It seems like we hear a story about an Instagram model “bravely” posing without filters and in deliberately unflattering angles about once a week. I’m glad they do this for whatever the reason but they know it can lead to headlines in the celebrity press while a typical meticulously-posed and perfectly lit photo probably won’t. Racing star Danica Patrick is the latest Instagrammer to go this route and I guess I trust her motivation a little more. In June she shared two side by side photos of her abs from straight on looking awesome and aspirational and from an upwards angle looking like a modeling shot. That photo is below. It’s worth noting that most of her more current Instagram photos are typically gorgeous, so I guess she knows the subject.
People Magazine caught up with Danica at an event recently where they asked her about the photo side-by-side. She talked about body image and learning to accept yourself:
Patrick uses her social media pages to show an unedited glimpse into her life, and that post from June was the perfect example.
“It gives me the opportunity for it to come straight from me and be real. I follow tons of people on social media who you feel envious of; they have the perfect life or they look perfect all the time, and it just seemed like the right thing to do,” she says.
“We can work out to make ourselves look as good as possible — and there’s nothing wrong with that — but the reality is I can hold a camera out in front of me and turn in a circle until I find the right lighting and find my best angle. And I can adjust my clothes to make sure that I just look as good as possible.”
Patrick explains that she, like most people, has struggled with body image in the past, and she emphasizes that finding it takes time.
“I think being confident in your own skin is something that is probably one of the longest transition periods in your life that you have to come to grips with,” she says. “I think it starts with positive self-talk, working really hard and feeling good.”
Back when our phones didn’t have cameras (or further, when they were stuck on the wall) magazines were condemned for creating unrealistic beauty standards. Now we have all the tools in our hands to do it to ourselves. Chrissy Teigen has admitted that Instagram models make her feel inadequate and she’s a model who has been on the cover of the SI swimsuit issue. Even when we know the photos other people are posting are fake we still feel like we’re lacking somehow. However when that’s us, when our life and body looks more attractive online than we imagine, we get a little boost. It can never cancel out that feeling that other people have it better/are prettier/fitter/happier, but it works for a little while to make us think we might get there someday.
Photos credit: WENN and Instagram
I think I like her.
Ain’t it the truth, Danica.
When models post those “brave” no makeup selfies, I always think – It’s easy to post no makeup, no filter photos when you’re a young model with perfect skin…Me, on the other hand, I need concealer(probably a bit more than that) just to look a little less tired. If you wear makeup people will say “You don’t have to wear makeup, you look good without it” and if you don’t wear makeup it’s – “Are you ok? You look a bit sick”.
Anyway…Danica looks good in both photos.
LOL what? I literally see no difference between “two” stomach photos. Cause what, she is all stretch marks, hairs and flabby one one, and typical perfect on the other? Ah the struggles they face…!
She is ripped. Good for her.
I really like that she posted this. It is a good reminder that a lot of effort gets put into those beautiful “candid” Instagram pictures that all the “models” post.