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The fiery redhead is the first size 26 model to be signed to a modelling agency.

And at just 29-years-old the inspiring young woman is single-handedly changing the face of fashion.

"I'm lucky enough to say I've accomplished my wildest dreams," she said. "I'm happy, confident and doing what I've always wanted to do."

But it hasn't alway been easy for the self-styled beauty. Tess was badly bullied at school because of her size and even dropped out at the age of 17, after a stint of abuse.

"I was bullied for my size, for my mum being disabled, there were various reasons," she said.

"I didn't want to miss out on my education because of being too fearful or upset to go to school."

So she left and decide to pursue her high school diploma elsewhere. And now the game-changer has risen above her taunters to become an inspiring role model in the fashion world.

At 5ft 4in and weighing in at around 18st 5lbs, Tess certainly isn't standard model material.

Yet the voluptuous icon, who is signed with MiLK Model Management, has become a global sensation after building an enormous social media presence.

Tess, who has just shot a new ad campaign for Yours Clothing, still gets a torrent of negativity regarding her size but insists she doesn't let it get her down.

She said: "There are thousands of comments but at the end of the day it's all about living my life and being happy with who I am.

"What people say or think doesn't really bother me. You can't fight stupid.

"It can be hard not to take it personally but you know at the end of the day how many people can say they get to live their dream and travel the world.

"If somebody online wants to call me fat that's fine but what did they do that day – nothing probably."

**CLICK HERE TO SEE OTHER PLUS SIZE MODELS SHOWING OFF THEIR CURVES**

The body-confidence ambassador, who also receives a flurry of positive comments about her beauty, says she doesn't let the negative or positive go to her head.

She said: "I appreciate criticism and I appreciate praise but I think it's detrimental to focus on either one too much.

"I'm happy with my body and they way I look.

"I definitely feel sexy and confident."

And although the curve queen loves fashion, she says she actually feels sexiest when she's in her birthday suit.

"I feel my sexiest when I'm naked," she said. "But it's sexy and fun to put on nice lingerie too."

The curvaceous beauty first got into modelling after her profile was raised when she appeared as the face of American TV show Heavy in 2007.

One of the main reasons she wanted to pursue the fashion avenue was because she didn't feel like there was anyone who looked like her.

Tess said: "There needs to be more inclusion.

"Everyone looks different and everyone should feel that they are represented in some way when they look at a fashion magazine or shop online or turn on the television.

"I think there's room for everyone. I think everything is sexy."

Tess is one of many women who believes that fashion magazines and the clothing industry as a whole is very damaging to young women, especially those who don’t fit the normal idea of beauty.

As a result of this she started a movement online called #effyourbeautystandards, encouraging women and girls to be proud of their bodies no matter what size they are.

"You've got to fake it until you make it really, " she said. "I like to promote loving yourself the way you are whatever that might means for a person."

And when it comes to the recent #DropThePlus campaign – which has seen model Stefania Ferrario and actress Ajay Rochester protest against the label "plus-size", Tess thinks their energy could be better used elsewhere.

She said: "I think we should be looking to increase diversity in all sizes, all shapes and all colours.

"I think there should be more inclusion for everyone and that's where the energy should go instead of focussing on a debate like whether plus-size is offensive or not.

"I'm proud to be my size and to be called plus-size."

Tess, who is engaged to Australian businessman Nick Holliday, says most of her fashion idols are cartoons.

Tess said: "One of my idols in the fashion world is Miss Piggy. Look at her, she's fat, she's sexy and glamorous – who doesn't want to have her wardrobe.

"I love Dolly Parton, Miss Frizzle from the magic school bus and (American drag queen) Rupaul.

"All of my fashion inspiration comes from cartoon characters or people who are larger-than-life."

And she even has a tattoo covering her right arm of all the "inspirational and strong women" who have inspired her.

"I currently have Miss Piggy, Dolly Parton and Mae West, but I will have Ursula and Divine added later," she said.

There is no doubt that Tess has already inspired thousands of women around the world to love themselves and their bodies.

And she has also started to change the face of fashion. But the confident fashionista is hoping to do even more for the body-confidence movement in the future.

She said: "My work has unintentionally boasted other people's confidence and made them feel good which is great so that definitely keeps me going.

"I think the industry is getting more diverse now in terms of including more sizes.

"But I think we still have a long way to go with including more skin colours. I'd also like to see more plus-size men represented.

"It needs to be more inclusive for everybody. I think there is a place for everyone is the fashion industry, whether your a size 2 or a size 22."