CROP & EDIT
With the lovely women who inspire me on @sheiconic and my favorite curve models like La’Tecia Thomas and Iskra Lawrence, I’m learning how to become more comfortable in my skin. Ashley Graham taught me that your beauty can change someone’s life because confidence in who you are inspires others.
I realized when you learn to live with unconditional love for yourself and boldness to be everything God has made you, it’s divine exposure to self-awareness and contentedness with your body.
Being content means you are accepting YOU for YOU by resisting the need to look like everyone else. We see tons of beautiful women on Instagram who are naturally irresistible. Not to bash those who do, but we see people who photoshop their images to feel more comfortable with themselves.
Personally, I don’t photoshop myself, I’ll add filters for a cohesive theme, clean up the contrast and lightening but not directly change me physically. Why? I don’t want to lose those elements that define me. I want to know I look good online just as much as I do in person.
Everything you see on my blog and social media is true to me, I will never sink to the pressure of becoming something I’m not because in the long-run that type of pressure is hard a mountain climb.
Self-love is complete happiness.
I don’t judge others for doing things that bring self comfort but I want us all to enter a place where it feels safe to be ourselves and become our own standard of beauty. The fashion industry and media all define beauty by unmeasurable terms.
For guys, you’re most sexy if your stomach is flat. Well, not everyone is meant to have a 6 pack. Or you’re most desirable with a curvy body. Well, what about ladies with straight frames, are they less beautiful?
I don’t want to fully blame the fashion industry and media because they are entitled to their opinion but when one type of beauty is dissed to emphasize the greatness of another, it’s an issue. I believe when people have to photoshop themselves it’s derived from the mindset of not feeling great enough, which comes from the irrational idealism of Hollywood’s beauty standard.
Your beauty has no mistakes.
I say if you use photoshop, don’t alter who you are completely. Take away a pimple or even a scar but don’t manipulate your face and body to look entirely like someone else. Find value in those “imperfections” and make them into flawless beauty traits.
Remember, those unusual qualities such as peppery-like freckles, delicate skin tone, charming cellulite, impressive unibrow, colorful birthmarks, pretty gapped teeth or dynamic hair texture all makes us identifiable, unapologetically youthful, forever alluring and courageously beautiful.
What is a feature that makes you stand out? What is something you’re not afraid to hide about yourself?
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I don’t mind a good photo edit, I’m a graphic designer so I live for my lil photoshop, but I don’t understand why someone will basically transform themselves and then put it out there like “hey this is me”. NO IT’S NOT loooool.
Esp if you’re on influencer level, I think you should admit that you do a little facetune here or there but don’t overdo it. otherwise, whooooo are you??
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Great Olli, transparency is the best route. If you do use those altering body/face apps be real and admit it you us. No judging but honesty is much appreciated, especially for those with high following.
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Heyy Natonya!
This is such an amazing post from you again and I guess this is a topic we must all read at one point of life. With the rise of Instagram and Social Media Influencing most people feel like they have to look a certain way to become influential, or photoshop our way into Kim K’s twin sister all for likes and loves. I blame social media for that, but it is amazing yet inspiring to discover that there are still ladies (like you Natonya) who are mostly comfortable in their own skin and would love to inspire others out there. Keep up the Vibe
Kudakwaishe | kudakwaishe.blogspot.com
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Thanks sis! So happy you understand where I’m coming from with my blog. I want everyone to look and feel their best. Understand that being you is just enough. People don’t have to look that everyone else because it’s boring, they just need to know God made them extraordinarily beautiful.
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Heyy Natonya!
