‘I’VE BEEN TOLD I’M TOO BIG TOO SMALL ’ Aleesha Hansel, 31, who has modelled for brands such as H&M and Speedo, on the pressure to conform to the plus-size sweet spot

deflating. You can’t help but think, ‘If only I could tweak this bit of my body, maybe they’d book me.’ I know other inbetweenies who have purposely got bigger to get work. They’re using the same techniques as bodybuilders to bulk up: protein shakes, less cardio, more weights. They’re not gorging on pizza and takeaways, because that would go to the stomach, which still needs to be flat. They’re now signed to top agencies and have stormed ahead in their careers. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve made the wrong decision to remain at my natural weight, but I feel happy and confident as I am. I’m not willing to sacrifice that for work.

I’ve never been asked to wear padding, but the practice is openly used in the industry. If you pad a size 12 model you can create the illusion of ‘perfect’ curves but still keep her size 12 legs, arms and face. It’s selling a lie.

With the popularity of reality stars such as Kim Kardashian or Lauren Goodger, I’ve noticed that recently a more extreme version of the hourglass with a tiny waist and a larger, sculpted bottom has become desirable, particularly with fast-fashion brands that focus on social media. It’s disappointing because it’s unrealistic and not representative of most of the population. Personally, I don’t know anyone who has achieved that shape without liposuction around the stomach and a Brazilian bum lift.

The plus-size modelling industry has boomed over the past decade, but curve models are mainly used for catalogues or e-commerce. We’re still under-represented on catwalks and in magazine shoots. We’re starting to see glimpses of the reality – belly rolls, cellulite, stretch marks – but we need to see more.