Plus size model Simone Mariposa's #WeWearWhatWeWant movement gets women in clothes bodyshamers say they are 'too big for'

Mariposa is one of a number of models improving plus-size visibility and challenging attitudes

(Instagram)

A plus-size model's hashtag has prompted a movement for women who have been body-shamed or told they are too big to wear certain clothes.

Simone Mariposa, a Los Angeles based blogger and model, started the #WeWearWhatWeWant hashtag one week ago.

Mariposa, who is currently looking for representation, told the Independent she was inspired to start the hashtag after seeing a woman on her timeline talking about an experience of body-shaming.

Mariposa said she and a number of women are made to feel uncomfortable about wearing revealing or form-fitting clothes or swimwear.

“I read a story on my twitter timeline from a woman, @thesoulasylum, and she talked about witnessing a woman being looked down upon for wearing something that didn't hide her body. So many women have been in this same position and it can be detrimental to our self-esteem. I wanted women to know that they're allowed to show off their bodies and be proud of themselves.”

Thousands have taken up the hashtag in response and a number of women have been encouraged to share their own images. Some re-shared the pictures they had deleted after being body-shamed by online trolls.

“The hashtag serves as a community based on leading by example," said Mariposa. "Women are seeing other women who look just like them, sharing their stories and being open about their journeys toward confidence. Women are bring empowered by each other, and it has caused a butterfly effect.”

Mariposa said attitudes towards plus size women within the fashion industry are beginning to shift thanks to the curvy models challenging ingrained ideals about size, “but there’s still a limit on this”.

“They still want to see women who are on the smaller spectrum of plus size, the size 12s and 14s. When visibly plus women are making statements about being body positive, they're deemed 'too big' and they're promoting obesity."

By promoting her own sense of body positivity was not her suggesting women should aim to look her, she added.

“I believe people should know that by being a confident plus size woman I'm not telling people to gain weight and be big like me. I want people to love themselves the way they are, and they don't need to conform to society's beauty standards in order to love themselves and be proud of their bodies. Also, size does not directly determine health. There are many visibly plus women who lead healthy happy lives.”