Tess Holliday
Model Tess Holliday at the "Dinner with a Cause 18th Gala" held at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE Oct. 15, 2015 in Los Angeles. Getty Images

Body-positive activist Tess Holliday flaunted her post-baby body on Instagram before Christmas. Even though the model isn’t used to her new shape, she doesn’t think she should hide herself. The mother-of-two took to social media to explain it’s been a “battle” to love her body since giving birth in June.

“Each day feels like a battle to learn how to love my body postpartum. It’s been 6 months & my stomach is lower, my breasts are a different shape, new stretch marks and I feel like a stranger in my body more than ever,” Holliday wrote Friday. “I wasn’t anticipating this at all.”

The 31-year-old, formerly known as Tess Munster, donned lace lingerie for the black-and-white picture. “I debated on whether or not to post this, but I think it’s important to be honest about what it’s like to be a woman in the media, who recently had a baby & the pressure that’s put on new moms to ‘lose the baby weight,’” Holliday continued. “I was fat before, I carried a healthy baby & guess what, still fat … & THAT’S OK.”

 

Each day feels like a battle to learn how to love my body postpartum. It's been 6 months, & my stomach is lower, my breasts are a different shape, new stretch marks & I feel like a stranger in my body more than ever. I wasn't anticipating this at all. I'm not used to looking in the mirror & feeling like I don't recognize myself, but sadly that's my reality some days. I debated on whether or not to post this, but I think it's important to be honest about what it's like to be a woman in the media, who recently had a baby & the pressure that's put on new moms to "lose the baby weight". I was fat before, I carried a healthy baby, & guess what, still fat... & THATS OKAY. I have no New Years resolution to lose weight, but only to work on learning my new body & loving & nurturing it. Not a day goes by that Nick doesn't tell me how beautiful I am, but it's not our partners job to lift our spirits, we have to be our own cheerleaders. So that's what I will do, take it day by day. It's a journey, not a race.. & a beautiful one at that. #6monthspostpartum #effyourbeautystandards @effyourbeautystandards

A photo posted by Plus Model✖️ Mom ✖️ Feminist_ (@tessholliday) on

Even though her fiancé, Australian artist Nick Holliday, loves her the way she is, Holliday emphasized what’s most important is that she loves herself. “Not a day goes by that Nick doesn’t tell me how beautiful I am, but it’s not our partner’s job to lift our spirits,” she wrote. “We have to be our own cheerleaders. So that’s what I will do, take it day by day. It’s a journey, not a race … & a beautiful one at that. #6monthspostpartum. #effyourbeautystandards.”

Holliday is one of the first size-22 models. She has been featured on the covers of multiple magazines, including People. She started the campaign “effyourbeautystandards” to break away from common beauty ideals.

 

Today I personally overcame my fears of bikinis that weren't high waisted. My tummy is an area that I'm still learning to love- even though I appreciate everything it has done for me. It's round & covered in stretch marks from carrying my beautiful son in it. My fiancé loves it & constantly touches it & because of those reasons I recently decided to be kinder to it. With every other area of my body- learning to love it has been faking it until I actually accepted. The misconception about myself & many other fat/plus sized women is that we are this way because we don't care, that we have "let ourselves go" when in reality this is the best I've ever felt/looked. But I couldn't have gotten there on yo yo diets, trying to be someone I'm not, & bullying myself to fit into an unrealistic mold of beauty. I have carved my own path & will continue to do so.. Overcoming one hurdle at a time & appreciating my successes & failures. So today I am celebrating being able to swim with my son without worrying what others might say.. & guess what? No one cared that my tummy was out.. & it was glorious. (Bikini by @simplybeusa) #tessmunster #effyourbeautystandards

A photo posted by Plus Model✖️ Mom ✖️ Feminist_ (@tessholliday) on

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