It can be easy to feel deflated about your body when your social media feed is filled with beautifully filtered images of abs and thigh gaps.
But a 23-year-old nursing student from the UK decided to show how easy it is to share a flattering image over one that was more ‘real’.
Milly Smith wanted to use the photos to encourage her 56k Instagram followers that self-love is important, no matter what we look like.
Milly shared two photos side-by-side. The first photo shows her wearing control top tights which reveal a thigh gap and flat stomach, but the second photo shows what her body looks like with the tights down over her stomach and thighs.
She captioned the photo with this message:
“Same girl, same day, same time. Not a before and after. Not a weight loss transformation. Not a diet company promotion. I am comfortable with my body in both. Neither is more or less worthy. Neither makes me more or less of a human being. Neither invites degrading comments and neither invites sleezy words. We are so blinded to what a real unposed body looks like and blinded to what beauty is that people would find me less attractive within a 5 second pose switch! How insanely ridiculous is that!? I love taking these, it helps my mind so much with body dysmorphia and helps me rationalise my negative thoughts. Don’t compare, just live for you. There is no one on this planet who’s like you and that’s pretty damn amazing don’t ya think. The world doesn’t need another copy, it needs you. We are worthy, valid and powerful beyond measure (If you don’t pull your tights up as high as possible are you really human?)”
Same girl, same day, same time. ? Not a before and after. Not a weight loss transformation. Not a diet company promotion. ? I am comfortable with my body in both. Neither is more or less worthy. Neither makes me more or less of a human being. Neither invites degrading comments and neither invites sleezy words. ? We are so blinded to what a real unposed body looks like and blinded to what beauty is that people would find me less attractive within a 5 second pose switch! How insanely ridiculous is that!? ? I love taking these, it helps my mind so much with body dysmorphia and helps me rationalise my negative thoughts. ? Don’t compare, just live for you. There is no one on this planet who’s like you and that’s pretty damn amazing don’t ya think. The world doesn’t need another copy, it needs you. ? We are worthy, valid and powerful beyond measure ?? (If you don’t pull your tights up as high as possible are you really human?) by @selfloveclubb
Before social media, magazines and advertising were blamed for women’s low confidence around body image.
But social media is now the main driving force around body confidence – or lack-there-of. While the images may not be photo-shopped, they can certainly be staged and filtered.
Milly’s post explains there is a major problem with society’s perception of beauty and how deceptive social media can be.
Her positive message is one all women need to remember.
“Don’t compare, just live for you. There is no one on this planet who’s like you and that’s pretty damn amazing don’t ya think. The world doesn’t need another copy, it needs you. We are worthy, valid and powerful beyond measure.”
Preach it sister.
