Social media has often been to blame for the decline in body confidence and self-esteem, but between the doom and gloom are there any influencers that can make a positive influence? In short, yes! Shining with confidence and self-love, below are the Instagram accounts you need to follow.
Celebrating Curves
1. Megan Jayne Crabbe
Megan Jayne Crabbe is an icon of the body positivity movement. After suffering from Anorexia, Megan turned her life around to become happier, healthier and more positive about her own body, she has shared her experience on the Today show and in People, Teen Vogue, and Cosmopolitan. On her Instagram page, Megan promotes the acceptance of stomach rolls and cellulite, normalising such aspects in the face of Photoshop and Facetune. She has also published a book, which takes her passion for self-acceptance even further.
2. Iskra Lawrence
British model, Iskra Lawrence, is leading the fight against Photoshop. Throughout her career, Iskra has featured in many modelling campaigns that celebrates the many forms of the female body, one of which being The New American Jean by American Eagle Outfitters, which published completely unretouched images. A campaigner for body positivity Iskra rejects the term “plus-size”, instead, presenting the female body as uncategorizabe; earning her a place as one of BBC’s World’s 100 Women. Iskra refuses to alter her own photos and encourages others to do the same.
Celebrating Disabilities
3. Mama Cāx
After being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 14, Mama Cāx was able to keep her life at the expense of losing her right leg.
Prevalent on social media, Mama blogs about travel, beauty and, most importantly, inspiring those who follow her. Mama embraces her scars as a part of her journey, a consequence of a disease that tried to take her life but failed.
Mama’s approach to having a prosthetic, turning it into an opportunity for art, has landed her features in TeenVogue, Cosmopolitan, Essence Magazine and Glamour where she dismantles the misconceptions surround amputees.
4. Tatyana McFadden
Tatyana McFadden was born with Spina Bifida, a congenital disorder that paralyzed her from the waist down. Abandoned by her mother at birth, she grew up in an underprivileged orphanage that couldn’t afford a wheelchair, so Tatyana learned to move around on her hands.
However, despite her unfortunate beginnings, Tatyana turned her life around through determination and perseverance, until she was 17-time Paralympic medalist. Through social media, Tatyana continuously proves to her followers what she is capable of, and encourages people to believe that they too are capable of succeeding no matter what holds them back.
Celebrating Body Hair
5. Harnaam Kaur
When we think of body positivity, Harnaam Kuar is one of the first people to spring to mind.
Diagonised with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a condition which causes an imbalance of hormones in the body, Harnaam was mocked from an early age for the excessive hair on her face. Now, she wears her beard with pride, building a career off of the hat.
In 2016, Harnaam became the first woman with a beard to walk at London Fashion Week. Harnaam is the epitome of body confidence, which shines through her online presence.
6. Morgan Mikenas
Morgan Mikenas is the living embodiment of natural beauty after she proved to the world that body hair doesn’t equal unattractiveness. Though she doesn’t assume that humanity will suddenly give up their razors, Morgan does want to encourage a kinder approach to body hair, tackling the stigma that women need to be cleanly shaven.
Through her social media, Morgan is a fitness vlogger who candidly discusses her relationship with her body and normalises natural beauty. After being bullied relentlessly, Morgan turned it around to promote self-acceptance.
Celebrating Athleticism
7. Tao Porchon-Lynch
At 100 years old, Tao Porchon-Lynch is not your regular Yoga instructor. Through her influential Instagram page, Tao promotes a healthy lifestyle that improves longevity - evidently, she knows what she is doing.
Despite her age, Tao teaches six to eight classes a week in New York, and leads programs across the globe, influencing others to adopt a healthier lifestyle of self-love and mindfulness. Today, Tao encourages breaks down the ageist mindset surrounding athleticism, promoting instead that age shouldn’t stop you from following your passion.
8. Allie Kieffer
If Allie Keiffer’s Instagram proves anything, it is that athletic body types are beautiful, and femininity comes in many forms.
At the beginning of her career, Allie was pressured into dieting to meet a preconceived idea of how female athletes should look, which ultimately caused her body to break down. After building herself back up, Allie ran the New York City Marathon and finished, astonishingly, in fifth place.
Her Instagram highlights how when a woman’s body is valued for what it can do rather than what it looks like, incredible things can happen.
Celebrating Skin Conditions
9. Winnie Harlow
As a victim of bullying, Winnie Harlow understands what it means to be discriminated against. Since then, she has turned the hateful comments of “cow” and “zebra” into a celebration of her unique, beautiful skin colour.
Now a famous supermodel, Winnie’s used her Instagram to normalise the condition Vitiligo. Thanks to her unapologetic posts that proudly showcase her body from head to toe, she really has made a huge impact in the fashion world and is a leading advocate for body positivity.
10. Em Ford
Em Ford is redefining beauty. As a beacon of confidence and self-love, Em shows that adult acne is completely normal and always beautiful.
When she started her Instagram account back in 2014 she was just looking for an outlet from her day job, however, little did she know that a year later she would develop severe acne. After addressing some of the negative comments that she received through a stylistic video, millions of people viewed her plea and became firm supporters of the young model. Em has one message; adult acne is nothing to be ashamed of.
Celebrating Male Bodies
11. Kelvin Davis
As a symbol of male body positivity, Kelvin Davis is an icon of loving your curves no matter what gender you are.
Kelvin regularly posts on social media with the intention of normalising self-love for men and tackling the topic of toxic masculinity so common in our society today. His posts are stylistic and shining with confidence, as a proud feminist Kelvin is breaking down barriers imposed upon men to be unfeeling and constantly “perfect”. Kelvin’s intention is clear, everyone deserves to feel body positive.
12. Chris Mosier
Chris Mosier is a proud transgender athlete, who is candid and open about his transition on social media and advocate for LGBT+ rights.
After giving up his top ranking in the women's category, Chris became the person he was always meant to be and received an overwhelmingly positive reception from fans and fellow athletes alike.
After transitioning, Chris vowed to become the kind of role model he needed when he was younger, to support the generation to come. Chris is a symbol of the different shapes and sizes that men come on, tackling the toxic masculinity ingrained in society.
If you are looking to work with a body positivity influencer, why not talk to our team today? Either call us on 0203 9580 427 or email us at contact@influencermatchmaker.com.
