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The 'Reality Vs. Reality' Viral Trend Is One We Should All Get Behind

"Posed or relaxed, arched or slumped, whatever you do with your body, it is STILL YOU" - by Grace Back
  • 27 Aug 2020
The 'Reality Vs. Reality' Viral Trend Is One We Should All Get Behind

We all know the world presented to us via Instagram is not, in fact, the reality of what we're seeing most of the time. Sure, some of the posts from our favourite people to follow can present real realities - especially during COVID times when the world has shifted from idyllic adventures to staying at home in sweats on the couch. But, the newest viral trend taking over is one that is both empowering and a positive step forward. 

Introducing: Reality vs. Reality. The trend, first spotted by Glamour UK, is based on the assumption that women, of all shapes, colours and sizes, are real, whether when they're posed in their best 'Instagram' form to when they're not. It's different than its predecessor, 'Instagram vs. Reality', which showed women in their absolute best compared to arguably less flattering angles (although, women should never compare themselves). Basically, the latter was based on a notion that our 'gram selves were somehow superior to that of our real selves - an idea that is not only damaging but one that continued to pit women against one another. 

Body positive activist Militza Yovanka is one of the many leading the charge, writing to Instagram: "There is NOTHING bad with posing or not posing, there is nothing wrong with anyone’s body at any time.”

RELATED: Is This The End Of The Influencer?

militzayovanka View Profile
View Post on Instagram
Dear people on IG.. When you do your beloved "IG versus Reality" images do not, please, forget that us curvy women do not get to suck in our stomachs and look like what society defines as "IG models"... We do not wake up after a day of bloating and get to be a size 2 again. Us curvy girls when we share our posts there is no bloating going on... There is no "I gained 5 pounds during my vacation and that's okay". What we get when WE post our beautiful bodies (in any position) is thousands of comments recommending us diets, shaming us and our bodies in ways you could never imagine. I get the intention behind those posts, I understand it's important for all the young girls out there that are on the skinnier side and following you to see those posts but there is NOTHING bad with the posing or not posing , there is nothing wrong with anyone's body at any time. SO PLEASE can we make sure to not forget that a lot of us bigger women no matter how we stand WE have a belly showing, WE have bigger tights and bigger everything's including big hearts and spirits? And god knows there is A LOT OF US. No one can be the ambassador of every single movement out there and we need to be okay with that, we need to be okay with saying that when you're an actual model it is a lot easier to be "vulnerable" on social media about little things that you dime not perfect about yourself, because the people that follow you would do anything to look like you. It doesn't mean you never get your struggles with confidence it just means that you recognize that for the HUGE majority of women being proud of their bodies is followed by a lot of hate, shame and humiliations, and if anything all the YOUNG girls and WOMEN everywhere that follow us need to be reminded that their bodies are perfect even if no amount of sucking your belly in can hide it. PLEASE learn to Love your body in all it's shapes and particularities the more you love it the more you will want to do what's right and healthy for it ❤️ If you compare your body to others, if you don't love it you won't ever do what's right for it. Define your own standards for yourself, and be proud of it! ❤️

Influencer and journalist Danae Mercer also jumped on board, writing: “I don’t care if you POSE FOR PHOTOS or if you just hang out. Because posed or relaxed, arched or slumped, whatever you do with your body, it is STILL YOU.”

She added, "So today, cowgirl, if you want to pose, you go pose. If you want to let it all hang out, you do that too. However, YOU own your body is incredible."

danaemercer View Profile
View Post on Instagram
I̶n̶s̶t̶a̶ Reality and ALSO REALITY / I don't care if you POSE FOR PHOTOS or if you just hang out. Because posed or relaxed, arched or slumped, whatever you do with your body, it is STILL YOU. And it is STILL worthy, still amazing, and still REAL. I talk a lot about how SOCIAL MEDIA is not real. It's filtered and curated, filled with thousand of tiny moments and precise, popped, perfected snapshots. I've said repeatedly how I'd love to see more wiggles and jiggles on here. More human folds and skin dips. And while we're at it, more nuanced vulnerability and raw emotion. But never once have I said the people DOING these POSES are FAKE. Shameful. Wrong. Or that ONLY the folks rocking their cellulite are REAL. I'm fine with women doing both. Either. Neither. Whatever. Because here's the thing: Empowerment feels different on every woman. How we choose to show up and express ourselves echoes in millions of unique ways. And instead of focusing on what divides us, Or wrapping SHAMING in a shiny new package, We should look at what it means to empower one another. To support each other. And to step out of some stupid patriarchal framework that says other women are competition and that differences must divide us. So today, cowgirl, if you want to pose, you go pose. If you want to let it all hang out, you do that too. However YOU own your body is incredible. What matters is that it feels AUTHENTIC TO YOU. Not to the gal next door. Not to the images you see on social media. But to YOU. In your head. Your heart. Your raw human soul. Only you can know that, truly and deeply. All I'm asking is that you show up. You be yourself in whatever wonderful way. Because that? That's the kind of REAL I want to see on here. x #selflove #instavsreality #selfacceptance #feminist #iweigh #mycalvins #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen

And as we all know, lighting, angles and filters all play a part in capturing that moment for what is deemed the perfect shot. But as Jeenie from keepfit.women points out in her caption, "Don't be mad at the angles, embrace them." 

keepfit.women View Profile
View Post on Instagram
It's not even Instagram vs. Reality, though.⠀ ⠀ It's reality vs. reality. ⠀ ⠀ This is life. ⠀ ⠀ This is your body, looking different within 0.007 seconds as you turn briefly in the mirror. ⠀ ⠀ If you can love yourself at the "good angles", you can love yourself at the "bad angles", too. ⠀ ⠀ Don't be mad at the angles. ⠀ ⠀ Embrace them.⠀ ⠀ This life is full of contrast. ⠀ ⠀ One minute you can be enjoying what you see. ⠀ ⠀ One minute you can catch a mirror glimpse that has the potential to derail you.⠀ ⠀ Your body is literally like 1% of your being. Don't forget that. We are 99% everything else and like, 1% physical body. ⠀ ⠀ Treat it well, for sure.⠀ Move it often.⠀ Feed it well. ⠀ Hydrate it. ⠀ Let it feel the sunlight.⠀ Let it run and play and snuggle with your family. ⠀ ⠀ ...but don't allow the angles that show up in your life to make you feel any less amazing than you are, no matter what your size. ⠀ ⠀ #iamkeepfitwomen

The point being: posed to the Instagram gods or slouched, hunched or upside down - our bodies are just that, bodies, and they're meant to be praised for all that they do. 

Grace Back
Grace Back
Grace is our Digital News and Entertainment Editor. When not stuck in a seemingly endless Instagram scroll, you'll find Grace with her head in a good book.

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