Playboy Star Mocks Plus-Size US Model With Cruel Snap

Story ByAnastasia Smirnova, Sub EditorJoseph Golder,AgencyCentral European News 

Russian Playboy model and actress Nastasya Samburskaya has poked fun at American plus-size model Ashley Graham by posting a copy of herself mimicking one of the US woman’s pictures.

Graham is a proponent of body positivity and was the first size-16 model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has given TED Talks advocating self-acceptance with regards to body images and has been praised by women on Instagram for sharing photos showing her cellulite.

Picture Credit: CEN/@samburskaya

But the 32-year-old Russian model is clearly not a fan after she shared a photo of herself kneeling on the floor while thrusting out her belly for her 10.8 million Instagram followers – copying a similar picture by Graham taken when she was pregnant.

Samburskaya, who is currently holidaying in the Indonesian tourist island of Bali, wrote a message on the picture saying: “I want to support Ashley Graham. This picture is so beautiful, body positive and natural. I understand that I am at the very start of my plus-size modelling career. It is the first day of holidays for me at an all-inclusive hotel. Therefore I am waiting for all the multimillion contracts! I expect your support, friends.”

Picture Credit: CEN/@ashleygraham

In January last year Graham told CBS Sunday Morning that she does not like the word “plus-size” and she would rather we not use it to describe her. She said: “I think the word ‘plus-size’ is so divisive to women. I think that when you use the word ‘plus-size’ you’re putting all these women into a category: ‘You don’t eat well.’ ‘You don’t work out.’ ‘You could care less about your body.’ ‘You’re insecure.’ ‘You have no confidence’.”

Some netizens saw the funny side of the Playboy model’s post, while others said that she should not have poked fun at Graham.

‘Alenamimimishka’ commented: “This is such a vulgar photo. It looks terrible and so ugly.”

‘Kseniyamaleeva777’ said: “Why are you so mean, Nastasya?!”

‘Aprelka3459’ wrote: “Your version of the photo is terrible. But your body is so slim that even an extra portion of salad would spoil it.”

Picture Credit: CEN/@samburskaya

Samburskaya is best known for her role in the popular Russian sitcom ‘Univer. New Dorm’.

She has also appeared on the covers of Maxim magazine and the Russian and Ukrainian versions of Playboy.

Samburskaya lives in the western Russian capital Moscow and is currently appearing in a play at the Malaya Bronnaya Theatre, one of the city’s most famous theatrical venues.

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