Tess Holliday: Plus-Size Model Making History

Tess Holliday is redefining what it means to be a supermodel and is gracing the cover of People Magazine’s body issue. Holliday is the world’s first size-22 supermodel.

Inside the magazine, on newsstands Friday, Holliday says she faced rejection for many years (14 to be exact!) when auditioning for gigs.

"Nobody was interested," she says of her first open casting. "I got one call back and they said, look, you have a pretty face, but you're too short and you're too big."

Despite the relentless bullying from her peers the 29-year-old beauty decided to continue and pursue her dreams. Eventually she signed with a major agency back in January and since then life’s been a whirlwind for her.

The 5’5” model has already landed campaigns with Benefit Cosmetics and Torrid.

Holliday says, “I just knew that I could do it," she says. "I wasn't the best, and I still am not the best. The key to it is just doing it.”