While social media can be a great place to connect with others and share moments from your life, it can also be a source of insecurity for many. Whether it’s a Kardashian advertising for yet another “flat tummy tea” that just makes you sh*t your brains out or someone posting a bikini picture that makes you insecure about your own body, it can sometimes be a dark place.
One of my missions for 2020 has been to better curate my Instagram feed to make sure I am only seeing things that I want to see. I have unfollowed people from high school whose lives I no longer care about, influencers whose posts make me feel bad about myself and any page other page or person who I no longer want to see posts from. At the same time I have been unfollowing all of these accounts, I have also been looking for more people to follow who share the same values as I do. Here are just a few of my favorite body-positive influencers.
Related: The Purge: 5 Reasons You Should Be Cleansing Your Social Media for Your Sanity
1. Megan Jayne Crabbe, @bodyposipanda
Crabbe started her Instagram page just a few years ago after discovering the body positive movement and overcoming an eating disorder but quickly gained popularity and now has over a million followers. Aside from her blog and adorable pastel IG feed, she also wrote a book called “Body Positive Power” which has 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Via @bodyposipanda on Instagram
2. Noelle Downing, @noelledowning
If you love fashion, travel and lifestyle posts, Noelle Downing is the follow for you. Her blog, Noelle’s Favorite Things, includes posts about inclusive fashion, thrifting, home decor and more. Along with being a blogger, Downing also recently created her own swimwear line called Noelle by Noelle with sizes ranging from small to XX-large (plus they’re super cute).
Via @noelledowning on Instagram
3. Iskra Lawerence, @iskra
Iskra Lawerence has been modeling for Aerie as part of their #AerieReal campaigns for quite a few years now along with being an ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association and is probably one of the best-known body-positive influencers. She has opened up about her struggles being in the modeling industry since she was 13 and how she is one of the lucky ones. Lawerence has been named in Forbes 30 Under 30, BBC’s World 100 Women and received various other awards during her career. She’s also expecting a baby soon and all of her pregnancy photos are just too perfect!
Via @iskra on Instagram
4. Adrienna Sauceda, @urgirladrie
If you didn’t already know, I may have a slight obsession with Tik Tok, which is where I discovered Adrie. Her “how to be confident” videos remind us to stop bullying ourselves, wear what we want and allow ourselves to be confident no matter the body we are in. She’s also not afraid to call out the fashion industry for its lack of size inclusivity despite the fact that it’s 2020.
Via @urgirladrie on Instagram
Related: Instagram Hiding Likes: Is it a good thing?
5. Kristin Chirico, @itskristinchirico
Chirico is one of the stars of Buzzfeed’s Ladylike videos where she does everything from styling lingerie for everyday wear to making pizzas in an Easy Bake oven. Her favorite show of mine is “The Empty Suitcase Show” where she travels with absolutely nothing and tries to find outfits as a plus-size woman. If you need some style inspo, I highly recommend her page!
Via @itskristinchirico on Instagram
6. Whitney Way Thore, @whitneywaythore
Thore went viral a few years ago with her video “A Fat Girl Dancing” and soon after landed her own reality show on TLC called “My Big Fat Fabulous Life” where she talks about her struggle with PCOS and living life as a fat woman from navigating dating to her career. Not only is she the star of her own show, but she also hosts an annual cruise called “No Body Shame at Sea”, has written a memoir called “I Do It With the Lights On”, competes in weightlifting competitions AND creates online workout videos with her business partner Ryan. She reminds us that fitness and health are not one size fits all. Oh, and she’s not afraid to shut down the trolls in her comment section. She’s pretty much the definition of a girlboss.
Via @whitneywaythore on Instagram
7. Mama Cāx, @mamacax
Mama lost her leg at age 14 due to an amputation related to bone and lung cancer. However, she hasn’t let that stop her from getting signed as a model for JAG models, traveling the world and becoming one of Glamour’s Women of the Year in 2019. In an interview with Glamour, Cāx said “It’s not only looking out for myself, but looking out for my community and making sure that whatever doors I open stay open,” and she has done exactly that.
Via @mamacax on Instagram
Related: Changing the Conversation About Weight
Remember, YOU are in charge of your own feed. Make sure the things that you are seeing are things that are not bringing you down or making you feel bad about yourself. These influencers are just a place to start helping make your feed a little more body positive.