Plus-size model Iskra Lawrence reveals she was fat shamed by her own FAMILY who told her certain clothes made her look 'big'

She is sharing her positive body messages with the world but Iskra Lawrence revealed she has even suffered fat shaming from her own family.

The 25-year-old, from Worcestershire, has found Instagram fame for her liberating messages and her refusal to retouch any of the snaps she shares with her 1.9 million followers.

But the size-14 model has told how when she was younger relatives would comment on her size and even told her not to wear certain clothing because it made her look 'fat.'

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Size 14 Iskra revealed when she was younger her family would comment on her size and even told her not to wear clothing because it made her look 'fat'

Iskra also struggled with acne when she was younger and would pile on foundation because of comments about her spots

In a video posted on her website RunwayRiot, Iskra said: 'I remember family members told me you can't wear those type of boots that cut off on your calf because your legs look too big and it makes your legs look fat.

'All these things, they add up and they take a toll and they are hurtful and upsetting.'

The model, who was scouted when she was 13 after entering an ELLE girl search, advised her fans how best to tackle people close to them who were guilty of body shaming.

Iskra explained: 'Today I wanted to talk about, what if somebody close to you is a body shamer? What if they're body shaming you, how do you deal with that?

'I've had personal experience from this. Back in my teenage years I suffered with bad skin and would have acne and breakouts and someone would tell me: "You can't leave the house like that without any makeup on. You've got spots, it looks terrible, go and put some makeup on."

'So I'd run upstairs and cake my face - which actually is really bad for your skin as it makes spots worse to constantly have makeup on them.

Iskra said throwaway comments about size and appearance are hurtful and 'add up' and encouraged women to speak to stand up for themselves

Iskra advised talking to people who are giving criticism to find out why they're doing it because it's a reflection of their attitude

She was so self-conscious  and 'insecure' she would even use waterproof 'concrete' foundation so she could go swimming with her makeup on.

She said: 'I would go swimming lessons with this thick foundation on because I was so insecure about my skin. I started biting my nails to cover my face because I had such bad break outs.'

She said receiving these kind of comments in your house is difficult because you 'can't even escape it'.

Iskra continued: 'I was at the time struggling to get into the modelling industry and being ridiculed there and called names. I was struggling with things so to have it in the household for me is the final straw and can push you into being really insecure.'

She's concerned it can lead to 'damaging habits' for young women if they take the criticism on board.

She said: 'This is actually a reflection of how they feel about themselves and they're probably harbouring their own insecurities.'

She continued: 'Talk to them, maybe find the root cause or complimenting them on a daily basis, bringing out the positive rather than the negative.

'You should stand up for yourself. Tell them, "I appreciate your opinion but that really hurt me".' 

The passionate model also runs a website, RunwayRiot alongside her modelling duties and wants it to be a fashion, style, and beauty portal for women of all sizes alongside her totally unretouched Instagram snaps

Iskra and her friend Alex Light, a fashion editor from London, right, recently launched the #HeartNotHate initiative, which asks women to write down a compliment to either their friend or family member, snap a picture and upload it to a social media channel with the hashtag #HeartNotHate

'The ways I dealt it with it when I was younger, initially I shut it off and I shouted back and I ignored it. Then I went and ran upstairs and put the makeup on because it made me feel insecure so I felt like I had to.

'Instead take a stand and instead of getting upset about it, take a stand and say: "Actually, I don't care if I have a breakout, I know I'm beautiful because of more than my skin."

'Or if it's about your size, "I'm happy and comfortable in my skin" as long as you're healthy and happy.

'Those comments when I was growing up really hurt me and you shouldn't have said them like that.

'And those family members are really upset and didn't realise it was that damaging and that hurtful.'

Iskra has campaigned against trolls vehemently and with her friend Alex Light, a fashion editor from London, and has recently launched the #HeartNotHate initiative, which asks women to write down a compliment to either their friend or family member, snap a picture and upload it to a social media channel with the hashtag #HeartNotHate.

Iskra previously told FEMAIL she's been called everything from 'fat cow' and 'obese' to 'disgusting' and even been asked if she has a disease. 

The size 14 model hasn't dieted for about six years and feels 'so happy' never counting calories but instead focusing on incorporating healthy choices into her routine

Iskra previously hit back at trolls who call her a 'fat cow' with a striking image of herself covered with packets of crisps, left. The model also posted a video of herself eating crisps and wrote: 'The message is who gives a F what anyone else thinks of you', right

She said: 'It's something I can laugh about because it's so ridiculous – I can picture that person hiding behind a keyboard and it's their insecurities – but a lot of people who follow me were upset by it so I saw it as a chance to make an example, to stand up.

