I still love EVERY INCH of my body

Alice Pignon discovered that positivity knows no size

- FIONA KINLOCH

As I entered the classroom, I could feel the gaze of 25 sets of eyes dart in my direction. I took a deep breath, pulled on the belt of my robe and watched as it fell to the floor. It was summer 2012 and I was about to sit as the model for a life-drawing class for the very first time.

For most people, the thought of being completely naked while a room full of strangers gawp at you is terrifying – but, truth be told, I wasn’t all that scared. At 5ft tall and a size 16, I instead saw this as an opportunity to increase the visibility of plus-size women in the arts.

Of course, it was nerve-racking pulling off my gown for the first time, but I soon realised my size didn’t matter to the painters. They didn’t see me as a naked, overweight woman, but instead as a series of shadows and lines to interpret in their own way.

The weight kept going up

I’d struggled with my size since I was a teenager, and by the time I hit my 20s, I was a size 14. I’d eat out frequently, gorging on burgers, pizzas and milkshakes, but sugary snacks were my weakness – I was addicted to chocolate, sweets and biscuits, buying huge multipacks on a daily basis.

Though I was aware I should have been eating healthier, I wasn’t too concerned that I was gaining weight. Throughout my mid-20s, I discovered a huge amount of self-love, body positivity and an appreciation for the inclusion and representation of plus-sized people. When I looked in the mirror, I absolutely adored every jiggly, voluptuous and rounded inch of myself. So why would I change?