Size 22 model Tess Holliday slams the 'silly' full-figured fashion stars who want to ban the term 'plus-size', insisting it's 'important' for larger women to have their own labels

• The 30-year-old sat down for an interview about body positivity and called out other models for putting down a label that helps other women
• She expressed confusion as to why people would have hate for a a term that has 'never been used as hurtful'
• Models like Ashley Graham and Robyn Lawley have previously spoken out about their dislike of the term, as has actress Melissa McCarthy

As plus-size modelling has gone big over the past year, many of it's biggest stars have expressed a desire to escape the label - but not Tess Holliday.

In fact, the 30-year-old size 22 stunner recently told Paper Magazine that not only does she embrace being called a plus-size model, she thinks the term is 'very important'.

'It's never been used as hurtful, it's something that's basically just for women to kind of find where they want to shop, I guess,' she said.

Throwing curves: Tess Holliday, 30, has said that she believes the term plus-size to be 'very important' to women coming to terms with their bodies

Saying her piece: The size 22 model also claims that the label helps women know where to shop for clothes

'I do think it's very important, especially for young women who are kind of coming into their bodies, and older women who are becoming more OK with their bodies, to have terms for being bigger.'

The red-haired beauty also hit out at other models who are looking to ban the term from the industry, calling the whole idea 'silly'.

'When [plus-size women] look online, or look in magazines, they see that label, or see that term, they feel like they're not alone,' she said. 'They have something to identify with. I'm really a firm believer in calling it what it is.' 

One of Tess' fellow models Ashley Graham is one of those who would prefer the label to disappear, claiming she prefers to be known as 'curvy', a sentiment echoed by the likes of other fashion stars, including Robyn Lawley and Tyra Banks, as well as actress Melissa McCarthy.