Traditional beauty standards make no sense to us; there is no such thing as beautiful. Everyone is unique, and we are all lovely in our unique way.
In the end, traditional beauty standards are merely a technique that society has used to coerce men and women – especially women – to conform to an ideal that is, for the most part, impossible. So, rather than feeling empowered by our differences, we feel “less than” or “unworthy,” and it’s time to change that.
Sofía Jirau
Sofia Jirau, who is only 25 years old, has already made history this year by being the first model with Down syndrome to model for Victoria’s Secret. However, this was not her first time modeling; in February 2020, she commanded the runway at NYFW during the Marisa Santiago show. You can feel her excitement just by scrolling through her Instagram feed for a second.
She is not only establishing the new Victoria’s Secret period, but she is also rewriting the narrative for individuals with disabilities and leading the road for others to feel seen and heard in all spaces.
Kusha Kapila
Kusha has always managed to keep her audience in the loop. She has always been honest about her problems and how it is normal to have acne, pimples, and other skin problems. Furthermore, we appreciate how openly she discussed PCOD and her struggles with self-esteem.
So, let this post serve as a reminder to everyone out there that it’s exhausting to try to meet unrealistic beauty standards, so please be kind to yourself!
Maia Gray
Maia resorted to Instagram after years of being bullied in high school to rewrite her story and restore her confidence. She does so by proudly releasing raw, unedited images of her flesh. She, on the other hand, does not want to be praised for exposing her skin; she wants it to become the standard.
“It’s awful that disclosing a specific skin problem is considered as a ‘brave’ thing to do,” Maia stated in an interview. “It should be something that everyone does,” she says. “Acne is wonderful, but it should never be used to define a person.” We couldn’t be more in agreement.
P.S. Her Instagram bio is also fantastic: “Just a girl with acne, enabling you to enjoy the skin you’re in!”
Barbie Ferreira
Barbie is a badass b*tch, as a Euphoria High student might say. Her boldness and IDGAF attitude shine through on her Instagram feed, making her one of our favorite people to follow on RN. She doesn’t conform to antiquated beauty standards; instead, she expresses herself freely through makeup and beauty, and she’s fierce AF.
Barbie emphasizes the significance of just continuing to be herself without always putting the topic of body acceptance at the forefront of the conversation in an interview with Vogue. “A lot of people do a lot of work for the community, putting their lives on the line to make the world a better place, and I salute them,” she said. But, for me, doing it silently gives me a sense of empowerment. In videos and essays, I’ve expressed everything I have to say. So the next step is simply to do it.”
Rania Hammad
Meet Rania Hammad, an Egyptian influencer residing in Dubai who, after losing her leg, is now normalizing disability in the fashion world.
In an interview with Vogue Arabia, she discussed how she used social media to share her experience and how it aided her recovery, which entailed more than 30 operations and arduous physical therapy.
When I first started sharing on Instagram, I wanted to mainstream the reality that while some of us are different, we are all the same.” She did, however, admit that she once felt like an alien because of how strangers treated her.
Also read: 11 Autobiographies of Women Who Dare to Be Different
She no longer feels ashamed and wishes to utilize her position to advocate for representation and to assist individuals in accepting and falling in love with their bodies. “I would love for the business to be more inclusive when it comes to photoshoots, just like we’ve seen with models of different sizes,” she says. Let’s include more differently-abled models and apparel for persons with disabilities. It will encourage people to appreciate their bodies.”
Finally, she says, “I would tell to women who are struggling with confidence, you matter.” “Love yourself for who you are and change only for yourself.” A true inspiration.
Dolly Singh
Dolly is an artist and influencer who has always attempted to promote self-acceptance and love.
While society has numerous ideas about how we should appear, weigh, and dress, it is critical to rise above it and accept yourself. Return to this post whenever you feel the need to boost your confidence!
Nicole Herbig (The Blemish Queen)
Nicole Herbig, 23, is an influencer. Her page is chock-full of skincare tips for acne-prone skin, as well as fire selfies with essential, inspiring statements overlay, reminding everyone that normal skin is beautiful.
She frequently changes her photographs on social media to highlight her skin and normalize the presence of pores and pimples. “I prefer to convey that this is what my acne looks like, this is what my face looks like,” she told Insider.
Sakshi Sindwani
“Social media is becoming too gorgeous again; let’s make it genuine,” YAS QUEEN, how true! Sakshi is a well-known body-positive model and social media influencer. She is a firm believer in accepting oneself with pride and challenging societal norms.
