Anjana Bapat, a 'Plus Size model' from Mumbai, describes herself as a belly dancer, actor, programmer, and a cat mom. Anjana is a bold and a confident millennial who is ready to take the world by storm. She has walked the ramp for Lakme Fashion Week and other fashion shows among others. And when she isn't walking the ramp, she is at home petting her cat.

Anjana Bapat posts stunning pictures of herself which ranges from her ramp walks to belly dance practices and from petting her cats to capturing her travel escapades and much more. We wondered when and how did she realise that she wanted to be a plus-size model. To this Anjana says, "I wanted a platform where from I could reach out to people and tell them that they can be beautiful and comfortable in their skin. Plus size modelling had just gone big in the west and I couldn't wait for it to enter India and I seized my opportunity when it did."

Anjana Bapat wants to promote the message of body positivity through her work and plus size modelling career. From petting her cat as a doting cat mom to posing in fashionable clothes, from walking the ramps and slaying the modelling field to belly dancing and perform backends and much more - Anjana is full of life.

In picture: Anjana Bapat simply looks beautiful as she poses for the camera while holidaying in Spain.

Anjana Bapat is much more than a plus-size model. Anjana loves cats and has two cats as her pets. It is quite evident as Anjana calls her pets as her firstborn and her first love, for her cats are her stress buster and to put it in her words: the love of her life.

In picture: Anjana Bapat shares a group hug with her pet cats.

Anjana Bapat is bold and beautiful and doesn't shy away from promoting body positivity. About the challenges that she faces as a plus size model, Anjana says, "There still isn't enough work, which is slowly, very slowly changing. The biggest challenge is that brands expect us to work for free or for peanuts still playing the "we are giving you an opportunity" card. Another issue that we face is fake opportunities. We really need to screen the options that come our way because there are people trying to take advantage of our wish to work and that can land an unsuspecting aspiring model into so much trouble."

In picture: Anjana Bapat looks sensuous in a red saree as she pouts for the camera.

Anjana Bapat loves dancing and the whirlpool of her Instagram posts and belly dancing videos is a legit proof of that. From dancing on a Madhuri Dixit song in her first play as an actor to teaching belly dancing to her students and creating fusions of different dance forms is what Anjana loves to do. Besides belly dancing, Anjana also loves other forms of dance including Bollywood, Contemporary, Salsa, to name a few.

In picture: Anjana Bapat performs on a Madhuri Dixit song during her first dance theatre play ever.

How has belly dance helped her as a plus-size model? To this Anjana says, "Belly dancing definitely played a role in boosting my confidence. This is a form where the camera turns inwards and you explore aspects and muscles in your body you did not know existed. Every new step is a meditational journey and conquering it feels like a victory. Belly dancing has helped with respect to modelling for me to get more and more comfortable with my body as it is, curves, dents, cellulite, jiggles, wobbles, the whole deal!"

In picture: Anjana Bapat showing off her belly dancing moves!

Besides being a plus-size model, Anjana Bapat is also an actor and dancer par excellence. She actively takes part in stage shows, theatre, and dance. Born to perform, Anjana leaves no opportunity to showcase her skills be it stage or the fiery looks ramps at fashion shows.

In picture: Anjana looks uber cool as she celebrates Christmas in Netherland.

Today, modelling has come a long way and with the number of plus-size models in India on the rise, and it only goes to prove that the industry is no longer about being skinny and fit. Anjana is one of the top plus-size models in India. Her rise in the industry is proof enough that size is just a number and curvy models are here to rule the industry.

Anjana Bapat is one of the top 10 candidates who was selected to walk the Lakme Fashion Week Ramp in 2018. Anjana walked the ramp for 'All' - the plus size store and looked elegant in the collection 'Never Hyde' by designer Narendra Kumar. About the ramp walk experience, she says, "A fashion week/show venue is like one magnificent being with the nerves, arteries, veins, heart, brain all doing their jobs in tandem. It can get a bit overwhelming but I primarily remember being ecstatic, especially the first time around."

In picture: Anjana Bapat slays the ramp with her curvy pose and poised plus-size look as she walks the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week, 2018.

Anjana Bapat further adds, "Speaking of the moment on the ramp, it's like a movie. Everything else switches off, it's just me and the ramp and the cameras at the head ramp and I'm the queen, the goddess, the protagonist of my movie. Mind, the cloak may get stuck in your slippery heels but you still gotta walk the walk lassy. Such a rush!"

Anjana captions this one: It's great to have role models, only please let one of them be you!

Anjana Bapat shares stunning pictures and gives a leaf out of her life to her followers on Instagram. It is her self confidence and hard work that she has gradually seen her rise as a plus-size model. Her pictures have been well appreciated which has led to her amassing more than 14 thousand followers on Instagram.

Anjana captions: Fashion belongs to us all, beauty cannot be measured in numbers and measurements, you're a diva (or a divo) if you think you are one if you decide you are one.

Anjana Bapat has been blessed to have worked with a lot of people who are truly respectful of her as a person and for her talents. But she talks about one instance as she says, "I remember shooting for a song with a year plus-size dancer friend of mine 5-6 years ago. The make-up dada was very sweet, but without having any idea as to why we were there, he told us, "Aapka kuch comedy scene hoga.." (You must have some comedy scene). I did not have the confidence or energy back then to correct him. Later after we gave our shot, he walked up to us and complimented our dancing tremendously which was nice of him."

