Instagram Model Shows How Easy It Is To Fake ‘Perfection’

A photo posted by ?iskra✨ (@iamiskra) on May 23, 2016 at 2:38pm PDT

2016 has really taken shape to be the year of brutal honesty.

We’re slowly learning that there’s no such thing as ‘perfection’, that you don’t need to be slim to be fit, and that ‘dad bods’ aren’t something to be ashamed of.

Gone (almost) are the days where size zero women and sculpted guys were the only body shapes that were considered ‘perfect’. And Iskra Lawrence is having a hand in proving that.

Earlier this year, the plus-sized model perfectly hit back at body shamers after receiving an onslaught of hate regarding her weight.

She did this:

✨?I’m sorry I couldn’t help myself…This is for anyone who has ever been called FAT. Thanks for the inspirational words on a recent pic @zseanzbrown ?? “Fat cow. It’s only cus every F****r on this planet is obese that that’s the norm… Plus-size models? give me a F*****g breaking. Everyone needs to stop eating McDonald’s, the NHS is f****d because of people like her eating too many bags of crisps.” Opinions are like arseholes – everyone’s got one? thanks to the dream team for making this happen at work today ? by @ricktphoto @mandywinrow @nickigillonstylist

A photo posted by ?iskra✨ (@iamiskra) on Apr 1, 2016 at 10:20am PDT

Well, fast-forward a few months and it looks like Iskra is nowhere near done when it comes to showing body-shamers where to go.

If you’ve got any form of social media or some magazines lying around your house or a TV in your living room, you’ll know it only takes a matter of seconds before you’re bombarded with photos of digitally-altered models. But that kind of perfection doesn’t exist in the real world.

And the 25-year-old British model, who was once dropped by agencies for being too big, recently took to Instagram to show people how easy it is to fake ‘perfection’.

? shocking it only took me about 10minutes to photoshop myself to “perfection”. But WTF is perfect? We weren’t born thinking flaws made you less beautiful we are taught by society and the media that we should feel insecure about our flaws so we buy into certain products etc to “improve” or attain perfection. I wanted to post the unretouched pic right next to the retouched one so you could see the impact of how a few edits all done on my phone can completely change the way someone looks. I can’t leave home everyday retouched & live in the “real world” airbrushed so why would I want to pretend to be online❓we are beautiful because we are us and we are so much more than our appearance. I hope when you see what looks like perfect flawless images of ppl online you don’t not ever feel insecure or less beautiful because it’s not real. What’s real is you and you are good enough cus those “flaws” make you completely unique. ?✨ #iskralawrence #everyBODYisbeautiful ? @simplybeuk Tag a friend who is beautiful just being the REAL them?✨

A photo posted by ?iskra✨ (@iamiskra) on Aug 9, 2016 at 7:36am PDT

Along with the photo, a snippet of her post read:

I wanted to post the unretouched pic right next to the retouched one so you could see the impact of how a few edits all done on my phone can completely change the way someone looks. I can’t leave home everyday retouched & live in the ‘real world’ airbrushed so why would I want to pretend to be online?

Yup, she makes one hell of a point.

And it’s not the first time she’s sent out a powerful message regarding ‘perfection’.

Behold the ever-envious thigh gap:

✨ no thigh gap or thigh gap who cares. We all think we want different things and we should because we are all different, there’s no wrong way just be the healthiest & happiest for you. I’ll be the first one to tell you pics are all about good lightening and angles. Always remember social medias not real life never let anyone else’s pics make you feel insecure about yourself. If you don’t look like her and she doesn’t look like you that’s how it’s meant to be. You are meant to be YOU no one else, your body is your home so love and respect it. When you look after it beautiful things happens ✨ #iskralawrence #everyBODYisbeautiful

A photo posted by ?iskra✨ (@iamiskra) on Apr 29, 2016 at 9:44am PDT

She makes an extremely valid point when it comes to viewing image ‘perfection’.

Sure, there are people out there who enjoy exercising and eating healthy, and have set goals to reach for their ideal body weight. But for those who haven’t set those goals, Photoshopping yourself to look like those who have won’t make you any more self-content in the long run.

Moral of the story? As Iskra points out, it’s accepting who you are regardless of what anyone else thinks that makes you happy.

And although the mainstream still seems to enjoy a fair few airbrushed models, it’s clear that Iskra and those like her will play a big part in turning the industry on its side.

Way to go, Iskra.