These Instagram Influencers Want You to Love Yourself
We all know how damaging social media can be to our mental health, but these inflencers are pushing back against problematic standards and championing self-love.
Social media's inextricable presence in daily life has allowed us to connect with others far away, promote creativity, and stand up for what we believe in, but it goes without saying that there is a unpleasant, detrimental underbelly of the platforms we use so frequently. With explore pages that are oversaturated with unrealistic beauty standards, inaccessible vacations, and glamorized amounts of wealth, most of us can't help but think that we will never achieve such an opulent lifestyle. This is clearly a recipe for disaster, especially when our perceptions of ourselves become altered.
However, it's not all bad. Many influencers, specifically those in the beauty and fashion realm, are combatting the harmful notions of perfection social media constantly feeds us. Instead, they show us what real bodies look like, and tells us to embrace and discover the beauty that already exists within us. Whether that means going makeup free, or starting everyday with a heavy glam—these social media personalities remind us that there are no rules when it comes to expressing one's self. Take a look at L'OFFICIEL's round up of influencers that will remind you that self-love trumps all.
@bodyposipanda
Meghan Jayne Crabbe is recognized for her body positivity-inducing Instagram posts that are fortified by her on-going discussion of eating disorders and problematic dieting. Through sharing her experiences Crabbe has garnered over a million followers who celebrate her natural body. As someone who openly rejects the standards that require lean figures and long legs, Crabbe speaks on dealing with insecurities and combatting negative self-talk. Her page is filled with colorful inspiration quotes, and stunning style moments.
@mikzazon
Mik Zazon has been taking the social media sphere by storm with her unfiltered, unaltered posts. From embracing her makeup-free face to normalizing her cellulite, Zazon aims to proves that beauitful bodies can exist in any form. Additionally, she uses her platform for educational and awareness purposes. She speaks out about sexual violence, disordered eating, and damaging societal standards. Zazon even puts out weekly exercise videos and realistic wellness tips. Her page acts as a reminder that a healthy lifestyle does not exclusively manifest in a petite body.
@nymatang
Nyma Tang is a beauty influencers known for her major strides within the makeup industry. As a woman of color, Tang speaks out about how her skin tone is often neglected and left out of major makeup lines. This is what prompted Tang to begin her viral series, "The Darkest Shade," where she reviews the darkest foundation shade available at respective makeup brands. Tang's attention to skin-color based discrimination made way for larger conversations regarding inclusivity and representation to ensue. Her stunning looks and girl-boss attitude have been celebrated by the likes of Queen Ri, and her position within the beauty industry is growing more valuable by the second.
@deepica
Deepica Mutyala is the founder of Live Tinted, a well-known beauty brand with a focus on multicultural indentities. Her brand, which has blossomed into a sort of community, saw the need for better color correcters for dark-skinned people and aimed to create a line that would not leave anyone out. Mutyala's Instagram bio reads "On a mission to change beauty standards," and that is exactly what she is doing. Her page is filled with endearing videos, makeup moments, and style photo-ops. Give her a follow and you won't be dissapointed.
@alokvmenon
Alok Vaid-Menon is a major proponent for gender non-comformity within the beauty space. Apart from being influential Indian-American writer, Vaid-Menon advocates for body positivity within the context of the LGBTQ+ community. They have most notably celebrated body hair as something that should be embraced instead of removed or hidden away. Vaid-Menon uses thier platform to show off thier funky makeup looks and eclectic clothing while also shedding light on pressing LGBTQ+ related news.
