Social media has become one of our greatest addictions and greatest vices. We use it to gather inspiration about what to wear, how to do our makeup, what to eat, how to work out, where to travel, and the list goes on and on. It can be a great place to share, but it’s also become a place to one-up one another. Now, instead high fashion and artistic makeup staying in the pages of magazines, the girl we went to high school with makes us green with envy when she shows off her incredible style and skills.

The same goes for health and fitness. Now, instead of assuaging our guilt with the knowledge that the women in magazines and ads are heavily Photoshopped, we see fitness models showing off impossibly sculpted bodies that could be ours if we just tried hard enough. Thankfully, the body positivity and self love movements are here to save us from ourselves. As more examples of “fitspiration” have abounded, so too have accounts that proclaim their love for their bodies just as they are – imperfections and all. So, if you’ve been feeling in need of a jolt of positivity, self-love, and total acceptance, check out these 15 amazing Instagram girls who are just as beautiful inside as they are on the outside, in a way that’s redefining the word as we know it.

15 Roxy Reyes, @theroxyreyes

Not only is Roxy Reyes a gorgeous plus-size model, fashion blogger, and member of Khloe Kardashian’s Good American campaign, but she’s also proof that fitness is not limited by any size: the girl is a weight-lifter! While she’s learned to celebrate her curves and become an inspiration for women everywhere, it wasn’t always so easy for Reyes to embrace her body. On her Instagram and in her blog, Reyes is candid about her past battles with eating disorders, saying that taking a psychology class eventually helped her to realize what was triggering her and how she could avoid those triggers in order to lead a healthier and happier life.

Her advice to others who feel trapped in a cycle of self-hatred or self-harming behaviour like eating disorders is to first feel whatever you’re feeling, and then to pick yourself up and do whatever makes you happy! Turning to weight-lifting has allowed Reyes to get more in touch with the strength her body possesses, and focus less on its size.

14 Honorine Elizabeth, @honorcurves

Calling all tall girls! Honorine Elizabeth, founder of Honor My Curves, stands an impressive 6”2, but she’s not letting her height make her feel less than her incredibly sexy self! For Elizabeth, though, finding clothes in her size was a struggle growing up, and forced her to compromise her tastes for practicality, opting to wear men’s clothes and flat shoes. Being pigeonholed as a tall woman is what led Elizabeth to start the #HonorMyCurves (or #HonorYourCurves) movement, with the goal of self-appreciation and self-love in mind.

Although she isn’t only speaking for tall women (although she definitely has a first-hand account of that), Elizabeth’s account is filled with shots of her rocking gorgeous feminine fashions (and heels!), providing snippets of advice, and sharing cute, relatable memes. Strongly believing in “the power of a positive image of a woman loving herself … sans airbrushing”, Elizabeth is definitely a body positive role model you NEED on your feed.

13 Nadia Aboulhosn, @nadiaaboulhosn

It’s one thing to rock plus-size clothing on the runway, but Lebanese-born fashion blogger and model Nadia Aboulhosn wasn’t content to just wear clothes – she wanted to design them, for women just like her. The motto of Aboulhosn’s self-named company is “Clothing made with the intent to make you feel like the best version of yourself.” And why shouldn’t you? Aboulhosn is proof that high fashion is no match for a gorgeous face and body, even if it doesn’t settle into our society’s strict definition of beauty.

Unfortunately, as a plus-size model, Aboulhosn has admitted that she has felt a bit out of place when she goes to where the fashion elite go to rub elbows. While reminiscing about her first time attending Fashion Week, Aboulhosn said she felt like an outcast, and completely ignored, which is what led to the creation of her clothing line. Check out her Insta for more haute couture snaps and edgy attitude, and we promise that you’ll be hooked!

