A woman who was labelled 'too fat to model' now makes a fortune by embracing her curves. Iskra Lawrence, 32, says she starved herself to try and fit into the modelling industry but hit the jackpot when she accepted her body.
The Worcestershire-born model was signed by a casting agency at the age of 15 and stepped into the fashion world. However, she initially struggled to survive in the industry, which proved to be extremely brutal.
The Daily Star reports that the model tried to starve herself as a teen in an attempt to slim down to industry standard. However, after failing to fit in, Iskra decided to embrace her natural curves and is now one of the most successful models in the world.
Speaking about her journey in a candid podcast episode, she told Boss Babe host Natalie Ellis: "I was doing test shooting, I was doing runways but it came apparent very quick that I was not sample size. was told 'your hips are two inches too big and unless you have something to do about it, you are not going to have a career'.
"Some agents came back saying 'you're too womanly', 'you are too curvy', 'you are too mature'. And I'm like 15 years old."
Iskra, who was a UK size 6-8 at the time, continued: "It was an obsession to measure my body because I was told if I would achieve this goal, I would succeed. I spent years of battling my body image and the way to view myself, trying to seek for validation to 'fix' the issue."
Despite her lack of success, everything changed for Iskra when a friend told her about the plus size modelling industry in the US. Iskra stated: "I went to an agency that has a plus size division but they said I was too small and that moment was the breaking point.
"I'm done changing for you and I've got to change this industry, at least in the UK."
Iskra then reached out to the marketing teams of companies like Tesco, M&S and pitched herself as an "in-between size" model for photoshoots. She found a gap in the market, earning around £1,500 a month before her career exploded on social media.
The model then eventually signed for Aerie and became an ambassador for body positivity. She's since walked the catwalk at various Fashion Week shows, partnered with huge brands like L'Oreal and even launched her own company called Saltair.
According to Forbes, Iskra is one of the most prominent leaders of the body positivity movement. Her work has also earned her a spot on BBC World's 100 Most Influential Women and a net worth which is reportedly estimated at over $2 million (£1.6m).
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