FEMAIL profiles six of the biggest names in plus size modelling, including Robyn Lawley and Ashley Graham

This year, a plus size woman appeared in the Swimsuit Issue of Sports


Since Kate Moss first appeared in a Levi's campaign in 1991, the trend in fashion has been for a waif-like body.

But in the last couple of years, a new breed has started to creep into the world of fashion - the plus size star.

In the last eight weeks alone, a UK size 16 model has posed for the first time in the Swimwear Issue of Sports Illustrated and 2015's Pirelli calendar featured a UK size 18 woman.

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In the last few years, plus size models who range from a UK size 14 to a size 22 are changing the face of fashion. Pictured from left to right: Ashley Graham, Whitney Thompson and Robyn Lawley

The arrival of the plus size woman has been heralded as a new era for the average woman, who would prefer to see their favourite clothing store showcase their items on a body they can relate to.

The affection form the general public is forcing the fashion industry to sit up and take notice as people flock in their hundreds of thousands to follow their favourite curvy female on social media, making them an advertiser's dream.

Several names have started to shine extra bright from this new category, including outspken body image campaigner Ashley Graham and UK size 22 star Tess Holliday.

Here, FEMAIL profiles six of the most successful plus size models...

Robyn Lawley

26.4k Twitter followers, 122k Instagram, 81,949 likes on Facebook

Size 12 (UK size 16)

Model Robyn Lawley wearing lingerie brand Boux Avenue

Robyn Lawley is one of the most famous plus size models in the world.

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, the 25 year old made history this year for becoming the first plus size model to start in the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated.

She initially worked as a straight model at the age of 17 but was unable to maintain the super slim figure required and eventually signed to a plus size agency called Bella Model Management aged 18.

Since 2011, her career has really hit its stride, starting with the famous Vogue Italia cover where she posed alongside fellow plus size models Tara Lynn and Candice Huffine in June 2011.

Robyn at a 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' film screening in New York last May

Since then, she has posed for a range of high profile magazines, including Fashion Voluptueuse Elle magazine, Australian Vogue, GQ Australia, Dazed & Confused, Vanity Fair Italy, American

She has also appeared in ad campaigns for Evans, H & M, Ralph Lauren, Panache and Mango.

Speaking of her appearance in the Sports Illustrated magazine, Robyn told the Today Show: 'When I first started I really had an immense hate for my body, I held it really accountable for holding me back.

'I just felt disappointed, you know, I was like "Why didn't I get a skinny body?"

Robyn has released a range of swimwear in collaboration with Bond-Eye Swimwear that ranges from a size 8 (UK 12) to a size 18 (UK 22).

She also has a cookbook called Robyn Lawley Eats.

Robyn is very outspoken on body image and has written articles for website The Daily Beast of self-esteem.

Ashley Graham

28k Twitter followers, 247k Instagram, 57,404 likes on Facebook

Size 14 (UK size 18)

Ashley Graham in a new swimsuit advert for Evans

2014 was Ashley Graham's year and 2015 is only going to see the American model's popularity increase.

The 27 year old, who was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, is the new face of plus size British clothing chain Evans and last month became the first plus size woman to feature in an advert in the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated when the shop ran a large picture of Ashley in a bikini in the publication.

Last year, she graced the cover of Elle magazine and also featured in Love magazine and Teen Vogue.

In October, Ashley launched her own 19-piece lingerie range for plus-sized online retailer Navabi, with bras starting at 36DD and going up to 44E.

The model has a large online presence, where she regularly champions curvy women.

Ashley models her new plus size clothing range for Navabi

She also travels the US meeting young women in high schools to talk about the importance of a positive body image.

She told MailOnline last autumn: 'To see the changes in this industry is phenomenal and I'm excited to see where it's going.

'I really feel that curves are in and everything that I do on Instagram is #curvesarein.

'(As plus size models) we go on the runway castings as much as we can for the high end designers that have never done plus-size before.

'And for the beauty adverts - just because I'm plus-size doesn't mean that I can't do a beauty or hair campaign.'

Candice Huffine

4,172 Twitter followers, 53.1k Instagram, 37,237 likes on Facebook

Size 14 (UK size 18)

Candice Huffine attends the 2015 Pirelli Calendar Red Carpet on November 18, 2014 in Milan

Candice Huffine made history when she became the first plus size model to feature in this year's Pirelli Calendar.

The 30 year old from Washington, D.C. has been modelling since 2000, but her career really took off in 2010 on a global scale when she was asked to model for V magazine's Size issue.

A year later, she was one of the three fuller figured models to appear on the famous 2011 Italia Vogue cover.

