Sometimes, scrolling through your feed can make you feel more anxious than entertained. Content these days seem to be dominated by posts showing unblemished faces with perfect features and flawlessly toned bodies, that it becomes impossible not to feel bad about yourself. Social media adds to the pressure of attaining unrealistic standards of beauty already set by mainstream media.
Fortunately, there are still some who go against the trajectory and choose instead to highlight real women and real bodies—like these brave ladies who use their social media platforms to challenge beauty standards and invite us to love our bodies.
@mynameisjessamyn
Jessamyn Stanley is a writer and yoga instructor whose teaching style focuses on body positivity and mental well-being. She also modeled for Aerie’s unretouched campaign, which aims to end unrealistic beauty standards through their commitment to stop retouching photos used in their ads.
@zinteta
21-year-old Spanish artist Cinta Tort Cartró turns women’s bodies and their biggest insecurities like stretchmarks into works of art. She uses her talent with the goal of celebrating and empowering women, brought by her own experience of battling body image issues.
@summers.vonhesse
Summers Von Hesse is a mother who proudly shows off her postpartum body, stretch marks, stretched-out belly and all. She revealed that she has been insecure about her body before, especially because the postpartum bodies posted online are usually tight and flawless. Her posts has since helped other moms accept their bodies.
@i_am_morgie
Fitness blogger Morgan Mikenas candidly bares her unshaven legs and armpits online. In an interview with Vice, she shared, “I stopped shaving because it was an inconvenience. It’s pointless. I feel like it’s an act of submission to the male dominated culture we live in. I want to mindfully make decisions for myself, and make choices that serve my purpose.”
@iharterika
Ericka Hart describes herself as a “kinky, poly, cancer-warrior, activist, sexuality educator and performer.” The breast cancer survivor also walked the runway recently for Chromat’s 2018 Fall show, during which, she delivered one of the most memorable moments of the show by proudly revealing her double mastectomy to the audience.
Art by Marian Hukom
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