‘I chose lingerie because photographs of fat woman in lingerie are rare, so this was a form of protest and self-acceptance,’ Mariana, 46, told Daily Mail Online. 

If you’ve got it, flaunt it: Photographer Mariana Godoy called on a group of plus-size volunteers to take part in her lingerie shoot, asking them to bare their bodies in the hopes of proving that being big is beautiful

Fighting back: The group wants to prove that the word ‘fat’ doesn’t have to be a cruel insult, but can be reclaimed by larger women and turned into something far more positive

Baring it all: Mariana, who is from Brazil, explained that she didn’t originally intend for the women to pose in their underwear; the idea came instead from one of the volunteers

‘I think if a fat woman sees the images, she will feel the power of the girls who were photographed. The power of self-love, to love each definition of love. To be unique and wonderful. 

‘The models who appear topless chose to pose that way themselves, they want to choose the way they feel loved.’

The photos feature several different full-figured women, posing in lingerie or even topless. Shot in vivid color, the photos highlight every dimple, curve and stretch mark, with the women displaying each aspect of their bodies with pride. 

Strike a pose: Although many Brazilian women have curvy figures, Mariana revealed that the body type is still ‘judged and condemned’

Nothing to hide: The photos highlight every dimple, curve and stretch mark, with the women displaying each aspect of their bodies with pride

Powerful picture: Some of the images were captured in the streets of Brazil, with these two women taking the opportunity to proudly show off their colorful body art, alongside the city’s graffiti

In many of the photos, the women also bear slogans scrawled across their bodies in Portugese such as: ‘My Body My Rules’ and ‘Fat and Healthy’. 

Despite brunette, brown-eyed curvy beauties being somewhat commonplace in Brazil, Mariana explained that blonde, blue-eyed and slim-hipped women are still considered to be the most beautiful in the country. 

But with this new project, she aims to remove the stigma attached to being a larger lady, and bring a new, positive meaning to the word fat.

‘I want to prove that not every obese or fat person has health problems,’ she explained to Daily Mail Online. 

‘A thin person may also have health problems. Being healthy has nothing to do with your size. 

All shapes and sizes: Each of the women who took part in Mariana’s shoot is beautiful in their own way and the images are supposed to celebrate their individuality

No shame: ‘I want to prove that not every obese or fat person has health problems,’ Mariana told Daily Mail Online of her picture project

A moving message: ‘I think if a fat woman sees the images, she will feel the power of the girls who were photographed,’ Mariana added

No offense: While many women see the term ‘fat’ as being an insult, Mariana and her models want to show that the word only has a cruel meaning if you allow it to

‘I grew up understanding that the word ‘fat’ was meant offensively, but I want to show the opposite of that. I want to show that being fat is beautiful, and that people have to stop being prejudiced towards larger people.’ 

After receiving the idea for the project from a friend, Mariana sent out an open call for volunteers who share her vision, and found a pack of plus-size ladies more than happy to strip for the cause.

And while Mariana’s fat-focused photoshoot first began as a fun project between her and her friends, she explains that it soon evolved far beyond that, after her images started gaining attention on social media, and more and more women contacted her to ask to be involved. 

‘As soon as I posted the first photo on a social network, everyone admired them and asked me to give continuity to the project,’ she said. 

Gaining attention: Mariana’s photoshoots first began as a fun project with her friends, but as soon as she began posting the images on social media, more and more women asked to be involved 

Healthy and happy: Mariana hopes that her photos will help to prove that not all larger people have health problems

Confident: None of the women in the images are afraid to showcase their bodies, and Mariana hopes that the pictures will inspire other women to find the same level of confidence in their appearance, no matter what their size

Naturally beautiful: The models have not been airbrushed or Photoshopped, but are happy to show off ever bit of their bodies with pride

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