Plus size model Tess Holliday has called for more 'races and body types' to be showcased in designer catwalk shows.

The size 26 (US size 22) Mississippi-born model aired her views on today's Lorraine after designers including Victoria Beckham have been criticised for using painfully thin women to parade their latest collections at New York and London Fashion Weeks.

Tess, 29, told Lorraine Kelly: 'There needs to be diversity in the industry, it's nice to turn on the TV or look in a magazine and see someone who looks like you and to feel like you can identify with them.

'We need to embrace different body types and talk about it more and not brush it under the rug, there's not one way to be beautiful.'

Tess has enjoyed worldwide success as a plus size model since she first posted pictures of herself online in 2010.

She made history in January by becoming the first model of her size to be signed by a top agency - British company Milk Model Management - and has been named by Vogue Italia as one of the world's most influential plus-size models.

During her blossoming career so far, she has featured in advertising campaigns for clothing brands Yours Clothing and Simply Be, promoted Benefit products and appeared on the cover of People magazine.

But while the 5ft 4in model, who is a mother to nine-year-old son Rilee, says she is grateful for the success she has had, she thinks there should be more women like her representing fuller figures.

She said: 'I am fortunate to do what I love and to look the way I do and not conform to society's standards of what they consider beautiful. I hope one day there are all kinds of races and body types on the catwalk and in magazines.'

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Tess, who is set to appear at The Curve Fashion Festival, an event in Manchester celebrating plus-size clothing, said 'it is so important' for young women to see all shapes and sizes on catwalks and in magazines.

In a previous interview with The Guardian, she said it took time for her to become confident about her size, as growing up in southern America she was often called fat and mocked for her appearance.

Tess said her own father, who she is no longer in contact with, was among those who would fat-shame her.

'He'd say I had a pretty face but he would belittle me and tell me that I couldn't do certain things because of my size,' she said.

After Tess's mother split with her father, the family had further heartache when her mother was shot twice in the head by her new fiance, leaving her paralysed.

Tess said having a disabled mother gave further fuel to the fire of school bullies, who already mocked her pale skin and weight, and she dropped out of school at 16 with her mother's support.

After moving to Seattle and then L.A. she worked as a make-up artists until pictures she posted of herself on website Model Mayhem led to her career as a plus size model taking off.

Now Tess, who is engaged to Australian Nick Holliday, said being called fat no longer phases her.

'To me it's just a word, but it wasn't until I discovered the body positive community that I became OK with it,' she revealed.

She hopes she can help other women become more body-confident by accepting their size.

She said: 'I think I am a good advocate for plus-size women. I know what it is like to live in a big body and have struggles. I try and always stay positive and be honest and encourage other women to live their best life.'

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