Former America's Next Top Model winner Whitney Thompson has launched a dating site especially for plus-size women.

The 2008 champion - who was the first full-figured model to win the competition - launches her business venture, The Big and The Beautiful, this week.

Thompson, 24, tells the New York Post that she came up with idea after her personal struggles with online dating.

When I would a "plus-sized model"... guys would expect me to be a really big girl,' she tells the newspaper. 'But if I said: "I'm a model", they were disappointed that I'm bigger. Either way, I wasn't what the guy was looking for.'

Women will pay $40 a month to find love on The Big and The Beautiful.

In another interview Thompson tells celebrity website Radar Online: 'I created this site so people don't have to stress over their profile, but can focus on the fun and excitement of meeting and dating other incredible people of all ... Read more »