This is such an amazing post from you again and I guess this is a topic we must all read at one point of life. With the rise of Instagram and Social Media Influencing most people feel like they have to look a certain way to become influential, or photoshop our way into Kim K’s twin sister all for likes and loves. I blame social media for that, but it is amazing yet inspiring to discover that there are still ladies (like you Natonya) who are mostly comfortable in their own skin and would love to inspire others out there. Keep up the Vibe
Kudakwaishe | kudakwaishe.blogspot.com
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This is a great post! I’ve never used Photoshop on any pictures I’ve put of myself online before and I don’t think I ever would. I know some people have parts that they don’t feel great about so they do it because they’re not confident enough to show the world but you just have to learn to love yourself 🙂 I used to be so scared to have my legs out, every summer would pass and I just wouldn’t wear anything that showed my legs but this summer was the first time I felt good about myself and wore dresses/skirts without tights!
Chloe x
http://www.chloechats.com
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YAY! I’m so happy for you Chloe, that’s motivation right there girl! I just know you felt liberated by freeing yourself from those chains of fear.
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First of all: yes. Queen. You look so confident and gorgeous in all of your photos! This is such a good topic!
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Thanks Samantha! I try to write about topics to inspire and help others become the best versions of themselves ❤ Glad you liked! Thanks for the compliment 🙂
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You are an inspiration Girl. Be proud and confident for who you really are. I used to hate my height and people did tease me because of it but as I matured I’ve learned to love my flaws and live with it. It does come in with benefits, most shops give me student deals and discounts ☺️ I guess its a win win, thanks for sharing.
Kaye – http://amalog.co
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Hi Kaye!! I’m glad you grew to love yourself more and see that’s the benefit of being different, it works in your favor. Glad you read and commented on my post ❤
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The pressure to photoshop one’s photos is massive but, thankfully, we’re seeing a change. A slow but sure change.
Yvonne Wabai | https://yvonnewairimuwabai.weebly.com
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Totally Yvonne, people want to feel beautiful and accepted by others but beauty is only amplified by the way one truly feels internally. Thanks for commenting!
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I love this post! True self esteem can’t be created with Photoshop.
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Exactly!! You must appreciate and love who you are because you were created to be different for a reason. 🙂
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Love this post! I’m the same as you, I have only used filters for the colour on the image itself.
I get that people like to change their appearance for the confidence of themselves but it contributes to the whole insta vs reality. Giving people a false sense of reality, they end up feeling bad about themselves. It’s a vicious cycle. Don’t get me wrong people should do whatever is best for them and not others but are they not building a false reality in their own head?
Very interesting topic, I could talk about the effects of social media all day long. I wrote a post about it recently if you fancy a read.
Hayley | hayleyxmartin
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Hey Hayley you said everything that I agree with, so cool we’re on the same page, glad you understand my point. I’m checking out your post now 🙂
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I definitely won’t deny that I zap the odd spot or two if they’re really bad but I’ve got to say I do really feel sorry for people that feel like they need to completely photoshop theirselves! Societal beauty standards seem to be getting worse with all the eating disorders but I feel like a lot of real people online are also preaching self-love which is SO lovely to see.
Alice Xx
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I agree Alice, tons of people are claiming their self-beauty and hopefully it will spread to those who feel a bit insecure about themselves. Thanks for commenting 🙂
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Really empowering post! ❤
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Glad you liked the post Rosie ❤
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Great post and I completely agree! There is so much manipulation of images these days that everyone is beginning to look the same – and I refuse to be a clone! Your photos are beautiful by the way ❤
http://www.missblogsabit.com
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Thank you so much! I know everyone is starting to look like the Kardashians and Jenners, not that it’s a bad thing, those ladies are very pretty. But I want to look like me, because I don’t look like them. Plus, it’s nice to look different, we were made to be different 🙂
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I love the way you said that photo shopping loses features that define you. That’s very true, and you’re only ever truly happy once you learn to accept yourself. I love your style of writing, always enjoy reading your posts.
Caroline | http://caroomakeupblog.com
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Thanks Caroline, I’m glad my posts sit well with you. I try to write from the heart and stay true to the way I feel by sharing my perspective and not downing others point of view in a negative way. Appreciate you reading 🙂
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