Laura Adlington shared a series of stunning Instagram snaps on Monday as she clapped back at body shamers who have cruelly branded her 'fat' in a bid to 'hurt her'. 

The Great British Bake Off star, 36, who is expecting her first child with husband Matt, looked radiant in a white floral swimsuit as she delivered a powerful message to her followers. 

Alongside the stunning photos, the size 26 body positivity advocate wrote: 'It's always fascinating how quickly people reach for the word 'fat' when they want to hurt you – as if it's the worst thing a person can be.

She added: 'If that's the worst thing you can say about me, maybe I'm doing ok.

'I'd rather be fat than cruel. Fat than dishonest. Fat than judgmental. Fat than someone who thinks another person's body is any of their business.' 

The Instagram post comes after Laura stripped down to her underwear earlier this month as she shared a candid body positivity message. 

The baker is an avid advocate for self-love and often encourages her followers to embrace their figures.

Taking to her Instagram, Laura posed in black underwear in a mirror selfie with 'Not a "before" photo...' penned on top. 

Opening up with her followers, she wrote: 'Lately, my feed has been full of “before and after” photos – most of them starting with a body that looks like mine. Or smaller.

'And I get it – people are allowed to change. To feel proud of themselves.

'But I wish more people would think about how they speak about their “old” selves. 

'Because a lot of us still live in those bodies. Still *are* that body. And it hurts to be reminded, over and over, that your version of a nightmare body is ours.

'The body positivity movement was supposed to make space for people in marginalised bodies, the bodies the world ignores or mocks.

'But it feels like that space is shrinking again – and the loudest voices belong to the people who were never excluded to begin with.

'I’m getting really tired of the fatphobia disguised as wellness.

'Of the casual cruelty in “progress” captions. Of feeling like simply existing in my body is something I have to defend.

'So no, this isn’t a transformation photo… It’s a reminder that this body, as it is right now, is enough. And so is yours.'

It comes after Laura left her followers in tears as she penned an emotional letter to her unborn baby last month.

The star reflected on reaching the halfway stage of her pregnancy after a nine-year fertility battle.

Laura confirmed in June that she is expecting a boy, after sharing the news they were expecting a baby after quietly 'giving IVF a try.'

In the picture, Laura cradled her blossoming bump in a pretty white and blue summer dress while sharing her letter to her baby in the caption of her post.

She began her post: 'Dear baby, We’re over halfway. Can you believe it?

'Some days it still doesn’t feel quite real, and if I’m honest I still feel like I’m living in a dream. Like I don’t deserve this.

'Ever since the day I found out about you, I’ve been waking up at around 4am. I lie there in the dark, imagining what it will feel like to finally hold you.

'I wonder what kind of person you’ll grow into, what your laugh will sound like, what little quirks will make you, you.

'It’s been a really long journey to get here, one filled with a lot of heartache. And although I’d be lying if I said we weren’t both still waiting for the rug to be pulled from under our feet, we are finally letting ourselves dream a little louder.

'I’ve been busy making lists of all the things you might need. I can’t wait to get your pram and start putting your nursery together – tiny steps towards the day you come home. 

She finished emotionally: 'But more than anything, I just can’t wait to meet you. To hold you. To look into your eyes and finally whisper, “You’re here. We did it.”