12 Gabourey Sidibe, @gabby3shabby

Phenomenally, phenomenal. #phenomenalwoman

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Most people would recognize actress Gabourey Sidibe for her role as the title character in Precious, but she is so much more than that! As the author of her new memoir, This Is Just My Face, Sidibe uses wit and intelligence to describe her unique journey as a woman, as a black woman, and as an overweight black woman, including a stint as a phone sex operator!

Since she was thrust into the spotlight, Sidibe has endured lots of harsh criticism about her appearance, but she’s always been able to come back swinging, making her critics realize what dumb remarks they were saying in the first place! (In fact, one such razor-sharp response to a mean question made it onto a clip featuring Sidibe for Lane Bryant’s #ThisBody campaign.) Totally unapologetic, hella hilarious, and the kind of beautiful that shines through in everything, Sidibe is all kinds of fierce and phenomenal (and she knows it).

11 Iskra Lawrence, @iskra

One of the most recognizable faces of aerie’s commitment to using natural, unretouched models in its campaigns for the past couple of years, Iskra Lawrence is so beautiful, it’s shocking to think that an airbrush would go anywhere near her. (But, like, fashion, right?) And with 3.5 million followers on Instagram, we know tons of people agree with us!

The British model has made it her personal mission to take down body shamers (she’s shot back at them by posting cheeky photos and videos of her digging into a bag of chips before giving the finger) while also promoting self-love and self-acceptance for women everywhere. (Also, the fact that would think to critique Lawrence’s body is beyond ridiculous, and shows how warped our perception of beauty and “normal” has become.) In true Lawrence fashion, she had some wise words in a recent Instagram post for all of her followers (and haters): “EveryBODY is a bikiniBODY…No matter what you look like, you have full right to run around on the beach wearing whatever you damn well want.” Amen!

10 Tess Holliday, @tessholliday

Another well-known model who has sass by the bucketful, Tess Holliday refuses to make apologies to anyone about being a plus-size model or a mom (and believe us, she gets plenty of criticism for both).

In addition to being recognized for her plus-size modelling, Holliday is an outspoken feminist who began the #EffYourBeautyStandards movement on Instagram, which encouraged women to love themselves and their clothes, regardless of what size they were and despite what society tells them they “should” wear. While other plus-size models have been vocal about their dislike of the term “plus-size” and use of the word “fat”, Holliday embraces both, with “plus-size” in particular for her being important for larger women to have their own labels.

As willing to show herself in all her retro glam glory as she is to bare it all (in more ways than one), Holliday is a crusader for all women, and someone whose voice definitely needs to be found on your feed.

9 Jessamyn Stanley, @mynameisjessamyn

If you thought yoga only belonged to slim, tanned types (or Kate Hudson in those Fabletics ads), then Jessamyn Stanley is here to set you straight! The poses this woman can get into are absolutely ridiculous, and proof that you don’t need to be small to be strong or flexible.

A yoga instructor with a refreshingly honest attitude about pretty much everything (you won’t catch Stanley using airy-fairy terms that mean nothing to you simply because she practices yoga), she created Every Body Yoga, which is also the title of her new book! As a self-proclaimed large-bodied and queer woman, Stanley has stated that yoga helped her to accept her body and all that it’s capable of, after years of insecurity and confusion over her own identity. Since yoga is considered a melding of both mind and body, Stanley’s turn towards yoga to heal was as much a physical journey as it was a mental one. Her newfound confidence shines through in everything she does, and her account is definitely the good kind of fitspiration!

8 Joanna Thangiah, @joannathangiah

Switching things up a little bit, cartoons and art can also help people to express themselves, which is exactly what Joanna Thangiah has done in her Instagram account. Her art deals with “feminism, mental health, and fragments of my inner monologue”, according to her bio, and her bright illustrations showcase some real issues and the sharp sense of humour she uses to deal with them.

