NY woman who lost 100lbs shows off body in lingerie ad

A woman who lost 100lbs after years of struggling with self-esteem issues is now flaunting her form as a lingerie model. 

Grace Doty, 26, from New York, began her process of losing weight back when she was 15 years old after realizing – at 290lbs – she was a bit different from all of her friends.

‘The real wake-up call moment for me was when I realized that I couldn’t go to the mall with my friends and wear any of the clothes there,’ said the musician.

The pay-off: New York musician Grace Doty, 26, is showing off years of hard work as a lingerie model after losing 100lbs through diet and exercise

The pay-off: New York musician Grace Doty, 26, is showing off years of hard work as a lingerie model after losing 100lbs through diet and exercise

Back in the day: Grace struggled with weight issues as a teenager, deciding to make a change when she was 15 years old

Back in the day: Grace struggled with weight issues as a teenager, deciding to make a change when she was 15 years old

She added: ‘This was also around the time I started to pursue music as a career and I hated standing on stage feeling insecure about my body when all I wanted was for people to focus on the music.’

In order to achieve her goal, Grace took to studying nutrition and fitness, saying that the turning point in developing her habits came when she discovered that there is not a ‘one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss.’

Through her research, hard work and dedication, Grace was eventually able to create a healthy lifestyle that suited her needs. She subsequently shed a whopping 100lbs simply through her own hard work.

But at the end of the transformation, she was left with masses of excess loose skin, which she claims ‘can be worse than the weight.’

Making her way: Grace studied fitness and nutrition in order to find the right path to weight loss for herself

Making her way: Grace studied fitness and nutrition in order to find the right path to weight loss for herself

Real fighter: After losing the weight, Grace had masses of excess skin leftover, which she said was ‘worse’ than the weight itself. She eventually had it removed through surgery

‘The excess skin on my stomach eventually prevented me from exercising, playing sports, enjoying social events, even wearing jeans and a t-shirt,’ she said. 

Eventually, she decided that in order to truly restore her confidence, she needed to go under the knife and have it removed.

The surgery resulted in more than 7lbs of flash being removed from her body. Grace admitted that she doesn’t talk much about the surgery because of the ‘stigma’ around it, but claims that she didn’t get it to lose more weight, but rather to ‘reap the benefits of all of my hard work.’

Now, at 187lbs, Grace is one of seven women competing in the Curvy Kate’s American Star in a Bra modelling competition, showing off her curves and stretch marks with pride in a series of lingerie photos.

Strength to strength: Grace aims to show other women how they can gain body confidence

Strength to strength: Grace aims to show other women how they can gain body confidence

Showing off: She is one of seven competing in the Curvy Kate's American Star in a Bra modelling competition, which touts a prize of a modeling contract

Showing off: She is one of seven competing in the Curvy Kate’s American Star in a Bra modelling competition, which touts a prize of a modeling contract

Grace hopes to take the top spot so she can pass on the things she has learned over her own journey to loving her body.

‘I’d love to see more models with bodies like mine – bodies with a story,’ she said. 

The winner of the contest – which will be decided by a public vote – will sign a year-long contract with TRUE model management and receive a year’s supply of underwear.

The new face of the D-K cup lingerie retailer will be announced on November 15.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk