GROWING up Bishamber Das was used to hearing people criticise her for her size or tell her she was "beautiful for a big girl".

But her curvacious figure has helped to launch her into the limelight as an Asian plus-size model.

She has even beaten David Hasselhoff's daughter in a beauty contest and her worldwide social media following has led to her being recruited as the face of Yours Clothing in the Middle East.

But, more importantly, she is challenging the perception of beauty and has become a role model for thousands of girls and young women, encouraging them to be confident in their own skin.

"My journey has been difficult because I don't think people have ever seen a pretty, big girl showing that it is okay to do this," says Bishamber, who grew up in Sunny Hill, Derby.

"I get trolls on the internet – people have compared me to hippos and elephants on social media. I laugh it off but I understand the im ... Read more »