A plus-sized model has spoken out in an attempt to shatter the beauty standards and serve as a role model for other women.
29-year-old Leah Stanley from New York is a lingerie model who’s on a mission to prove to the world that one doesn’t have to be skinny to look and feel good in their own skin.
As the young lady revealed, she was often called fat by other children when she was growing up. Though it took her many years to fully accept her own body, she is now happier than ever and living her life without regrets.
“I’m not even sure what my current weight is. People often compromise their mental health to obsess over a number and I’m not doing that,” Leah says.
“I know when I’m eating poorly and when I’m not exercising. I don’t need a scale to tell me that. I know when to make changes without constantly knowing my weight.”
Though she never had a boyfriend during her years in high school, the model now isn’t short of admirers, whereas she believes that the beauty standards are changing rapidly and that men are now more drawn to bigger ladies.
“During school, I never really had a high school boyfriend and boys never looked at me growing up. Nowadays it’s the opposite. A lot of guys want a plus-size babe – and if they say they don’t, they probably secretly do,” Leah added.
Determined to challenge controversial beauty standards, the 29-year-old is now on a mission to promote love and respect and let other women know that “there is no weight limit on that.”
She also wants to serve as a role model for other ladies because she had no plus-size idol to look up to when she was growing up.
While she is determined to prove haters wrong, Leah admitted she still receives all kinds of vile comments from people who shame her over her looks.
“I’ve received countless comments and messages regarding my health, lifestyle and life overall. I’ve been told I should kill myself, that I should learn to stop eating or that I’m unhealthy and only promoting an unhealthy lifestyle,” Leah admitted.
Despite the hateful comments, however, Leah has nothing but positivity to share with the world.
“My overall message is to always spread love, happiness and positivity. I want to inspire and encourage people to discover who they are, to be their best and true self. Live life because we only get one,” she concluded.
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