"On my first night out postpartum strangers called me 'fatty' - but I'm a plus-sized size mum and love my size 20 body"

A plus-sized mum who was shouted at and told to “go on a diet” on her first night out away from her baby - says she is "proud" of her body.

Jaz Harris, 31, has always been confident in her size 20 body but was shocked when strangers heckled her in the street on her first night out since having her son Vinicius-George, now two.

The strangers called Jaz “fatty”, “obese girl” and yelled that she should “go on a diet” before following her and her friend, Deanna Byron, 29, down the road.

But despite the comments “knocking her” initially, Jaz now “accepts and loves” her body and didn't respond to them.

She says she is the “fittest and healthiest” she’s ever been and is embracing her size as a plus-sized model.

Jaz, a model and content creator, from Rochford, Essex, said: “Nobody should have to put up with hate speech – whether it’s about their appearance, their sexuality or their ethnicity.

“I’m fed up with it being normal and accepted. It’s disgusting.

“I am so proud of my body and don’t want anyone else to feel discouraged because of their size."

Jaz had always been confident growing up but truly found self-love after a solo trip in May 2018.

Shortly after returning she met her fiancé Ellis Smith, 25, a football academy director, and they welcomed their son Vinicius-George Smith, now two, on 27 August 2021.

They cherished their son's first months - especially after being warned they may not be able to conceive due to Jaz’s polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)diagnosis - a common condition that affects how a woman's ovaries work.

Jaz didn't put pressure on herself to shift any baby weight but was feeling good when she was invited on a friends hen do in January 2022 - her first night away from her baby.

She said: “I hadn’t got dressed up for a night with the girls in a long time – I was so excited.

“I did feel a bit nervous about leaving Vinny, but I knew Ellis would take care of him so just wanted to make sure I enjoyed time with the girls instead of worrying."

While heading home from her night out she was heckled by three men.

Jaz said: “They commented ‘alright darlings’ as we walked past and asked us where we were going, but my friend said we weren’t interested and were going home.

“After that they turned round and started heckling.

“They called me a fatty, obese, told me to lose some weight and that I was ugly.

“I didn’t turn round, but their voices were getting louder so I knew they were following us.

“Luckily, my friend’s boyfriend was picking us up at the end of the street. He’d got out of the car to see what was going on, but I just told him to get in and drive – I didn’t want to give them what they wanted or cause any trouble."

Since the incident Jaz has re-found her confidence and wants to stop the pressure of having to 'bounce back' after birth.

She said: "There’s so much pressure on women to bounce back after pregnancy.

“I wanted to show people what ‘normal’ looks like, and how proud I am for my body and the joy it’s brought to my life and my little boy.

"I think the term bounce back is horrific. It can't be bounce back belly it should be bounce back with you."

Jaz shows off her plus-sized figure online and said she is trolled daily.

She said: "The word fat is thrown around like glitter.

"I'm the fittest and healthiest I have ever been.

"Your size shouldn't offend you.

“I’ve come a long way on my self-love journey, and I want to encourage other women to do the same.”