The lines between Instagram and reality have become so blurred that unachievable body types become lusted after and praised, believed to be achievable.Īre our distorted perceptions of body image beyond repair? Hopefully not. Young people today see filtered Instagram posts alongside criticism of unedited posts similar to the comments Molly-Mae received – how damaging is this? They may, for one, develop unrealistic expectations of their own body: it is impossible to look like an influencer/model on Instagram who has been endlessly photoshopped and edited. Though it is inexcusable, is it possible that one of the reasons for people increasingly body-shaming others is that raw, unedited photos (of women in particular) are not normalised or easily available in today’s society? Models are still routinely photoshopped for magazine covers, and influencers who do not present themselves as having desirable bodies and lifestyles do not gain the same following. Through the rise of Instagram models and the easy access to pornography, edited, seemingly perfect bodies are everywhere. It is as though we have been conditioned into thinking that it is normal to look as posed and edited in real life as people are on Instagram. The comments on the article included “ looks lardy, out of shape and needs to lose that flab” as well as “go to the gym girl”. But the images are natural and unedited, revealing her “normal” body. In a recent YouTube video of Molly-Mae’s, she referred to the paparazzi images in question as “unflattering”. But how damaging is this? If we scroll through Instagram to see only images that have been edited, facetuned or filtered, this may, even if only subconsciously, distort our perception of what real bodies “should” look like, damaging our perceptions of ourselves. Instagram is a place where many choose to showcase their best, most-flattering angles, and the highlights of their lives – rather than unedited or unfiltered versions of themselves and the less desirable aspects of their existence. But I want to question whether body-shaming itself has emerged from the lack of unedited, raw, “real” bodies on Instagram and the subsequent blurred lines between Instagram and reality. I want to begin by stressing that body-shaming in any form is never ok. Despite Molly-Mae having what many would consider a conventionally attractive, desirable, size 8 body, the comments were filled with body-shaming remarks. A Twitter user shared a tweet expressing outrage at replies left on the Daily Mail article that showcased the images. Paparazzi shots have recently surfaced of former Love-Islander Molly-Mae in a bikini whilst on holiday in Ibiza.

Argentina body image plus size