'Whoever you are, this is a reflection of you and if you're putting negativity out there, you're only going to get negativity back so if you're positive and loving, I'm sure positivity will come back to you.'

'I've been pushing body campaigns a lot but what I haven't seen much of is celebrating another person, celebrating a friend or a family member who might be struggling or dealing with body issues and needs that kind of pick-me-up,' said Iskra.

'We're basically trying to combat body shaming and encourage body positivity. We hope to - at the very least! - prompt people to think twice before saying something negative, and just really spread good vibes and encourage women to love their bodies,' added Alex.

Iskra has always been vocal on body positivity and previously hit back at trolls who called her a 'fat cow' on social media with a powerful image of herself covered with packets of crisps.

Iskra, who wore nothing but nude lingerie for the image on Instagram wrote: 'I'm sorry I couldn't help myself...This is for anyone who has ever been called fat.'

The model shared a comment she'd received from Instagram user Sean Brown and sarcastically thanked him for his 'inspirational words'.

It read: 'Fat cow. It's only cause every f****r on this planet is obese that that's the norm. Plus-size models? give me a f*****g break. Everyone needs to stop eating McDonald's, the NHS is f****d because of people like her eating too many bags of crisps.'

Iskra ended her post: 'Opinions are like a***holes - everyone's got one.'

Afterwards she posted a slow-motion video of her eating a crisp and added: 'PS I do not condone binge eating. I eat whatever I want in moderation. 

'I will eat crisps but I'll also make healthy home cooked meals and workout regularly. The message is who gives a F what anyone else thinks of you. You are the only one who decides yourself worth.' 

Iskra Lawrence posted two shots of her side by side in an identical outfit of a crop top and dark purple underwear to show how easy it is to fake a thigh gap

Iskra warned her followers not to be taken in by pictures posted online or to be too concerned with their size

The model previously told FEMAIL: 'I realised at around 18 that instead of trying to change my body to fit into sample sizes I would try to change the industry.

'When I signed with my current agencies they helped me realise that I could be a successful model at my size. 

'So I focused on becoming the best version of myself, work harder, research nutrition and work out to feel strong and healthy.'

The size 14 model hasn't dieted for about six years and feels 'so happy' never counting calories but instead focusing on incorporating healthy choices into her routine.

Two weeks ago she posted on Instagram: 'I am a US 12 and UK 14 for those of you who ask. But size doesn't matter. Health comes in many shapes and sizes and is also your mental health. I hope that we can stop labelling people and putting such an emphasis on size when we are all so much more than that.'

Iskra also runs website RunwayRiot alongside her modelling duties and wants it to be a fashion, style, and beauty portal for women of all sizes

Iskra regularly posts unretouched images on social media and in December shared a snap of her derriere, writing 'who says cellulite is a flaw?' 

The passionate model runs RunwayRiot alongside her modelling duties and wants it to be a fashion, style, and beauty portal for women of all sizes.

Iskra maintains that every editorial fashion spread you see on RunwayRiot will be 100 per cent unretouched.   

Indeed, this month, Iskra showed her followers how easy it was to fake a thigh gap in selfies.

She posted two snaps side by side in an identical crop top and dark purple underwear, with the caption: 'I'll be the first one to tell you pics are all about good lighting and angles.'

Iskra said: 'I realised at around 18 that instead of trying to change my body to fit into sample sizes I would try to change the industry,' pictured in a bikini on Instagram

The first image showed her flashing her abs with her legs together and her thighs touching. 

However in the second she leaned her body forward and pushed her bum back, standing with her legs slightly apart to resemble a 'thigh gap'.

Iskra wrote: 'No thigh gap or thigh gap, who cares. We all think we want different things and we should because we are all different, there's no wrong way, just be the healthiest and happiest for you.  

'Always remember social media's not real life, never let anyone else's pics make you feel insecure about yourself. If you don't look like her and she doesn't look like you that's how it's meant to be.

'You are meant to be YOU no one else, your body is your home so love and respect it. When you look after it beautiful things happens.' Iskra finished her message with #EveryBODYIsBeautiful. 

Fans were quick to applaud Iskra's positive message which has been liked more than 100,000 times.