Big Brother star Chad Hurst discusses ‘fat-shaming’ in the male modelling industry

The Big Brother Australia hunk is known for his chiseled abs and muscular physique.

But on Sunday, Chad Hurst revealed he’s been fat-shamed during his career as an international male model.

In an interview with Body+Soul, the resident heartthrob, 27, said: ‘[Before entering the house], I was spending a lot of time overseas modelling, most out of LA.’

‘[But] I don’t do fashion weeks because they’re all after guys who are almost 7ft tall and skinny. I’ve done it in the past for experience but it’s not worth it – you do 12-hour days and get paid peanuts,’ he continued.

Chad went on to say that models face pressure while doing fashion shows as they’ve always got someone ‘telling you that you’re too fat’.

‘With fashion shows, you’ve got someone ripping into you all the time and telling you that you’re too fat… I’m not into that,’ he said.

Chad’s interview comes after he revealed that he’d been bullied as a child for being overweight, before he completely transformed his body.

Speaking to TV Week this month, he confessed: ‘Growing up, I was the fat kid. I was pale and freckly, and had bleached hair that went a bit ranga.’

‘I got duct-taped to a tree once. They used to call me Ch**d, Little Blob and Fatty. I struggled.’

At 15, Chad started working out at the gym and went from 90kg to 75kg.

After becoming ‘addicted’ to lifting weights, he ended up putting the weight back on in muscle, eventually tipping the scales at 102kg with just seven per cent body fat. 

After being told to lose 20kg in order to pursue a career in modelling, Chad ‘stopped lifting weights’ and instead focused on doing ‘cardio every day’.

Once he dropped some of the muscle, his modelling career hit new heights and he was eventually sent overseas for work. 

Chad is one of five housemates left vying for the cash prize on Big Brother. 

Big Brother continues Monday from 7:30pm on Channel Seven