A plus-size girl defied beauty standards with a sultry free diving performance.

While videos of the water activity often feature supple young women gliding through the ocean, Sharry Lei Dinglasan wants to encourage those with all body types to take part.

Footage shows Sharry Lei wearing a light blue swimsuit as she explored the depths and posed for the camera in Batangas province on August 10.

Sharry Lei, who has been free diving for two years around the country's pristine islands, organised the underwater photoshoot to celebrate her birthday and to encourage other women to try the watersport.

She said: ‘For those who want to try or who have yet to try freediving, please do.

‘This activity will lessen your mental stress. You can free-dive even if you don't know how to swim.

‘All body types, shapes, sizes, and ages can also freedive. You don't need to be a mermaid, it's accessible to all body types.'

Most freediving videos show young women with an alluring, mermaid-like presence and lean body types due to factors like buoyancy and reduced water resistance.

However, Sharry said that men and women of all shapes and sizes can excel at freediving with the right training and technique, as the sport focuses on breath control, relaxation, and mental focus rather than specific physical characteristics.