Amy Herrmann appeals for everyday models of 'all shapes and sizes'

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Artist launches project designed to show the 'diversity' of women's bodies
300 people have offered to be photographed since it started six weeks ago
Amy Herrmann, the Adelaide artist, says it grew from 'a little side project'
Models say they have been 'empowered' and 'feel better' since taking part

Published: 19:42 EST, 11 July 2015 | Updated: 13:41 EST, 12 July 2015

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An artist is aiming to highlight what everyday women of all ages, shapes and sizes look by photographing 100 volunteer models.

Amy Herrmann, from Adelaide, launched the Underneath We Are Women campaign six weeks ago and has been 'overwhelmed' by the response.

Ms Herrmann said she initially started it as 'a little side project' before she quickly realised the magnitude of what she was setting out to create.

The project is a bid to to create an accurate snapshot of the diversity of all women

'I quickly discovered we needed lots of women to really get the point across,' Ms Herrmann told Daily Mail Australia.

'This isn't about promoting beauty - people can get caught up in thinking this is about beauty of a certain ideal, but it's not. It's showcasing diversity in the physical sense.'

Women who wanted to take part in the project were asked to explain why they volunteered for the project - however no specific body types were requested or required.

'The aim of all this is to show as much diversity as we can with those 100 women,' Ms Herrmann said.

Photographer Amy Herrmann captured 100 volunteer models of all age, shape and size

'I would see ads and posters of women in lingerie or underwear and just couldn't relate to it.

'We want to teach people that what we see in magazine isn't all that is actually out there. Sometimes that can get taken out of context, which is frustrating but it isn't something we can control, but we are really pushing the message of how diverse women are.'

Robyn Jeffery, a mother of three and life-long friend of Ms Herrmann, said it has been a great experience and she had been 'empowered' by it.

'Amy approached me saying she wanted to start up her project... I thought it was a great chance to do something for her but also for myself,' Ms Jeffery told Daily Mail Australia.

'I'm a very timid, very shy sort of person... I guess you could say I'm a bit of a homebody, I really wasn't sure if I wanted to do it.

Robyn Jeffery (pictured) said she has been empowered by taking part in the project

'Then I thought, stuff it, and decided to do it. I don't regret it at all - it's really empowered me and made me feel better about myself.'

A crowdfunding page has been created to help fund the project, and already people have flocked to offer their support and donated.

So far more than $1600 has been pledged, meaning the project was past its first-level goal of $2700 - which is how much it will cost to photograph seven women and produce a promotional video. Each seven women after that opening batch will require another $1200.

Eventually, Ms Herrmann said she would love to see the photos and stories collated in a coffee table book.

Eventually, Ms Herrmann said she would love to see the photos are stories collated in a coffee table book.

'People dismiss this sort of thing and say 'we've seen this before', but to that I say 'have you taken that message it is trying to get across on board?', she said.

'I've said to the people taking part it might change after the first four women, or it might be after the next seven or the seven after that. Or we might get to the end of the 100 and people still won't have changed.

'But we're going to keep doing everything we can and keep trying until that message gets across.'

To support the Underneath We Are Women project, head here.