Editor's note: This post contains nudity.

New York City photographer Substantia Jones wanted to send the message that all bodies are beautiful and valuable, so she began her photo series, The Adipositivity Project, in 2007 as a way to promote and discuss body politics and positivity. Her series displaying images of plus-size women — ones that you may not typically see on the covers of magazines or during Fashion Week.

"Accurate, positive or neutral representations of the non-thin are a true rarity. Particularly for women," Jones told Mashable. "What I’m doing is subverting photography, a tool commonly used to prop up the angst industrial complex. Instead, I’m using it to promote body autonomy and self love for those who’re denied it."

"The project is part fat, part feminism, and part 'fuck you,'" the project's website states. By showing models nude, semi-nude and fully clothed — in their natural, unapologetic states, with wrinkles and stretch marks — Jones hopes to "broaden the definition of physical beauty" and promote self-acceptance for viewers, as well as the men and women in her photographs.

"Knowing you're not alone in the world is important. Seeing others with a body like yours, living and loving and laughing, it’s the surest cure for body shame. And once we love our own bodies, we’re far less likely to judge the bodies of others," she said.

Some have found Jones' use of the word "fat" to be jarring, but she explains that she uses the word as a "morally neutral descriptor." Words like "overweight" cast judgement, "suggesting there’s an agreed-upon line over which we mustn’t exist, and 'obese' pathologizes a naturally occurring point on the spectrum of benign human size variation," Jones said.

Instead, she finds the term "fat" more straightforward and encourages others to reclaim the word for themselves.

"Fat people are human beings, and deserve to be allowed the happiness they’ve found, or are working towards. Like Frazey Ford says, 'my joy takes nothing from you.'"

The Adipositivity Project

You can find other photos from The Adipositivity Project on its official website, Facebook page and Twitter.