Not always safe for work, Thangiah’s art can involve some nudity and rough language, but it is refreshingly honest and open – and totally body positive. The women in her drawings do not have perfect bodies or skin, they don’t always have shaved armpits and legs, but they are REAL. A total badass when it comes to the tough issues, Thangiah regularly interacts with her followers and provides items featuring her art that they can buy online, allowing you to have a taste of her original aesthetic (and important, universal message) wherever you go!

7 Winnie Harlow, @winnieharlow

Too blessed to be stressed😊🍭

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Body positivity isn’t just about embracing your shape or size, but about loving the skin you’re in. For model Winnie Harlow, that wasn’t always an easy feat. Born with vitiligo, a condition that causes white patches of skin to appear on darker skin due to the destruction of pigment in cells, Harlow was teased as a child. The teasing and verbal harassment got so bad that Harlow switched schools multiple times, dropped out of high school, and even contemplated suicide.

Fast-forward to 2014, when Harlow was discovered on Instagram by Tyra Banks and entered into America’s Next Top Model. Although the Canadian model was eliminated, she went on to major success, and her skin became her defining feature – for its beauty, this time. Harlow walked the runways for Marc Jacobs and Coach, and appeared in music videos for Eminem and Beyoncé. Most recently, Harlow spoke at the Dove Self Esteem Project panel and has given a TED talk about her experiences living with vitiligo.

6 Meghan Kacmarcik, @sundaesforthesoul

Calling herself an “anti-diet dietician”, Meghan Kacmarcik has filled her Instagram feed with loads of honesty about her own personal journey from suffering from an eating disorder to self-acceptance – and she makes it very clear that the road is not an easy one. In addition to regularly calling out diet culture and how, lately, clean eating has become a euphemism for dieting, Kacmarcik makes a point of giving well-deserved shout-outs to other Instagram users who promote self love and body positivity.

Rather than restricting the personal to one post, Kacmarcik regularly lets her followers in on what’s going on in her life, and how her journey to self-acceptance is an evolving one. (She, like many recovering from eating disorders, has to deal with the deadly thoughts that continue to rear their ugly heads.) She’s unapologetic when she shares photos of her cute belly rolls or cellulite, and encourages other women to do the same – but doesn’t tell them they’re bad for not doing so. Her Instagram feed is full of love, education, and feminist mantras, and definitely worth a follow!

5 Gabi Gregg, @gabifresh

Gabi Gregg has a lot of things listed on her resumé, including InStyle contributor, style blogger, model, and now designer who collaborated on the body-inclusive swimwear line swimsuitsforall. (She is credited with coining the term “fatkini” as part of her collection.)

While she’s clearly drop-dead gorgeous, Gregg has been important in changing the landscape for plus-size fashion, and has become a high profile advocate for larger women when she called on high-end fashion retailers to create clothing larger than a sample size. A self-proclaimed and proud feminist, Gregg has also used her social media to normalize cellulite, posting a video that shows it disappear and reappear, depending on the lighting.

Throughout her Instagram, Gregg proves that style and beauty have no size, as she rocks daring ensembles better than most people can, with a swagger that is totally earned. With loads of collaborations under her belt (and more in the works), Gregg is more than practicing what she preaches – she’s making it happen.

4 Ashley Graham, @theashleygraham

When they give you two covers! @bazaaruk

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We’re willing to bet big money that you’ve heard of Ashley Graham, the first plus-size model to make the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (as well as the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of Vogue), but she’s still deserving of a spot on this list because she has made great strides for plus-size women in fashion and body positivity in general!

While she’s not embarrassed about sharing images of her cellulite, she does admit that she can still be a little shy about showing off her enviable curves in a bikini. An outspoken advocate for body positivity and self-acceptance, Graham has regularly visited high schools in order to educate students about body image. Recently, Graham was criticized for having appeared to have lost weight (she hadn’t), which angered her fans and to which she responded, “To some I’m too curvy. To others I’m too tall, too busty, too loud, and, now, too small – too much, but at the same time, not enough.” Sounds about right!

