Noelle Downing, a Brooklyn-based blogger, has made a name for herself through her positive presence on social media. The 28-year-old has criticized Instagram for its double standards in nude photos and has repeatedly shared photos of herself to promote body diversity on social media. However, your last photo may be one of the most powerful.
Downing shared a series of selfies on Instagram on Monday, March 9, which showed her posing in a sports bra and a set of leggings. In one photo, Downing has her leggings pulled up past her belly button and in the other, they hang just below her waist. She paired the photo with a caption explaining why she shared the post and talked about how misleading social media can be.
“Yes, these photos were taken 3 seconds apart,” he wrote in his caption. “No, it’s not a before and after. I wanted to share it to show everyone how easy it is to make a photo look a certain way. How to pose, the placement of your pants, and the angles can change your appearance. Remember —The social media is quite a filter and is usually our real highlight (which is fine!) but remember to be kind to yourself ❤️ there are so many different perspectives ❤️ ”
Downing’s followers were quick to applaud her for her honest and unfiltered photos and shared their support in the comments. In less than a day, Downing’s post received more than 37,000 likes and more than 500 comments.
“I really appreciate this,” wrote one person. “I always strive for body positivity, but sometimes it’s hard to lose perspective, so thank you!”
Another person added: “I needed this today. I’m five days away from my wedding and all I can think about is how I don’t look the way I want to because I had brain surgery. But this is a great reminder that it doesn’t matter and I’m going to be happy and loved no matter how you see me in the photos. ”
This isn’t the first time Downing has talked about body positivity. In February, she called out to Instagram for her double standards by posting nude photos after her topless photo was removed.
“It’s cute when a size two wears a glamorous sparkly dress that is low cut, but when a size 10 does, it is unacceptable and cannot be approved for publication,” she says. “The double standard is still there, even if it is not directly from Instagram. I think women are awesome in each and every size from XXXS to 10X. There is no room for size discrimination on social media, in advertisements, and in real life. ”
Downing’s posts clearly make a statement and send a positive message to his followers. We hope to see more posts like this.
