Obese woman who is 'proud' of her stretchmarks becomes an online star after losing HALF her body weight and winning a bikini competition 

  • Conner Rensch, from Nebraska, weighed 271lb (19st) and was bullied at
  • She lost 130lb (9st 2lb) in a year and won a bikini competition 
  • Says she is proud of her stretch marks and has become online star

A morbidly obese woman who tipped the scales at 271lbs (19 stone) has become an online sensation after shedding half her body weight to become an inspiring fitness model.

Conner Rensch, who lost 130lbs (9st 2lb), was bullied over her size at school and called 'fat and ugly', with one student even telling her she should 'just kill' herself. She now says she is proud of her stretchmarks as they show how far she's come.

The 26-year-old, from Nebraska, who is a hit on Instagram where she shares pictures of her journey, said she gained weight due to having a very sweet tooth, and finally managed to shift the pounds with help from a nutritionist and a personal trainer.

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After losing the weight, she entered a bikini contest and won event though it was her first time in a two-piece 

Conner, 26, from Nebraska, pictured before the 2015 bikini competition, said she gained weight due to having a very sweet tooth, and finally managed to shift the pounds with help from a nutritionist and a personal trainer

Hard work: She consulted a personal trainer and a nutritionist to drop the pounds  

Conner Rensch, who lost 130lbs (9st 2lb), was bullied over her weight at school and called 'fat and ugly', with one student even telling her she should 'just kill' herself 

After getting down to her goal weight, Conner, who is now 144lb (10st 2lb), plucked up the courage to enter the 2015 World Beauty Fitness And Fashion contest - in which she wore a bikini for the first time.

She scooped first place in the competition, and has since become an online inspiration, with 36,000 followers on Instagram alone following her weight-loss journey.

Speaking about entering the bikini competition, Conner said: 'It took me a while to share my story.

'Posting photos of myself online was scary and I never imagined I would be doing a bikini contest but the most powerful thing during weight loss was I realised anything I put my mind to I can do.

'It was first time I wore a bikini. I showed people that I am proud of what I have done. 

She said that before, she was a 'constant eater, I was always hungry and would want to feel very, very full'

Conner, pictured at 271lb, said: 'I was constant eater, I was always hungry and would want to feel very, very full - it comforted me'

Conner met with a nutritionist and a personal trainer. She scrapped processed food and began kick-boxing, cardio and weight-lifting which helped her to shed 23lb (1st 6lb) in 21 days, pictured on a bridal photo shoot

Conner met with a nutritionist and a personal trainer. She scrapped processed food and began kick-boxing, cardio and weight-lifting which helped her to shed 23lb (1st 6lb) in 21 days, pictured on a bridal photo shoot

'I am so proud of my scars and stretch marks as they tell my story and how far I've come.

'It was amazing to get up there and they shared my story as I walked out - it was such a proud moment of me, all my family was there.'

Conner said her weight had always been an issue, and she remembers being told she was fat aged just six.

At school she was bullied and using food as a comfort, she quickly ballooned.

Despite repeated diet attempts, she was unable to slim down and at 18-years-old, weighing 271lb (19st), sought professional help. 

Conner said: 'My mum says I just loved food and I have such a sweet tooth.

'I was constant eater, I was always hungry and would want to feel very, very full - it comforted me.

'At school both boys and girls bullied me. They would leave me out, call me ugly and fat.

Followers: She now documents her progress on Instagram and Facebook 

Conner said: 'The biggest change was emotionally - I was my biggest bully. Now I've learned to be kind to myself'

Flashback: Conner, pictured aged 19 at 271lb, said: 'When I see photos of me before, they make me feel sad in terms of how I felt.'

Conner, pictured aged 19 at 271lb, said: 'When I see photos of me before, they make me feel sad in terms of how I felt. 'I dealt with depression and emotionally coped with food. But I am also very proud of that girl'

'When I was in 6th grade, a girl on instant messenger told me I should just kill myself.'

The isolation led to depression but Conner refused to let the bullies win and, as a freshman at college, turned her life around.

Determine to learn everything she could, Conner met with a nutritionist and a personal trainer.

She scrapped processed food and began kick-boxing, cardio and weight-lifting which helped her to shed 23lb (1st 6lb) in 21 days.

The dramatic weight loss gave her the motivation and momentum to continue with her new lifestyle.

She added: 'The biggest change was emotionally - I was my biggest bully. Now I've learned to be kind to myself. 

A little help: She had, however, gotten skin-removal surgery after losing weight 

Conner is proud of her stretch marks because 'they tell my story and how far I've come,' pictured after she lost weight

Conner said: 'I'm chubby girl stuck in a skinny girl body. I eat healthy 80 per cent of the time and whatever I want the rest'

Conner said: 'I'm chubby girl stuck in a skinny girl body. I eat healthy 80 percent of the time and whatever I want the rest'

Stunning Conner keeps a trim figure with a balanced diet and regular exercise.

But she admitted: 'I'm chubby girl stuck in a skinny girl body. I eat healthy 80 percent of the time and whatever I want the rest.

'I'm the same girl but I am happier and healthier.'

This year Conner launched her business, My Butterfly Journey, an online coaching service to help others get fit and healthy. 

'When I see photos of me before, they make me feel sad in terms of how I felt.

'I dealt with depression and emotionally coped with food. But I am also very proud of that girl.'

 

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