Curvy Model Shows Bodies Come in All Shapes and Sizes With Powerful Image

Models and bloggers work to continually increase awareness for all shapes and sizes through their social platforms. One curvy model recently illustrated this point through an extremely unique perspective — by posing next to her friends of all different sizes.

Milk and Muse signee Ali Tate shared a selfie on vacation in Mexico alongside three of her best friends, including fellow model Marquita Pring, and celebrated the differences between their bodies in the caption.

“We just stood in front of this mirror in Tulum checking out our bods, amazed at how different they all were. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes and are all glorious @bgruener18 @jennalee5 @marquitapring,” she captioned the photo.

Tate said the image from their girls getaway was completely spontaneous. “The shot was completely organic,” she tells Yahoo Beauty. “We had been basically living in our swimsuits for three days in Mexico on a campsite, and just before we were going to do a temazcal with a shaman, we went to the bathroom. The lighting was so beautiful, and we all just looked at each other and were like, ‘All of our bodies are so different … and they are all amazing!’ It wasn’t staged or conceptualized — I think the beauty of the moment caught us all off-guard.”

Her followers agreed and commented on the powerful message behind the image. “Beautiful! Our different shapes and sizes are what makes each and every one of us unique and I love seeing women embrace that!” one user, Alicia Stephens, commented. “And each and every one of you are so beautiful!” another user added.

The former soccer player turned model might not have planned it, but she showed just how unique the differences in women’s bodies can be — simply through a selfie.

“I am always inspired to post images that make women feel more positive about themselves. Sometimes I don’t post captions with my photos, because no explanation is needed. In this particular photo, I wanted people to understand that it had been a powerful moment for all four of the women in that photo, and I wanted my followers to really feel that,” she says.

She emphasized that any body type can be beautiful — as long as one’s health is prioritized. “All shapes, sizes, and colors of women are beautiful. As long as you are being healthy and conscious, filling your body up with living nutrition and exercising — that is the only thing we should be focused on. There isn’t one shape that should be prized more than another.”

Tate feels the modeling industry is shifting in a positive direction towards acceptance of more body shapes, including those of curvier models. “I think in the fashion world we have embraced skinny models for a long time, and now we are idolizing curvier models. But I don’t want women in the middle of those two to feel left out, or forgotten about. Diversity is beautiful, and that’s where our strength lays,” she tells Yahoo Beauty.

Having struggled with her own body image in the past, Tate now uses her platform to help people recognize that more than one size can be beautiful.

“I used to suffer from body insecurities a lot when I was younger, and though I don’t suffer from them anymore, I remember how horrible it felt,” she says. “Women tend to focus on things they want to change aesthetically, but I am hoping by showing women to have confidence in their appearances, they can transcend aesthetics altogether. Imagine how much more we could accomplish as a female if we weren’t thinking about what we wanted to change on our bodies?”

Read more from Yahoo Style + Beauty:

• My Great-Aunt Didn’t Care About Her Dress Size, So Why Do I?

• How Curvy ‘Sports Illustrated’ Swimsuit Model Mia Kang Stopped Hating Herself

• Curvy Model Myla Dalbesio Named a ‘Sports Illustrated’ Swimsuit Issue Rookie of the Year

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