'Her body is in perfect working order': Australia's first plus size model weighs in on Tess Holliday - and says the size 26 star is a 'good role model' 

  • Chelsea Bonner launched Australia's first plus size modelling agency
  • She was one of the country's first plus sized models in the 90s
  • Ms Bonner has defended Tess Holliday's size and said she's healthy
  • She also spoke out about photoshopping in advertising 
  • Ms Bonner is the subject of tonight's Australian Story on ABC  

By Lauren Ingram For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:22 EST, 21 March 2016 | Updated: 00:54 EST, 21 March 2016

Chelsea Bonner, one of the first plus size models in Australia, has spoken out about Tess Holliday being compared to an extremely thin model on Instagram by fitness blogger Ashy Bines. 

Ms Bonner, who says that Ms Holliday is a personal friend of hers, spoke candidly about the controversy, saying that you can't judge somebody's health off of a photograph. 

'Her body is in perfect working order because otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to fall pregnant,' Ms Bonner told Daily Mail Australia. 

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Role model: Plus size model and owner of Bella Management, Chelsea Bonner (above), has spoken about the criticism models like Tess Holliday receive on social media

Role model: Plus size model and owner of Bella Management, Chelsea Bonner (above), has spoken about the criticism models like Tess Holliday receive on social media

'Her body is in perfect working order': Ms Bonner said that Ms Holliday (above), who is a friend of hers, is happy and healthy

'Her body is in perfect working order': Ms Bonner said that Ms Holliday (above), who is a friend of hers, is happy and healthy

Ms Bonner also said that Ms Holliday works out and is a role model for young women. 

'Tess goes to the gym, she takes care of herself and she loves food, and she's very open about that,' she said. 

'I think Tess is a good role model because she’s not telling people what size they need to be, she's just proud of who she is.'

The model, who is the daughter of 70s glamour couple Tony and Nola Bonner, started her career in the 90s when there was barely any plus sized models in Australia. 

Telling her story: Ms Bonner is being featured on the ABC's Australian Story program tonight, speaking about modelling and her struggles with body image

Telling her story: Ms Bonner is being featured on the ABC's Australian Story program tonight, speaking about modelling and her struggles with body image

'She's not telling people what size they need to be': The model says that Ms Holliday is a good role model for young women 

'She's not telling people what size they need to be': The model says that Ms Holliday is a good role model for young women 

She has said that it was very difficult for plus size girls when she started modelling, and although it's improving there's still a stigma. 

'I’ve had TV presenters off camera tell me if they gain two kilograms their producers go crazy,' she said. 'It's awful.'

The model, who is the subject of Australian Story on ABC tonight, said she also felt pressure growing up because of her famous parents and being in the spotlight.

Trailblazer: Ms Bonner was one of the only plus sized models in Australia in the 90s, and later launched the country's first plus sized modelling agency

Trailblazer: Ms Bonner was one of the only plus sized models in Australia in the 90s, and later launched the country's first plus sized modelling agency

Good genetics: Ms Bonner is the daughter of 70s glamour couple Tony and Nola Bonner (above), and grew up in the spotlight

Good genetics: Ms Bonner is the daughter of 70s glamour couple Tony and Nola Bonner (above), and grew up in the spotlight

She said she struggled with body image issues because she didn't feel represented in the media and that she thinks photoshopping has gone too far. 

'You can talk to schools till the cows come home but until young women pick up magazines and see someone who looks like them it won’t make a difference,' she said passionately.

There are slow changes, however. Ms Bonner's plus size modelling agency, Bella Management, represents Robyn Lawley, who recently became the face of a Patene hair campaign.

Beauty standards: Ms Bonner said that the pressure on women to be thin in huge, and that she'd had TV presenters tell her they get in trouble if they gain two kilograms

Beauty standards: Ms Bonner said that the pressure on women to be thin in huge, and that she'd had TV presenters tell her they get in trouble if they gain two kilograms

Plus size and proud: The model said that things are changing in the modelling industry slowly, and points to campaigns like Robin Lawley's Patene shoot that wouldn't have happened before

Plus size and proud: The model said that things are changing in the modelling industry slowly, and points to campaigns like Robin Lawley's Patene shoot that wouldn't have happened before

This is something Ms Bonner says had been almost impossible to achieve before. 

'We had companies that once they found out the model was over a size 10 wouldn't book them for hair and beauty campaigns,' she explained. 

'It is changing. Lorna Jane have just booked one of models who is a size 14 for a fitness campaign. Seeing big fitness company starting to see it’s not about size it’s about fitness and health is really great.'

Australian Story featuring Chelsea Bonner airs tonight on ABC at 8:30pm.

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