Plus-size model Tess Holliday proudly puts her growing baby bump on show in a figure-hugging knit dress less than one week after hitting out at body-shaming critics

25 April 2016

Just days after speaking out against her body-shaming critics who claim her size 22 frame means she doesn't 'look pregnant', plus-size model Tess Holliday has proudly shared snapshot of herself cradling her growing baby bump.

The 30-year-old, who is eight-months pregnant with her second child, took to Instagram on Saturday to post a photo herself modeling a black knit dress while leaning against a blue brick wall in Long Beach, California.

'Baby bump'n,' she captioned the image, in which she is modeling a dress from Forever 21's plus-size collection.

Expectant mom: Tess Holliday cradled her growing baby bump while she posed in Long Beach, California, over the weekend 

Self-confidence: The 30-year-old took to Instagram last week to share this selfie as she revealed that at eight months pregnant her body looks the same overall and she is 'okay' with that

Tess ended the post using the hashtags '#33weeks' and '#babyhollidayontheway' to celebrate her ongoing pregnancy. 

In the picture, the colorful tattoos on Tess' arms, legs, and feet are visible thanks to her sleeveless dress, which she paired with black and leopard platform sandals. 

Less than a week ago, Tess had taken to Instagram to hit out at critics who have commented on her body in relation to the health of her unborn child since she announced her pregnancy.

'Having another baby has been a beautiful process and at times, frustrating,' she wrote. 'As I enter my eighth month, my body overall looks the same other than my belly and I'm okay with that.'

However, she went on to say that it is 'not cool' that she has had to learn to be okay with the fact that people still think it's okay to comment on her body. 

Tess revealed that while some people tell her she doesn't 'look pregnant' someone else cruelly said she must be having 'quadruplets' because of the size of her body. 

Almost there: Tess posted this photo of her baby bump to celebrate her eighth month of pregnancy

Healthy baby: Earlier this month, Tess revealed that her unborn child is 'kicking like crazy' and 'never stops moving'

Meanwhile, critics consistently tell her she is putting her 'baby at risk' along with a 'slew of other uneducated statements' that aren't true.  

'When "celebrities" are pregnant in the press, they look glamorous, toned and are eager to talk about how they are going to get the baby weight off,' she explained. 'While I've done my best to look as put together as possible, that's not real life, and it's not for most women. 

'I'm not the first plus-size woman in the public eye to have a baby and share it with the world, and I certainly won't be the last.'

Tess argued that she is 'part of a small minority' that will tell other women 'it's okay to not have a perfect baby bump, or not show at all, to be plus-size and have a healthy child, and most importantly to find a care provider that doesn't shame you about your size'. 

'It's also okay to tell someone to f**k off when they give you unsolicited advice about what's "best" for you and your baby,' she added. ' As women, we know what's best and that's our business.. No one else's.' 

Baby on board: Tess showed off her baby bump in Palm Springs when she was six months pregnant

Building a family: Tess also has a 10-year-old son named named Rylee, but this is her first child with her fiancé Nick Holliday (pictured) 

Tess' powerful message about being a plus-size woman in the public eye was accompanied by a photo of herself posed in her bra and underwear with one hand resting on her stomach. 

Earlier this month, the plus-size model celebrated her eighth month of pregnancy by sharing a candid photo of her growing baby bump.

'Another month, another bump photo,' she captioned the image. 'Eight months and kicking like crazy, he/she never stops moving.' 

Tess purposely left her beautiful face out of the image, which instead focuses on the curve of her body. 

This is a second pregnancy for Tess, who gave birth to her 10-year-old son Rylee when she was 20. However, this is her first child with her fiancé Nick Holliday, and the expectant mom couldn't be happier. 

The model continues to proudly share photos of her changing body, and pregnancy hasn't stopped the body activist from using social media as a means to hit back at her critics.