Model Charli Howard says being photographed with ‘rolls’ isn’t brave: ‘It’s just what we look like’

'I know very few women who don’t have ‘rolls’ when they sit down'

Olivia Petter
Wednesday 10 July 2019 15:04 BST
Comments
(Rex Features)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Model Charli Howard has called out people for describing her as “brave” because she wore a bikini and posed sitting down in a magazine photoshoot.

Howard stars on this month’s cover of Women’s Health and proudly posted a snap from the shoot on Instagram.

“I know very few women who don’t have ‘rolls’ when they sit down, yet we rarely see that in magazines,” the 28-year-old captioned the photo.

“Being shot like this isn’t ‘brave’, it’s just WHAT WE LOOK LIKE!” she added. “And we need to see more of it alongside various other sizes.”

Howard went on to praise the publication for having her as a cover girl “at [her] natural size”.

The model also posted a clip revealing the inside of the magazine, writing “we all deserve to see our body shapes represented on magazine covers.

“And guess what – there ARE girls who go to the gym who DON’T look like they have washboard abs. This one’s for you!”

Howard’s posts have prompted thousands of supportive messages from fans praising her body positivity.

“I think I know maybe one girl in real life who doesn’t have rolls sitting down,” wrote oner person.

“And I slouch when I’m not posing so it’s just natural for the body to bend that way. I like what you said about it not being brave and just being real.”

Another added: “You are amazing, thank you for normalising something that’s... well, normal!”

Howard’s magazine cover comes months after she fronted a lingerie campaign for Agent Provocateur in celebration of Valentine’s Day.

For the campaign, the British model penned a love letter to her own body recalling how hard she was on herself as a child.

“I was never satisfied with what you gave me,” Howard wrote, “I put so much focus on looking perfect on the outside that I forgot about the love you offered me from within.

“And the truth is, Body, you were perfect already – I was just blind to it.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in