With the likes of Ashley Graham and Tess Holliday paving the way for fuller-figured women there's no doubt the fashion industry is becoming more inclusive, but most would struggle to name even one plus-size male model.

However that's set to change in 2017 thanks to curve agency Bridge Models who this year introduced a male division - the first of its kind in the UK.

And they predict that their six-strong team of male models are set to revolutionise the fashion industry next year, by representing guys with a little more meat on their bones.

'It seems only right that we represent men and champion that message across the sexes,' Charlotte Griffiths, co-director of Bridge told FEMAIL. 'I think it was something the public and the brands have been waiting for.'

Ben Whit, the UK's 'first plus size model', is signed with Bridge Models who this year introduced a male plus-size division - the first and only one of its kind in the UK

Bridge's line up includes Ben Whit, who hit headlines this year as the UK's 'first plus size model'.

And while their models are not obese by any stretch of the imagination - take Cristian, who has a 43.5in chest, a 38in waist and wears a size XL - they nevertheless represent a minority in the industry.

As they wave off 2016, FEMAIL spoke to the staff and models at the helm of the plus-size men's movement about why healthy doesn't mean having a six-pack - and why designers need to step up their game.

'The recent growth of women’s fashion for all sizes has been a fantastic step in the right direction for the industry,' says Charlotte.

Cristian Paris is one of the XL models on Bridge's books. He grew up in North Carolina before moving to Spain to pursue a career as a basketball player, where he was scouted

'We are moving into a much more fashion conscious era for men, and the 21st-century man wants to experiment more with fashion, and wants clothes that look good and fit well.'

Charlotte and co-director Beth Willis launched their men's division partly as a response to this 'growing demand' - but also in a bid to promote diversity for 'models of all shapes and sizes'.

Bridge's co-director Charlotte Griffiths says there is a growing demand for plus-size men

The division currently has six male models on their main books, plus a clutch of new and emerging faces.

Projects include anything from catalogue and e-commerce shoots to commercials and runway shows.

And Charlotte believes that being in the minority means her models don't face the same pressures as their willowy female counterparts.

'Healthy comes in all shapes and sizes and people need to recognise that this isn’t just defined by six packs,' she says.

'We are still focused on promoting a message of being healthy and confident in your own skin.'

'Ben [Whit the first UK plus-size male model] is a great example of a tall, broad man who is into health and fitness and struggles to find clothes that fit; the fact he's a personal trainer is a bonus.'

'I prefer "big men"': Cristian says of the term 'plus size': 'The term is really new for me. I don’t really feel related to it, but oh yeah I’m a plus size! I don’t think it's negative, but I don’t like it'

Cristian says it can be difficult finding XL clothing: 'If I go to the shops to buy some clothes I know most of them are not going to have my size, so that’s the first thing I ask'

One of their biggest stars is Cristian Paris, 28, who grew up in North Carolina and the Netherlands before moving to Madrid in 2010 to pursue a career as a professional basketball player.

After a knee injury forced him to quit, he went from job to job before being scouted by an agent in Alicante - despite admittedly growing 'big' after his knee injury stopped him from running.

So does Cristian, who wears size XL clothing, consider himself to be 'plus-size?

People need to recognise that healthy isn’t just defined by six packs

'The term is really new for me,' he says. 'I don’t really feel related to it, but oh yeah I’m a plus size! I don’t think it's negative but I don’t like it, I prefer "big men".'

'I have never been small. In school I was always the biggest in the class, so I really did grow up with the thinking that I was bigger, simple as that.

'If I go to the shops to buy some clothes I know most of them are not going to have my size, so that’s the first thing I ask when I come in to a shop.'

Antonio, who wears XL clothing, is signed to Bridge's plus-size male division. Co-director Charlotte says they are 'promoting a message of being healthy and confident in your own skin'

He admits this can knock his confidence from time to time: 'Sometimes I feel bad, because they just don’t have my size.

'To avoid this I just go to the shops [where] I know for sure they have my size and then I’m hoping they still have some.'

I don’t like the term "plus size", I prefer "big men"

This is a common problem with plus-size fashion; when British Vogue put plus-size model Ashley Graham on their January 2017 cover, editor Alexandra Shulman revealed that certain brands had refused to provide larger clothes for their shoot.

In her editor's letter, she said some designers 'flatly refused to lend us their clothes' for the shoot.

Writing in the magazine, Shulman said while some brands were 'enthusiastic about dressing a woman who is not a standard model', others were not.

Charlotte and Beth opened their plus-size men's division partly as a response to this 'growing demand' - but also in a bid to promote diversity for 'models of all shapes and sizes'

Even so, plus-size men still have a long way to go before they are gracing the covers of fashion magazines.

For now, Charlotte and Beth are working on getting as much coverage as possible for their growing crop of male models.

'Demand varies month on month so it is not easy to predict,' Charlotte says. 'But we do have some interesting projects in the works for the new year for our men’s division so 2017 should be an exciting year.'

Cristain adds: 'I think the brands are getting this now in way, and we as guys are getting more in to fashion because they are listening to the costumer.