We've just found our new body image hero.
Meet Iskra Lawrence, a model from Worcestershire who is putting her huge social media following to good use by promoting body positivity.
The 25-year-old size-14 model, who is also the managing editor for Runway Riot, is taking a stance against Photoshopping and retouching because, as she puts it, "Who says cellulite is a flaw[?] YOU decide what beauty is and it's deeper than skin deep."
According to Runway Riot, the "champion of body diversity" was often told she was "too big" by modelling agencies, yet "not big enough" for plus-modelling auditions. Now, she is signed to JAG Models and is devoted to improving the image of women in the media. All of her Instagram photos are captioned with body positive comments, and often hashtagged with #everyBODYisbeautiful to promote self-love and acceptance. She even lovingly refers to her marks as "tiger stripe stretch marks" and "cellulite lightening bolts."
"You won't see me promoting tea detoxs(sic) or anything that I don't actually use or wear or believe in," Iskra captions an Instagram post. "I am NOT an Instagram model and do not earn a living off it. I post because I hope to grow my platform to share my experiences and hopefully help other girls that are going through what I went through."
As Bustle puts it, Lawrence's refusal to retouch her pics is a "bold, body positive move forward against the Photoshopping culture of our mainstream media and society," especially in a world where "Instagram models" and celebrities are known to heavily edit their images.
"I will keep putting out images that have 🚫no retouching 🚫no filter because It's not up to society or the media to tell you that your so called 'flaws' or 'imperfections' aren't beautiful - you are all perfectly imperfect because you are you!" Lawrence writes in one post.
We say, preach.
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