'I don't airbrush my stretch marks or back fat': Model hailed as plus-size world's Gigi Hadid says the fashion industry needs to change as she shares VERY candid belfie
- Iskra Lawrence, 25, from Worcestershire taking plus-size world by storm
- Model was scouted when she was 13 and has worked all over the globe
- Iskra works closely with the National Eating Disorder Association
With her enviable body and Gigi Hadid-esque looks, it's little surprise that Iskra Lawrence is taking the plus-size world by storm.
The 25-year-old, from Worcestershire, has been carving out a career as a successful model and body activist - and one look at her sultry portfolio snaps proves why she's in demand.
The model, who was scouted when she was 13 after entering an ELLE girl search, tells FEMAIL she wants to shake up the industry and educate women about positive body image.
Iskra Lawrence, 25, is being touted as the plus-size world's answer to Gigi Hadid and says instead of trying to change her body she's going to change the industry
The model, who was scouted when she was 13, has been quietly carving out a career as a successful model and body activist - and one look at her sultry portfolio snaps proves why she's in demand
She said: 'I realised at around 18 that instead of trying to change my body to fit into sample sizes I would try to change the industry.
'When I signed with my current agencies they helped me realise that I could be a successful model at my size. So I focused on becoming the best version of myself, work harder, research nutrition and work out to feel strong and healthy.'
The size 14 model admits she hasn't dieted for about six years and feels 'so happy' never counting calories but instead focusing on incorporating healthy choices into her routine.
'I love making a green juice every morning but also treating myself to pizza - it's about moderation,' she said.
One photo posted on her account shows Iskra posing in a small orange bikini - it's shot from behind, showing off her curves - and has the caption: 'I haven't airbrushed my tiger stripe stretch marks or my cellulite lightening bolts or my back fat - because this is my body'
Iskra has been working closely with the National Eating Disorder Association and is also going to become a facilitator for the Body Project so she can teach young women and men about eating disorder prevention and the relationship between the media and body image
Iskra regularly takes to social media to describe her body saying: 'It's real and I love posting pictures showing how confident I am because society has taught us we have "flaws" and I'm telling you who gives a...'
Iskra is popular on Instagram, with more than 379,000 followers, as she posts photos from glamorous fashion shoots as well as her every day life.
It's also an outlet for her to push her positive body image message. One photo posted on her account shows Iskra posing in a small orange bikini - it's shot from behind, showing off her curves.
She captioned it with: 'Oh hey there. Yes this is clearly a booty pic but do you see why?
'Because I haven't airbrushed my tiger stripe stretch marks or my cellulite lightening bolts or my back fat - because this is my body.
'I love it it's real and I love posting pictures showing how confident I am because society has taught us we have "flaws" and I'm telling you who gives a...
'Because you are more than your body and you get to decide what beauty is #everyBODYisbeautiful.'
The image has had more than 32,000 likes and generated nearly 3,000 comments, praising her figure
Iskra works out three or four times a week for up two to hours a session and shows off the results on her Instagram page
Iskra is popular on Instagram , with more than 379,000 followers, as she posts photos from glamorous fashion shoots as well as her every day life
Iskra works out three or four times a week for up two to hours a session. To warm up she does high intensity training like box jumps, burpees and skipping. Then she hits the weights and does squats, lunges and leg presses.
The passionate model also runs a website, RunwayRiot, alongside her modelling duties and wants it to be a fashion, style, and beauty portal for women of all sizes.
'I want to celebrate the underrepresented and often overlooked community of curvier women who deserve to have just as many stylish choices as everyone else,' she said.
Iskra maintains that every editorial fashion spread you see on RunwayRiot will be 100 per cent unretouched and she hopes to encourage women who may have before felt left out by the fashion industry to feel empowered and enjoy shopping and styling.
She added: 'I'm excited to show designers that they should start creating more sizes because these women feel beautiful and want to wear the same clothes and rock them no matter what size.'
She said: 'I realised at around 18 that instead of trying to change my body to fit into sample sizes I would try to change the industry'
Iskra maintains that every editorial fashion spread you see on RunwayRiot will be 100 per cent unretouched
The Gigi-alike, left, says she loves how Miss Hadid, right, speaks to her followers and is aware of the positive impact she can have by showing girls she loves and looks after her body
On top of that, Iskra has been working closely with the National Eating Disorder Association and is also going to become a facilitator for the Body Project so she can teach young women and men about eating disorder prevention and the relationship between the media and body image.
The Gigi-alike, who says she loves how Miss Hadid speaks to her followers and is aware of the positive impact she can have by showing girls she loves and looks after her body, says her ultimate goal is to get compulsory self-care, body image and nutrition classes into schools.
'With more education, we can save lives from both anorexia and obesity,' she maintains.
Sharing her advice for anyone starting out in the industry, Iskra added: 'Don't compare yourself to others, I didn't fit in and I thought there was something wrong with me but when you realise that is your beauty - your individuality.
'Use that power to make yourself irreplaceable.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3343281/I-don-t-airbrush-stretch-marks-fat-Model-hailed-plus-size-world-s-Gigi-Hadid-says-fashion-industry-needs-change-shares-candid-belfie.html#ixzz3tNxZIfHv
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