Size two woman who developed anorexia after being told she was 'too BIG' for the catwalk overcomes the eating disorder to land a top plus-size modelling career 

  • Danielle Braverman was size 2 (UK 6) model and told she was too big
  • Developed anorexia after being told she needed her chest duct taped down
  • After quitting the industry, the now size 14 (UK 18) is plus-size model
  • Poses for top brands such as Boohoo, Misguided, Evans and Simply Be

By Bianca London for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

A former size 2 (UK 6) model who was told she was too big to work has overcome an eating disorder and landed a career as a successful plus-size model.

Danielle Braverman, from Denver in Colorado, developed anorexia after constantly being told she wasn't skinny enough and needed her chest duct taped down for shoots.

After quitting the industry, the now size 14 (UK 18) model learned to embrace her natural body and was soon scouted by True Model Management in New York and Hughes Models in London.

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Danielle Braverman, from Denver, Colorado, was told she was too big to model when she was size 2 (UK 6)
She developed anorexia after constantly being told she wasn't skinny enough but has now beaten her demons to become a successful plus-size model now size 14 (UK 18)

Danielle Braverman, from Denver, Colorado, was told she was too big to model when she was size 2 (UK 6), left. She developed anorexia after constantly being told she wasn't skinny enough but has now beaten her demons to become a successful plus-size model now size 14 (UK 18), right

Now the blonde travels the world posing for top brands such as Boohoo, Misguided, Evans and Simply Be.

Danielle said: 'I started straight-size modelling at college - I was very thin and successfully modelled for years.

'But because naturally I am not that size I was constantly pushing against my curves.

'I was constantly told I needed to lose weight and people would even duct tape my chest down for photoshoots.

'I was endangering my health and sanity and it was very stressful.

'I was binging, had anorexia, I was taking diet pills and watching every calorie. I was looking at an apple thinking it had too many calories.

'I'd feel completely guilty about eating, I was exercising excessively and it became an obsession.'

Danielle, pictured before she became a plus-size model, admits she was very thin and successfully modelled for years but because naturally she is not that size, she was constantly pushing against her curves

Danielle, pictured before she became a plus-size model, admits she was very thin and successfully modelled for years but because naturally she is not that size, she was constantly pushing against her curves

Danielle, pictured on a plus-size shoot, quit modelling, got married and ditched the unhealthy mentality - allowing her curves to blossom

Danielle, pictured on a plus-size shoot, quit modelling, got married and ditched the unhealthy mentality - allowing her curves to blossom

Now Danielle travels the world posing for top brands such as Boohoo, Misguided, Evans and Simply Be

Now Danielle travels the world posing for top brands such as Boohoo, Misguided, Evans and Simply Be

Danielle quit modelling, got married and ditched the unhealthy mentality - allowing her curves to blossom.

The mother-of-two admitted having a family around her meant she eventually grew tired of her problem.

She added: 'I kind of had an epiphany after I had my daughter - I didn't want her to have to go through all that, and I just want her to accept herself.

'I started eating normally and being active and after having two children was a size 12-14 and curvy.

'I feel like this is my true shape, and I am being my true shape. It took me a long time to stop picking on myself, but I got to a point of self-acceptance.

'I started to feel happy just letting me be me.'

Danielle, pictured before her plus-size career, explained: 'I was binging, had anorexia, I was taking diet pills and watching every calorie. I was looking at an apple thinking it had too many calories'
Danielle developed anorexia after constantly being told she wasn't skinny enough and needed her chest duct taped down for shoots

Danielle, pictured before her plus-size career, explained: 'I was binging, had anorexia, I was taking diet pills and watching every calorie. I was looking at an apple thinking it had too many calories'

Danielle has now started a social media campaign called #embraceyourshape to advocate body acceptance

Danielle has now started a social media campaign called #embraceyourshape to advocate body acceptance

It was at this point Danielle decided to start plus-size modelling.

She said: 'The model in me never left. I've always loved modelling, once I was in a healthy state of mind I started plus-size modelling.

'I've never been so happy. Everyone has been so lovely and I have never been so accepted.'

Danielle has now started a social media campaign called #embraceyourshape to advocate body acceptance.

She added: 'We need more diverse bodies in modelling to reflect the wide range of women's bodies.

'I would love to become more of a voice, a body positive advocate and would love to continue to empower.'

The mother-of-two admitted having a family around her meant she eventually grew tired of her problem.
She added: 'I kind of had an epiphany after I had my daughter - I didn't want her to have to go through all that, and I just want her to accept herself'

The mother-of-two admitted having a family around her meant she eventually grew tired of her problem

Danielle and her husband Michael Braverman added: 'I've never been so happy. Everyone has been so lovely and I have never been so accepted'

Danielle and her husband Michael Braverman added: 'I've never been so happy. Everyone has been so lovely and I have never been so accepted'

 

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