This model is showing the harsh realities of bikini shopping for the average woman

This is Sonny Turner, she's a 19-year-old model from London signed with Milk Model Management.

She often fills her Instagram with messages of body positivity.

As Summer approaches, so does bikini season. The shops are filling up with swimsuits and the beaches are too.

On Tuesday, Sonny posted a set of three pictures to her Instagram, showing the harsh realities most women face when bikini shopping.

Posing in a ill-fitting black bikini in a changing room, the model wrote:

The reality of bikini shopping as a thick/plus-size woman.

Changing rooms can be scary places.

I am wearing the largest size from one of the most popular high street stores sells in bikinis which is 12-14.

The average dress size for a women in the UK is 16. So despite being labelled "plus-size" Sonny is actually smaller than average.

She added:

High street store bikinis do not cater for women of my body type. Majority of online stores don't either. NO ONE GETS IT so for any upcoming designers I got come tips for u:

Big breasts need underwire for support and a youthful lift.

We need cup sizes that correlate to bra sizes and they need to go past DD.

We need cups that actually cover more than our nipple.

We need cups that bring our boobs together so there’s not a massive gap in-between them.

We need straps that aren’t so tight it’s as thought our neck is about to snap off.

We need bikini bottoms that don’t give us wedgies when we walk.

We need string bikinis that don’t expose our vagina lips.

We need swimsuits that fit over our hips without dragging the neck of the costume down causing neck ache

We deserve more choice in the selection for our body type that isn’t just the generic black swimsuit with a kimono. Yes, believe it or not, some of us actually want a thong bikini, the whole selection doesn’t have to be high-waited.

We’re gonna need you to stop using models with fake boobs that aren’t a real depiction of what the bra would look like on our droopy ones.

It’s not fair that we can’t wear cute swimwear just because we are built differently.

We deserve to walk into a store and pay £10 for a nice bikini without breaking the bank and our body confidence.

 

In May, the model shared a picture of her in a swimsuit to her Instagram with the caption:

Tips on how to have a summer body 1) put a swimsuit or bikini on 2) that's it.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Sonny said:

Ever since I went through puberty I have struggled to find swimwear that is supportive and stylish.

I knew the swimwear wouldn't fit but I just wanted to try it on to confirm. I wanted to see if any other women felt the same and clearly they do. 

I was shocked at the [online] reaction. I have realised that you don't need to be plus size to feel these struggles. Women of all body size struggle during the summer months.

Sonny told indy100 that she posted the photo because "every summer I feel the same" adding that:

I think it's time people realise some change needs to happen.

I got into the body positivity movement through modelling.

She added that she was inspired but other models on Instagram.

I saw that my body wasn't conventional model size and I saw Iskra [Lawrence, a model and body positivity campaigner] and how curve modelling was becoming a thing, and then Instagram gave me a platform to share it.

I didn't realise how many women felt the same. I've realised that you don't have to be plus size to feel the struggle of the bikini.

More: This woman silenced body-shaming trolls - in four amazing photos