Plus-Size Cosmo Cover Model Hits Back At Her Critics

Tess Holliday is not scared of controversy and she’s certainly landed right in the middle of it, with being showcased as Cosmopolitan UK’s latest cover model.

Being a stunning plus-size model, she pretty much goes against every cover girl convention. She’s a proud advocate for a healthy body size and confidently shuts down any negativity about her size.

She posted excitedly on her Instagram page: “PHEW, I’M LITERALLY A COSMO GIRL!! CAN’T BELIEVE I’M SAYING THAT! THANK YOU @COSMOPOLITANUK & @FARRAHSTORR FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY IF I SAW A BODY LIKE MINE ON THIS MAGAZINE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL, IT WOULD HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE & HOPE THIS DOES THAT FOR SOME OF Y’ALL ISSUE HITS STANDS 8/31!”

Dangerous And Misguided

We love the confidence of this 33-year-old mum of two but not everyone does.

When her Cosmo cover was revealed, British TV presenter Piers Morgan was vocal in his disdain. The un-PC celeb says that by putting Holliday on the cover of a magazine in this day and age is sending a dangerous message to millions of women.

“As Britain battles an ever-worsening obesity crisis, this is the new cover of Cosmo,” Morgan said on Instagram. “Apparently we’re supposed to view it as a ‘huge step forward for body positivity.’ What a load of old baloney. This cover is just as dangerous and misguided as celebrating size zero models.”

Model Fights Back

Holliday does not agree that her cover celebrates obesity. She subsequently slammed Morgan on twitter saying:

“To everyone saying I’m a burden to the British health care system, I’m American so you don’t have to worry about my fat a–,” she tweeted. “Worry about what horrible people you are by whining about how me being on the cover of a glossy magazine impacts your small-minded life.”

Holliday added, “I’m not Piers Morgan. I don’t need to troll people to stay relevant. I just get to have an awesome job and do what I love and hopefully change people’s lives. I’m not recruiting people. I’m literally just telling people to love themselves and it just happens to come from a bigger body,” she said.

“People who think I’m glorifying obesity are glorifying stupidity. I am pretty glorious though”

She added on her Instagram:

“I knew that being on the cover of @cosmopolitanuk was going to make waves, but I wasn’t prepared for it to explode like it did ???? Thank you for all of the love the past few days… it’s overwhelming in the most beautiful way. I’m doing my best to enjoy this moment & soak it all in- I’m even having a party today to celebrate! (which I never do!) ???? If there’s one thing I’ve noticed the past 3 days, it’s that we still have so long to go, and that people are eager for change & I’m grateful to be part of moving things forward, for everyBODY”

View this post on Instagram

I knew that being on the cover of @cosmopolitanuk was going to make waves, but I wasn’t prepared for it to explode like it did ???? Thank you for all of the love the past few days… it’s overwhelming in the most beautiful way. I’m doing my best to enjoy this moment & soak it all in- I’m even having a party today to celebrate! (which I never do!) ???? If there’s one thing I’ve noticed the past 3 days, it’s that we still have so long to go, and that people are eager for change & I’m grateful to be part of moving things forward, for everyBODY ????????????????✌???? #cosmogirl #effyourbeautystandards

A post shared by T E S S ???? (@tessholliday) on Sep 1, 2018 at 8:26am PDT

Go Girl!

What do you think? Do you think Cosmo made the right move by making Holliday their cover model? Tell us in the comments below.

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18 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 04 Nov 2022
    1:10 pm
I dont think it sends a dangerous message at all. I think it simply says that everyone out there is a different shape, size, skin colour and hair colour…..we are all different

- - mom101628 said
  - 23 Dec 2018
    10:45 pm
Sorry but someone this size is obese if not bordering on it and that cannot be healthy in the long term. She is happy with her body and she does have a lovely smile, but hopefully she won’t be considered what is the norm just as the stick thin figures are also not the norm. If you want to influence the young then put normal people on the cover ie a 12 to 14.

- - mom7108 said
  - 17 Nov 2018
    3:06 pm
She’s beautiful, we come in all shapes and sizes and it’s important that we all feel represented and can connect with who we are looking at in magazines and media

- - mom81879 said
  - 01 Nov 2018
    1:26 pm
Um, is it just me, but I think she’s beyond a plus size model. She is obese which can’t be healthy

- - tessie said
  - 14 Sep 2018
    11:26 am
I don’t take any notice of these magazines. That woman is complaining about this cover showing a large woman. First off what stood out to me was the tattoos and Tess’s size didn’t bother me. Wonder if the woman complaining did the same thing when the women being portrayed on the covers were stick models. Most of those models looked like an ad for anorexia. Why not focus on her lovely smile?

- - BellaB said
  - 12 Sep 2018
    3:50 pm
She’s pretty, but it’s valid to be concerned about the health issues for people of that size.

- - rovermum said
  - 12 Sep 2018
    9:14 am
Absolutely. We need to not shame people, but celebrate people of all sizes. She loves herself. Who can argue with that. More of us need to have her confidence.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 11 Sep 2018
    1:21 pm
I don’t think this is right. It’s great that she is comfortable with her size but someone that big is going to face health problems and is unhealthy. I think it would be great to put more averaged sized women on there but this lady is quite obese. Put someone on who is a size 12 instead of a 22.

- - littlehandsofmine said
  - 11 Sep 2018
    11:39 am
I think as long as she’s healthy and well, then that’s ok.

- - Blossom said
  - 11 Sep 2018
    11:06 am
If people don’t like the photo they don’t have to keep looking at it.
It may not be what she eats or how she exercises, it could be genetics or a medical problem which she may or may not wish to disclose.

- - Amanda Holland said
  - 11 Sep 2018
    8:41 am
I think she is just as pretty as the skinny models!

- - joanne said
  - 10 Sep 2018
    10:43 pm
It’s a hard one to skinny unhealthy to large just as unhealthy

- - curlytops said
  - 09 Sep 2018
    11:37 pm
Ts good to put women of all sizes and not just the super skinny ones.

- - ralu said
  - 09 Sep 2018
    9:58 pm
I admire her for her attitude ,but she is not my model.

- - mom206279 said
  - 09 Sep 2018
    12:24 pm
According to Catalyst the other night, obesity doesn’t always mean unhealthy. The 150kg sumo wrestlers were much healthier than the 70kg “normal guy”. People come in all shapes and sizes. Its up to them and their doctors to decide if there is a problem.
- mom93821 replied
  
  10 Sep 2018 , 5:18 am
  An interesting point and It truly is more complicated that labelling. Health has so many layers to it. being active and being confident is such a good thing for the health and well being of any woman regardless of size and shape.
- - Ellen said
  - 09 Sep 2018
    7:34 am
I have no idea, as I’m not really into Cosmo, models and celebs and so.
To have a bigger model on their cover might spread the importance of the message of body positivity, which is a good thing. However the problem of obesity is also a reality.

- - mom93821 said
  - 09 Sep 2018
    5:38 am
Good on her and go girl! I would not be concerned about comments by Piers Morgan!