Anjana captions: Shrug all that stress off the shoulder. Off shoulders look great on you, give them a shot!

Being a plus-size model isn't an easy cakewalk as it seems to appear. On a daily basis, Anjana faces sexual harassment, body shaming, and objectification. Haters and trollers have time and again taken to her Instagram pictures tried to deter her self confidence and body shame her. Ugly, fat, b****, dumbass, and what not. She has been labelled by haters and on certain instances, they have even gone on to the level of calling her truck and another hater calling out her bra size and name shaming her. So, how does Anjana Bapat deal with haters, harassers, and stalkers?

During the MeToo movement, Anjana Bapat came out strongly in support of women who were harassed, stalked or objectified. So, with so much hatred and harassment around, how does she deal with all of these things? To this Anjana says, "The first thing I do when such messages and comments come by is, report them. I then take a screenshot and block the account. After this, I post these stories. My purpose of doing so is to create awareness for the people who call the #MeToo movement a sham. I'm trying to open people's eyes to what a woman faces every day."

Further talking about her #MeToo experiences, Anjana Bapat adds, "The abuser gets absolutely no attention for his misdeed because that is like flogging a dead horse. The abuser is seeking attention, positive or negative, by posting what he posts, he is not going to change by me schooling him. I pity his existence and give him no further thought. My stories are intended more as a wake-up call for some people who prefer being in denial of what women go through or ask us to ignore such people."

In picture: Anjana Bapat rides a bicycle in London.

Anjana Bapat voices her opinion strongly on the objectification of women, she says, "Objectification is so deeply rooted into our society, that it is difficult to explain that it is wrong to a well-intending person, let alone a perv. Having said that, I do not try to explain to these people what is wrong in what they are saying, hoping that blocking them will get them to think about their words and others who read my story will think before saying something that may seem inappropriate."

Anjana Bapat captions this one: Stay awesome. Please don't be creepy. Not that I think twice before blocking. But try!

On what the future holds for plus size models in India, Anjana Bapat says, "I think at present, the supply is more than the demand and I love that. I am hopeful that the demand for plus-size models will increase in the years to come. I hope that (us) the models don't ever forget the fundamental purpose of inclusiveness and acceptance for which we have chosen to enter this field and take a stand."

In picture: Anjana Bapat looks dapper in an off white shrug!

Anjana Bapat loves yoga and is often seen sharing insights from her yoga practices. From acing the pigeon pose trying her hand's side splits to other yoga asanas such as matsyasana, upward dog pose and much more, Anjana is funny and humorous too.

Anjana Bapat equally loves to travel and its evident from the pictures that she keeps posting from her travel escapades. From posing in the backdrop of picturesque gardens in Spain, walking down a historic bridge in Colorado to belly dancing on the beaches of Portugal and much more, Anjana simply loves to give insights into her colourful life and leaf out of her travel diaries. 

In picture: Anjana Bapat seems to be in love with the city of Barcelona, Spain.

Anjana Bapat loves reading books and she likes to capture herself amidst libraries and bookstores across the globe. She captions this one: Livreria Bertrand is the oldest bookshop in the world still in operation!

Anjana Bapat is also a selfie queen and posts some stunning selfies from her everyday travel, work and much more. From morning selfies to the countdown to Halloween and from the stunning red dress picture perfect to scary ones with her cats!

In picture: Anjana simply steals the show with her beautiful smile as she poses for a picture!

Anjana captions this photo: A sleep-deprived hung over me in an adorable top gifted by the mommy. I'm yet to taste a cake better than the ones mom makes. Birthday hangover.

Actor, dancer, singer, and cat mom are few of the facets of Anjana Bapat's life. Anjana also loves to sing and is born and brought up in Mumbai. Anjana also works as a programmer for an MNC but it his her love for plus-size modelling and passion for belly dancing that keeps her going!

In picture: Anjana Bapat shows off her curves as she eagerly awaits to kickstart the weekend with belly dance.

On health, Anjana Bapat says, "Define what beauty and health mean to you. Speaking of health, I do promote working out, I believe, however, that it is healthy for EVERY size, not just plus sizes. Work out for endorphins to make you feel upbeat. Ultimately, however, that too is an individual's choice and I respect that."

More often, Anjana Bapat seeks to empower women and motivate others to be themselves. Whether be it body shaming, sexual harassment or objectifying of women in all spheres of life, Anjana voices her opinion strongly and makes it a point to empower those who are body shamed and objectified irrespective of their gender.

In picture: Anjana Bapat looks comfy in a sleeveless outfit as she urges women to shed their inhibitions with regards to wearing sleeveless clothes!

While the number of plus-size models in India is on the rise, we wonder if we will ever get to see plus-size models competing in fashion shows and walk the ramp more often. When we asked Anjana Bapat the same, she said, "I'm not confident about representation in Miss India, I hope this happens though. But I'm sure that in other shows there will be representation in years to come. Like I said before, we aren't going anywhere. There is no stopping a confident millennial who has her act together and loves herself."

For people who are overweight and are body shamed time and again, Anjana says, "I know it's not easy, at times unfair, but it doesn't have to be this way. You deserve to be treated with respect, and that begins with you. Once you begin to love, respect and accept yourself, a huge change will follow. You will have better relationships, you'll feel fantastic, you'll look forward to each day, at least your appearance will not be what brings you down."

In picture: Anjana Bapat looks absolutely stunner as she poses for a photo shoot in a t-shirt!