By Tamlyn Canham
Body-positivity activist Lesego ‘Thickleeyonce’ Legobane shared some words of encouragement for women who don’t think they look good without filters.
The plus-size model told her followers that they don’t have to rely on photo editing apps.
She also shared pictures of what she looks like with and without filters.
“Standards of beauty have always existed. Photo retouching has always existed and it has played a major role in body image issues,” she says.
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The “perfect” shot in unobtainable
Thickleeyonce added that unlike before, popular retouching software like Adobe Photoshop is now more accessible and amateur friendly.
“We are now living in an Instagram-influenced world where retouching is more common and easier to learn and access. Presets, filters and retouching apps seem harmless because they’re fun to use and they allow one to be creative and to experiment with their photos however they can also be damaging when they’re used to digitally distort the way that we look.
“… they can lead to an obsessive search for the unobtainable ‘perfect’ shot”
Love the girl you see in the mirror
Thickleeyonce, who is also a professional photographer, said she has learned an important lesson in her self-love journey.
“I’ve learned that it’s important for my self-portraits to always be a reflection of the girl in the mirror.
“We don’t all have to have the same hourglass bodies or extra smooth skin. Let’s normalise seeing skin textures on photographs. Stretch marks are normal. Cellulite is normal. Discolouration is normal. Hip dips are normal. You are normal. You are beautiful.”
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Fans agree
Thickleeyonce’s followers told her she has inspired them to love their bodies.
“Whenever I have to wear something I honestly first need to think about my belly fat, stretchmarks and flabby arms but following your journey babe really changed my life… I’m now comfortable in my own skin, I rock those stretchmarks like it’s nobody’s business. Thank you for giving us our confidence back,” one woman wrote.
Another fan commented that filters can make people feel insecure about their natural looks.
“The way I love you moghel. I was telling my sister the other day how insta pics makes people less beautiful [because] they seem to be so perfect and people end up wanting to look like that spending lots of money to fix things they can’t change and end up being sick.. it is so sad hey.. social pressure is real hey!”
