It's the norm for brands these days to photoshop and retouch their models to look thin, scar-free, and basically all-around unrealistic. As plus-size model La'Tecia Thomas noted on Instagram, those images of models used in ads or magazines are often not accurate portrayals of real people, and so we shouldn't let them make us feel bad about ourselves.
To make her point, Thomas posted two photos of herself taken around the same time: On the left is her after being heavily photoshopped for an ad, and on the right is her totally unretouched.
In the left photo, her skin is smoothed out and her body is made to be thinner.
"What you see online or in the media isn't always the complete truth," she wrote in the caption. "This is not about putting anyone on blast but more so a reminder to not compare yourself to anyone else. In this instance, I can't even compare myself to myself."
"If I can't be that person on the left (which is absurd because it's me) then I can only imagine the effect this has on women," she continued.
She goes on to say that she personally thinks her cellulite, back rolls, and dimples on her booty look beautiful too — and that others should feel the same way about their bodies as well.
"I think both images are beautiful but be realistic with yourself, you don't need to look a certain way to be appreciated and know that you're worthy," she wrote.
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Thomas knows what it's like to struggle to accept her own body, having previously spoken out about her own journey to self-love.
Thomas used to constantly compare her body to other women, and would feel unworthy if she didn't look like the "ideal" woman. But as her new post reiterates, a lot of those images aren't based in reality, and therefore, how could it possibly be fair to compare ourselves to them?
In the comments, people thanked Thomas for her "vulnerability" and "transparency" in reminding us that the media doesn't always portray reality.
"I love the real picture," another person writes. "Kinda makes me less insecure about my own flaws."
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Keep doing what you're doing, Thomas!