3 Milly Smith, @selfloveclubb

If you’ve ever been down on yourself over not fitting into an article of clothing that you thought was “your size”, head over to Milly Smith’s Instagram, @selfloveclubb, to realize that the sizing of clothing is total BS! Throughout her feed, Smith calls out the garbage that makes up so many before and after photos, including lighting, clothing, and posing, in order to draw attention to the fact that what we see in advertisements – and even on Instagram itself – isn’t always what it seems.

Smith is all about self-acceptance in other ways as well. She’s candid about her struggles with mental health and her history of self-harm, without romanticizing it – a major feat in social media today. Now a proud mama, Smith is revelling in the knowledge of what her body is capable of, and refuses to allow anyone to tell her otherwise. In addition to the eye-opening side-by-side comparisons, Smith isn’t afraid to call out those who dare to question her for being proud of the place she’s gotten to. And who doesn’t want some of that ferocity in their life?

2 Taryn Brumfitt, @bodyimagemovement

What better Instagram account to follow than one that goes by the name @bodyimagemovement? Founded by Taryn Brumfitt, a writer, mother of three, and internationally renowned body image activist, the account is focused on “facilitating body image activism by teaching women the value and power of loving their bodies.” We can definitely get behind that!

Like most of the accounts on this list, Brumfitt’s realization was not one that came to her easily. Brumfitt admitted to struggling for years with the toxic thoughts and self-hatred that plagued her, and cited the moment when she was looking into a breast lift and tummy tuck as the epiphany. Since then, she’s written a book and produced a film – both titled Embrace – about her personal journey but also delves into how body image issues are seen in people of ALL body types. A majorly positive, funny, and relatable woman, Brumfitt’s Instagram account (and all her other endeavours) are definitely worth a look!

1 Megan Jayne Crabbe, @bodyposipanda

BREAKING NEWS: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT TO BE WORTHY OF WEARING A BIKINI THIS SUMMER. · I know that goes against every 'Get Beach Body Ready!' message you're seeing right now. Trust me, I used to believe those messages too. I used to spend every single summer starving and sweating to get the body on the left, telling myself that I was only allowed to be seen in swimwear once I'd hit that goal weight (and even once I did, it still wasn't enough). Not once did I ever hear the message that you don't have to shrink your body to deserve a summer in the sunshine. · Which is why I'm telling you now, so that you know the truth: you do not have to lose weight to be worthy of wearing a bikini. · This year I didn't set a goal weight to hit before my holiday. And I didn't sit by the pool sucking my stomach in and worrying what everyone else thought about my body either. I just went. I laughed and played and ate and swam and wore every damn bikini I own without changing my body one bit. And guess what? It was so much better than all the self hatred filled holidays that came before. · Because the only thing I really needed to lose through all those years wasn't weight. It was the bullshit idea that a bikini body is something that you have to earn, when in reality I had one all along. We all have bikini bodies already, and we all deserve a summer in the sunshine. 💜💙💚🌈🌞 #bodypositivepower

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Another Instagram account that doesn’t shy away from getting into the nitty-gritty that comes from recovering from an eating disorder, Megan Jayne Crabbe’s @bodyposipanda account is adorable, relatable, and totally necessary.

Like many who suffer from eating disorders, Crabbe’s journey was not a clear path, and she oscillated between anorexia and binge-eating for years, leaving her hating her body and herself. It wasn’t until she discovered the body positivity movement that she was able to see her body for all its abilities and capabilities, and not what she perceived it to lack. Since launching her account a few years ago, Crabbe has become one of the most recognized voices in the movement, thanks to her candour and evident happiness about the skin she’s in, which is refreshingly real. A good word of advice for anyone in the same place Crabbe was when it comes to social media: “Curate your social media feed and fill it with bopo (body positive) babes instead of things that make you feel like you’re not good enough.”

Sources: instagram.com, thetallsociety.com, bodyimagemovement.com, independent.co.uk

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