Iskra Lawrence, a 28-year-old plus-sized British model, recently did the unexpected. She posted a selfie of herself on Instagram showing herself after an emotional breakdown.
In her caption, Lawrence explains how Instagram can be “completely unrelatable, overwhelming, triggering and even damaging” to our mental health, and she hopes that by posting a picture that shows her not at her best, but at her worst, it shows that it’s okay not to be okay.
“Don’t ever compare your happiness, confidence, body, beauty, relationships, success or life to ANYONE online,” Lawrence says.
When I saw this on my Instagram feed, it really spoke to me. To some, this may just look like a crying selfie, but to me, it’s so much more.
With over 4.2 million followers, probably a lot of them young girls/adults, Lawrence is showing all her fans that crying or not being “perfect” doesn’t make you weak or weird. It shows that you are human. She’s also bringing awareness to mental health, and by posting this picture, hopefully it will help with ending the stigma faced around it.
As a female who has a generalized anxiety disorder and is constantly struggling with accepting the fact that I’m not (and never will be) perfect, Lawrence’s post empowered me to own my “imperfections” and to not be ashamed of them.
In today’s social media world, where young girls see famous celebrities and models like the Kardashians, Bella and Gigi Hadid, etc., only posting the “best version” of themselves, it’s truly refreshing to see Lawrence post a less glamorous and more real photo on her feed.
“I know I’m not alone but can’t remember the last time I saw a photo like this on the gram,” says Lawrence.
It’s true. I don’t remember the last time I saw such a vulnerable, honest, truthful photo like Lawrence’s. But I saw Lawrence’s, and that meant everything to me.
HCXOXO,
Kelli