She has also appeared in i-D, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue.

Candice Huffine attends The Visionary World of Vogue Italia Exhibition Opening Night in New York

She has also appeared in numerous ad campaigns for brands including Forever 21 and Simply Be.

Candice has been very outspoken about the plus size modelling industry in the past and told NY magazine last year that the curvier models are some of the healthiest in the industry.

She said: 'The plus girls in this industry are some of the healthiest people I’ve ever met in my life.

It’s not like we’re having parties at McDonald’s. The girls I know, they’re all doing yoga, run three miles a day, and they eat healthy, balanced meals.'

Whitney Thompson

26.9k followers Twitter, 14.4k Instagram, 19,230 likes on Facebook

Size 12 (UK size 16)

Whitney Thompson at the Samsung Hope For Children Gala in 2011 in New York

Whitney Thompson first came to the public's attention when she won the tenth series of America's Next Top Model.

After leaving the programme, the 27 year old from Florida, Whitney became the face of CoverGirl make-up company, which included shooting an advert with the pop star Rihanna.

Since working with CoverGirl, Whitney has starred in ad campaigns for Forever 21, Saks Fifth Avenue, Converse One Star, Fashion Bug, Panache and JC Penney.

Like many of the other models in this article, Whitney is a powerful advocate of positive body image and an ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association in the US.

Her public persona as a role model meant that MSN Lifestyle nominated her as one of the Most Influential Women of 2008.

In mid-2014, Whitney opened a restaurant with her husband Ian Forrester in Springfield, Illinois.

Whitney Thompson at the Plus Size Fashion show in London in February 2014

While Ian will is in charge in the kitchen, rustling up dishes such as andouille crusted tilapia with mango salsa, served over loaded mashed potatoes with a spicy beurre blanc sauce, Whitney covers front of house duties.

She also launched a jewellery collection in 2009 called Supermodel.

The model has received extensive hate mail since her time on ANTM, but she has publicly spoken about her refusal to slim down because of peer pressure.

She told MailOnline: 'If I want a steak and chips, I am going to eat it and when I feel like going on a run, I will.

'But I'm never going to force myself to do that.

Life is too short; I could walk outside and get hit by a bus so I may as well eat what I want to eat.'

Toccara Jones

127k Twitter followers, 86.8k Instagram, 294,470 likes on Facebook

Size 10 (UK size 14)

Toccara Jones at the Soul Train Awards in Las Vegas in November 2014

Toccara Jones has many strings to her bow - she is a model, actress, singer and TV presenter.

The 33 year old first shot to fame after coming seventh on the third series of America's Next Top Model.

Since leaving the programme she has featured in several magazines, including Vogue Italia, Be, The Next Level Magazine, Black Men magazine, Black Hair magazine, Braids magazine, Plus Model Magazine and Ebony.

She also has numerous ad campaigns under her belt, including Avon, New York and Company, Target, Alice & Olivia, Rocawear and Evans.

Toccara at the 46th NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, America last month

The star also released workout DVD Toccara's Fabulous Work-Out for Real Size Women. #

She also has her own plus size lingerie range called City Chic.

She told dailyvenusdiva.com: 'It bothers me when I hear plus size models who feel bad about the term plus size.

'We're special.

'We represent the average sized American woman - we are beautiful, bold and more.

'It's a good thing. I don't see anything negative.'

Tess Munster, also known as Tess Holliday

30.5k Twitter followers, 508k Instagram, 762,139 likes on Facebook

Size 18 (UK size 22)

Tess Holliday in one of her many Instagram snaps

Tess Munster's big break came in 2011, when A&E chose her to be the face of their documentary series, Heavy, after discovering her online.

Since then, the 29 year old from Mississippi has modeled for Benefit Cosmetics, Domino Dollhouse, SWAK, Jessica Louise Clothing, Evil Pawn Jewellery, Black Cat Bikinis, and more.

In 2013, Tess was named by Vogue Italia as one of the top six plus-size models in the world.

Tess is a 'body positive activist' and in 2013 she started a social media movement she called #effyourbeautystandards, a salute to pushing positive body image.

It was Tess's large fanbase on social media that got her signed to modelling agency MiLK Model Management

She regularly tours the US to hold talks on body confidence.

That same year was named by Vogue Italia as one of the top six plus-size models in the world.

Last month, MiLK Model Management announced they had signed Holliday to their plus-size arm, Curves.

The agency said they cottoned on to Holliday because of her vast social media influence, especially on Instagram.

Speaking about the signing, she told The New York Daily News: 'I feel like it's breaking ground.