Once too shy to model, plus-size woman's stripped-down photo featured on city buses

As Jillian McClary was doing her own makeup and hair for her first-ever modelling gig, she overcame shyness in preparation tobe one of the first plus-size modelsfeatured on a Halifax Transit bus billboard.

"Part of me feels like, what's taken so long?" McClary said from her Beaver Bank home.

"To finally see that beauty's everywhere and in every size and shape. It's good to be a part of that."

McClaryisfeatured in an awareness campaignfor Halifax Boudoir, a photo studio specializing inintimate,boudoir-style portraits for clientsof all sizes.

The ad's slogan,"Be Empowered," reflects the company's photography and mission statement to promote all body types.

'I never had the confidence'

McClary, 34,responded to the company'smodel callfor women between the ages of 28 and 45who wear sizes 12 to 20.

"I've never been asked to model before, but I neverhad the confidence," she said.

About 300 women applied within an hour, said Jenn Gregory, Halifax Boudoir's president and principal photographer.

Gregory saidshe learned through her advertising companythatMcClary'sphotos would be the first Halifax Transit billboardto feature a plus-size model who is not promoting fashionor a business that specifically targets women who wear plus sizes.

The photo features the dark-haired McClaryposing on a bed wearing lacylingerie, a necklace and smoldering eye makeup.

"I haven't seen any average-slash-curvy girls used for any promotion aside fromAddition Elle," said Gregory. Addition Elle is a Canadian chain of clothing stores that sells plus-size clothing and lingerie.

Gregory says it doesn't matter ifMcClary is the very first to appear on the buses. What matters is the message to "celebrate every body type," she said.

Campaign runs for 1 month

The billboard campaign, which started today, will run for one month.

Once lacking self-esteem, McClary saidthegig has given her a big confidence boost.

She hopes to be the kindof role model she searched for as a young girl.

"I want to send a message to my daughter.I want to send a message to women, in general, that beauty comes in every shape."