Model Charli Howard defies pressure to lose weight

A model, who is smaller than a size eight, has posted an open letter on Facebook claiming she was put under pressure to lose weight because she was deemed "too curvaceous".

Charli Howard, who is 23, received many messages of support after posting the statement alleging her agency - who she does not name - dropped her because of her size.

She said: "I refuse to feel ashamed and upset on a daily basis for not meeting your ridiculous, unobtainable beauty standards."

Victoria Derbyshire programme presenter Jane Hill got the reaction of Caroline Nokes MP, who heads the all parliamentary group on body image and Natasha Devon, a former model and founder of the Self Esteem Team, which visits schools across the country to help teenagers cope with body image and mental health issues.

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