A body positivity blogger has taken the trend for before-and-after body transformation pictures and turned it on its head.
Milly Smith, who documents her journey with her body through her Instagram account selfloveclubb, posted two images of herself in a pair of tights. In the first, the tights are pulled up high around her waist, whilst in the second, they rest just under her stomach.
In the caption for the post, Milly explained that although she may appear to look different, the two pictures were taken just minutes apart - highlighting the often deceptive nature of posed photos on social media, when compared with relaxed images of the same person.
'Same girl, same day, same time,' she wrote. 'Not a before and after. Not a weight loss transformation. Not a diet company promotion.'
'I am comfortable with my body in both. Neither is more or less worthy. Neither makes me more or less of a human being. Neither invites degrading comments and neither invites sleezy words.'
She adds that she wanted to draw attention to the fact that so many of the pictures we're presented with are altered or structured to only present a certain type of body or pose.
'We are so blinded to what a real unposed body looks like and blinded to what beauty is that people would find me less attractive within a 5 second pose switch! How insanely ridiculous is that!?'
'I love taking these, it helps my mind so much with body dysmorphia and helps me rationalise my negative thoughts.'
Milly ended her post with advice for anyone who might be struggling with their own self-image.
'Don't compare, just live for you,' she said. 'There is no one on this planet who's like you and that's pretty damn amazing don't ya think. The world doesn't need another copy, it needs you. We are worthy, valid and powerful beyond measure.'
Her 46,000 followers were quick to applaud Milly's honesty, with one writing: 'so inspirational!! keep doing you girl!! and another adding: 'Exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you!'
