Plus-size model Tess Holliday takes to NYFW catwalk in a statement 'sample size' dress

Tess Holliday walks the catwalk at Chromat's NYFW show. [Photo: Getty]
Tess Holliday walks the catwalk at Chromat's NYFW show. [Photo: Getty]

Tess Holliday let her outfit do the talking at Chromat’s New York Fashion Week show on Sunday.

The plus-size model, 34, walked the catwalk in a white dress emblazoned with the phrase “sample size”.

Sample size is a fashion industry term that refers to the standardised proportions fashion designers use to make women’s clothing. This tends to be US size 0 to 4 (the UK equivalent is size 4 to 8).

Holliday wears a UK size 26, according to The Sun.

Tess Holliday walks the runway for Chromat Spring/Summer 2020 in a white corset dress. [Photo: Getty]
Tess Holliday walks the runway for Chromat Spring/Summer 2020 in a white corset dress. [Photo: Getty]

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As she reached the end of the catwalk, Holliday – who earlier this year gained headlines when she came out as pansexual – defiantly pushed up her breasts and shook her body: a move that the show’s spectators enthusiastically applauded.

Holliday is an advocate for the body positivity movement, which promotes confidence at any size or shape.

She started her own body-positive campaign, called #EffYourBeautyStandards, in 2013 and regularly shares images of herself in swimwear and lingerie.

On her Instagram account, she described walking in the Chromat show as “one of the most memorable and emotional moments” of her career.

Holliday was joined on the catwalk by the likes of plus-size model Veronica Pome – who is the first Polynesian woman to star in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit – and model Mama Cax, who walked with a prosthetic leg.

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Rapper Rico Nasty, from Maryland, US, also performed at the show.

The Chromat brand has become synonymous with bringing greater diversity to the fashion industry, with casting director Gilleon Smith telling Paper Mag last year: “I would like to see more people of different abilities, ages, body shapes, races, ethnicities – more inclusive casting on the runway.”

Last February, the brand’s NYFW show featured transgender model Maya Mones.