A PLUS-size city youtuber has backed size 24 model Tess Holliday, after she appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine.

Tanisha Degutis, who has an Instagram page and Youtube channel celebrating plus-size fashion, has called the image ‘ground breaking.’

The Cosmopolitan cover sparked a polarising debate around body image.

Miss Degutis, 28, said: “Tess is a really inspiring and an overall amazing woman."

Miss Degutis met Tess two years ago when she did a meet and greet in Birmingham and described her as “pretty awesome.”

“She just does what she wants to do and what she feels passionate about regardless of what society thinks. I think its pretty awesome what she has achieved.”

“Thanks to her and other plus-size divas, straight size brands are opening plus-size sections, so there is more choice and now being overweight, you can wear trendy clothes, and express yourself much easier.”

However, Tess Holliday’s photograph on the cover of Cosmopolitan was called ‘dangerous’ by TV presenter Piers Morgan, who said it was promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, and "glorifying obesity."

Miss Degutis said: "I think it is really silly to say that putting Tess on cover of a magazine will make girls want to be 300 pounds. I think message is 'You can be happy and successful regardless of your size, height or past', and it's very empowering. It definitely didn't gave me any 'i should put on weight' vibes"

“I think it was breath-taking, and more ground-breaking, I can understand why people may think it’s controversial, being that she isn’t tall and is bigger than the standard plus-sized model, but she is beautiful and bold, yes she has stretch marks and cellulite but most of us do. I think it’s an eye opener.

“Women with curves are just the same as any other women. They want to wear nice clothes and look good regardless of their age and weight.”

Miss Degutis agrees with Tess who recently appeared on ITVs This Morning, saying things in the fashion world are changing.

“Most brands have a plus size line and if they don’t they are missing out.”

Miss Degutis currently lives and works in Worcester in a clerical position but hopes to extend her youtube channel and launch her own plus-size clothing brand in the future.