Instagram is a world of heavily curated picture-perfect images. The person you post online is often the best version of yourself that you allow others to see, often with a little filter here or cropping there to look as good as possible. But constantly viewing heavily edited images can distort your view of a normal body. Comparing yourself to these photoshopped images can feed insecurity, self-hate, and body negativity.

Among the masses of Instagram models (or wanna-be models) online, there’s a small rising of men and women who are advocating for more authenticity and body positivity through social media. These are the heroes who are leading the body positive movement, from celebrating all body sizes to preaching body love, acceptance, and care.

Following these types of influencers will inspire you to love and accept your body as is — flaws and all. Use your daily Insta-scroll as an opportunity to feed yourself body positive messages that may help support a healthy body image and encourage positive self-talk. Here are 3 of our favorite body positive influencers:

After struggling to find love for her body after losing weight, Sarah worked through a lot of inner dialogues to discover the value and meaning behind self-love. By using social media as her journal, she loves helping others see and understand their worth, love their bodies, feel less alone in the world, and be ok with life's little shakeups.¹ 

What We Love: Her unfiltered photos are refreshing and inspiring, but it’s really how open and honest Sarah is about her body shame and insecurities, and sharing her raw human experience that we love so much.

New & Noteworthy: Tune in weekly to The Papaya Podcast for real talk on everything from inner confidence to mom life to entrepreneurship.

Model Iskra Lawrence is one of the most prominent leaders of the body positivity movement. She's an AerieREAL role model and ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association. Having been told that she was both “too big” for straight-size modeling and “not big enough” for plus-size modeling, Iskra is a champion of body diversity and self-care, and is committed to improving the image of women in the media.²

What We Love: As Aerie’s #AerieREAL Role Model, she advocates for unretouched images in the media and tours universities across the USA to speak with students about body positivity.

New & Noteworthy: Currently expecting her first child, Iskra’s YouTube channel is filled with fun and informative video blogs on fashion and beauty with a strong emphasis on self-care and body positivity.  

Instagram star Megan Jayne Crabbe is determined to spread the word that loving the body you have is the real path to happiness. An international body positive guru with fans in all corners of the world, Megan spent years battling eating disorders and weight fluctuations before she found her way to body positivity. She quit dieting, discovered a new kind of confidence, and replaced all those old feelings of body shame and self-recrimination with everyday joy.³

What We Love: With candy-colored hair and a flair for fashion, Megan has made it her mission to slay diet culture in style. Her Instagram profile shows her vibrant personality, but it’s her Twitter account that gets super real about mental health awareness and self-compassion.

New & Noteworthy: In her debut book, Body Positive Power, Megan shares her own struggles with self-acceptance and her path to body positivity. Her message is simple but clear: It’s time to stop dieting and get on with your life!

While Instagram is a source of entertainment, it can also be used as a channel for daily inspiration and a medium for self-improvement. Fill your feed with inspiring influencers who make you feel good and empowered — you deserve it! Who do you follow that inspires and motivates you?

References:

¹ https://www.thebirdspapaya.com/about

² https://iskralawrence.com/about/

³ https://www.sealpress.com/titles/megan-jayne-crabbe/body-positive-power/9781580058230/