I’m plus-sized and was brainwashed by family to follow strict rules on how to dress, now I feel curvy and fabulous

A PLUS-sized model has told how she found confidence in her curves after ditching outdated stereotypes about how she should dress.

Stunning Bianca Krigovsky, 25, often wows her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media when she posts skimpy bikini pictures and flaunts her figure.

But the registered nurse, now based in Australia, wasn’t always so proud of her body as a youngster.

She said: “Growing up my family was extremely influenced by diet culture and the social norms that followed. 

“These were some of the rules that were absolute in my household. I remember all the little girls at the swimming pool would get to wear bikinis but I had to have a one piece. 

“I was probably around seven or so but this still sticks out to me that I was different from everyone else so I needed to cover up and wear a one piece because my body wasn’t “built for a bikini”.

“I remember being told that I shouldn’t run up hills because my legs will become big like tree trunks and avoid eating carbs and nothing past 7pm. 

“My brothers were allowed to eat whatever they wanted but I was always strictly monitored and was always aware of my appearance. 

“This all came from a good place however this has definitely had an impact on my journey with my body confidence. 

“Having these rules and ideas brainwashed into me from a young age, it wasn’t until I went to uni and lived on campus that I started to think for myself.”

At uni, Bianca found a passion for fitness and learned to embrace her body type.

Now a petite curve model, she stopped trying to be skinny and instead focused on her health and well-being,

She adds: “Feeling good about my body made me purchase my first bikini, it was high waisted and brightly coloured and i loved it. 

“It was definitely nerve wracking and felt illegal but it was thrilling to make my own decision about a piece of clothing i was always told wasn’t for me. 

“I slowly got more and more daring, breaking these rules as I went.”