FEELING comfortable in your own body is something most women struggle with, and Alex Aspasia was no exception.

The 29-year-old plus-size fashion model now loves sporting a bikini and showing off her stomach, thighs, and stretch marks, but that wasn't always the case.

Speaking to Fabulous Alex reveals: "If you would have told younger me I would publicly be in a bikini at my size I never would have believed you.

"My mum, she didn't force me, but I had to wear those really ugly one-pieces, covering up as much as I can."

Now the size 26 model loves showing off her body despite the cruel comments she gets online.

"As I get older and more confident, I realised no matter if I wear a one-piece or two-piece I'm still fat at the end of the day.

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"It's like, who are you fooling, you might as well wear the cute bikini you want to wear.

"It's okay to embrace your belly, big thighs, big arms – it's there, it's not going anywhere, it's hot outside and I don't want to be in triple layers."

"I have more than the average person but we need that representation, hit ‘em hard," she adds.

Alex has found that most people in real life have nothing to say about her bikini body, but on social media, it's a different story.

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She recalls being called a “beach whale’ saying: "They're like 'spotted the beach whale.' I'm like 'That's original, at least come up with something good.'"

Others say: "Big women shouldn't show it, big bellies are disgusting, it's gross, but this is a real woman's body, real women have cellulite, stretch marks, rolls."

Not only is Alex's weight a point of contention online, but her relationship with her husband also seems to irk them.

Alex loves the confidence her partner gives her, claiming his unconditional love and support was the reason she first stepped out wearing a bikini in public.

But some people can't seem to wrap their heads around the fact he is skinnier than her.

"There's a sense of entitlement especially when it comes to fat people, we live in a society that shames fat people and tells them they aren't worthy of certain things," she explains.

"So when they see an obese person in love with a partner who is very loving and supportive, they get triggered a lot because they believe inherently they're better than fat people because we live in a society that tells people fat is bad.

"When you see fat people just living their lives, wearing a bikini, in love, going to eat, I do feel like it sparks a lot of jealousy in people, especially fat-phobics because they don't understand – they've been taught that's bad and then they see me and they're like she’s got it all, huh?"

But Alex doesn't let the haters get to her or her relationship and thanks her boyfriend for making her feel incredible in her own skin.

"His love and support make me even more comfortable going to the beach, before him, I wouldn't put on that kind of bathing suit.

"He's a huge influence on how I'm so empowered in my body it takes a special person sometimes to make you feel beautiful."

What's most important to Alex is that she is empowering other plus-size women to get out there and show off their bodies, and is willing to take the hit from trolls on her TikTok account @alexaspasia if it helps them.

"For anyone who is thinking of getting their first bikini do it, whether it's in your house, or backyard put it on, and just know your body is worthy – get it out," she says.

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"Women who look like me, they feel like they can put that bikini on now after seeing me in it, that’s what’s important."

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