American plus-size model Tess Holliday has achieved a career highlight, landing the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine in the UK.
Appearing in an emerald-green swimsuit, Holliday, 33, shows off her growing collection of tattoos alongside the headline: 'A supermodel roars, Tess Holliday wants the haters to kiss her ass'.
"I'm literally a COSMO GIRL!!" Holliday wrote on social media after sharing the news.
"I can't believe I'm saying that!"
Holliday continued: "If I saw a body like mine on this magazine when I was a young girl, it would have changed my life."
However, the decision to make Holliday a Cosmo cover girl hasn't been without criticism, with controversial media personality Piers Morgan sharing his thoughts online.
“As Britain battles an ever-worsening obesity crisis, this is the new cover of Cosmo," Morgan wrote.
He continued: "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 & misguided as celebrating size zero models.”
Holliday was quick to hit back, addressing her critics on Twitter.
“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 ass,” she wrote.
“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.”
Cosmo's editor-in-chief Farrah Storr has also leapt to the magazine's defence, writing: “Some people’s stories and strength of spirit are too important to ignore. Tess Holiday’s story is about so much more than her body."
She added: "Please read it, pass it on to women you know and realise that the secret to surviving in a tough world is by being even tougher.”
