want to be, and I think most people get that."
Holliday tells ET that the nude photo was her way of "fighting back."
"The more they don't want to see things like that or are criticizing my body, the more I want to do it," she says. "Since you are complaining about my covered-up photo, I am going to give you a nude photo to make you even angrier."
Holliday was seven months pregnant in the pic, which was part of a photo shoot for The Telegraph. Her baby is due in a few weeks.
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"I literally saw my OB/GYN yesterday and everything's fine," Holliday says, explaining that she was given a full bill of health. "He's happy. Everything's fine and I'm fine."