It’s common for people to share their body’s journey through #TransformationTuesday posts, but some models are taking back the hashtag with a body positive message.
Instead of sharing how they lost weight , these models are sharing how gaining weight not only changed their bodies but helped their emotional health, too.
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These models have overcome low self-esteem and in some cases, eating disorders, in order to become body-positive ambassadors.
Take a look at their inspiring messages and transformations.
La’Tecia Thomas
Plus-size model La’Tecia Thomas revealed that she loathed her body and felt insecure when she was a size six.
Since she’s gained weight and changed her mindset, she has a much more positive relationship with her body.
“I remember how unhappy I was In the picture to the left, I would loathe certain parts of my body,” she wrote.
“I had so many insecurities, I compared myself to other women and I lacked confidence.”
Iskra Lawrence
Iskra Lawrence is one of the most visible body-positive models working right now and is also an Aerie ambassador.
In honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness week, she shared this before-and-after pic that shows her body’s transformation and her journey to self-acceptance.
She explained how body dysmorphia is a mental illness, and that there are ways to reclaim ownership over your own being.
“I know now that my body is mine and therefore perfectly imperfect and my home to be cherished. Grateful I’m here to tell my story when there are too many lives being lost from this mental illness.”
Allison Kimmey
Allison Kimmey shared an important message of self-love and acceptance to her Instagram followers along with these beachy before-and-after pics. This post proves that every body is a bikini body!
“There’s a lot of hate in this world…and people are ready to bring you down at any chance of finally feeling more worthy themselves.”
“And there’s something I need you to know: no matter how much you change- your circumstances, your body, your finances, your job, your relationship status – You are worthy of JOY, LOVE, OPPORTUNITY, and probably the most important and least received: RESPECT,” said in an Instagram post.
Dana Patterson
For National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, model and athlete Dana took to her nearly 350k followers to share her story, “I know some people don’t understand why people struggle with or what it’s like, to have an ED or deal with any kind of mental illness.I will tell you from experience, there is nothing like feeling like you are completely out of control of yourself&your mind, or using an ED to try attempt gain some semblance of control back, in a small way.”
“Struggling doesn’t make you weak. An ED is not a choice, but recovery is.”
She continued, “Health is not something that is skin deep or defined by your size. I want you to know that this journey is imperfect, if you are in recovery and you are struggling, you are not alone.”
“I can tell you, this community is here for you. Recovery isn’t just possible, it’s at your fingertips.”
She concluded, “Your weight, your body, your trauma, do NOT have to define you, or the life you live. You are stronger & braver than you could ever imagine & you can overcome anything. Your worth & your beauty are not defined by anything skin deep.”
Tabria Majors
“A healthy body image, 50 lbs, and 2 double D’s later! I was 170 on the left, 220 now, and can’t believe how much I hated the way I looked 10 years ago,” she wrote .
“Now I’m more in love with my body than I’ve ever been!”
“Stop self loathing and start self loving #transformationtuesday.”
Ughh, I have such a girl crush on her, tbh!
Aliss Bonython
This British babe has been an inspiration to thousands while sharing her road to anorexia recovery, “DO WHAT SCARES YOU AND OWN IT. My before recovering from an eating disorder pictures aren’t shocking, you can’t see my ribs, I don’t look skeletal – just unhappy.”
“I’m aware that people can still see that before picture and tell me how much healthier I was, and probably think it’s ‘body goals’ or ‘inspo’ but anorexia nervosa isn’t goals, it isn’t glamorous.”
“I had problems with my joints from lack of nutrients, heart palpitations, fainting spells and black outs.”
“My skin was always cold and I was broken.”
“I may have gotten fat, but I’m HAPPY. Never underestimate the importance of mental health.”
Megan Jayne
Megan Jayne has over one million Instagram followers because of her inspiring commitment to the body-positive movement.
Megan overcame an eating disorder and is educating her fans that healthy bodies come in all sizes.
She shared questions people have asked her, like “‘Wait so you just decided to RUIN your body?'”
“Nah, I just stopped torturing myself every day for not fitting an image I was never supposed to be,” she explained.
Jolene Jones
Former body builder Jolene Jones had a realization that she wasn’t happy. She wrote on Facebook , “A six pack didn’t make me happy. I was never enough and always needing to improve.”
“Your body is quite LITERALLY the only thing that gets you through this life.”
“Your worth and joy isn’t weighed by what you can lift or what the scale says,” she continued. Happiness is what matters the most!
Maggie Greene
Maggie Greene said she gained between 30-35 pounds over the course of two years, but that her body transformation was an emotional one as well.
Jovana Fit
Jovana’s experience first losing, and then gaining weight was a journey that involved healthy methods, and extremely unhealthy methods.
“Losing weight was healthy for me, until it wasn’t.”
“I didn’t take drastic measures, until I noticed that I started to. I lost majority of my weight in a controlled and sustainable way…until I became addicted to the way losing 100lbs sounded and craved more.
“Yeah, I gained some weight back. But now my health is my MAIN priority.”
“And realizing that my health meant so much more than being fit physically was a huge wake up call.”
Liza Golden-Bhojwani
While preparing for New York Fashion Week, Liza actually fainted because she was eating so little in order to achieve a super skinny physique. Since then, she started eating properly and has embraced her body’s natural and healthy weight gain.
“I have gained around 30-35 pounds (I don’t exactly how much. I don’t weigh myself anymore.) AND I am a much happier human being mentally.”
“Healthy looks different on everyone & it’s important to embrace your own shape and size. You’ll be much happier!” she said in an Instagram post.
Lauren O’Leary
Lauren struggled with an eating disorder since she was a young woman, later suffering from malnutrition and other health issues stemming from her aversion to eating.
When she finally recovered, and in turn gained some weight, she told HuffPost “I feel like it’s just such a different experience altogether. I’m so much more confident now with who I am and where I’m at.”
Marciel Hopkins
Marciel Hopkins revealed that she trained hours every day and severely restricted her diet to achieve her 2015 body.
She encourages her fans to be, “the healthiest and happiest version of yourself (mentally and physically).” Thanks for the great message, Marciel!
“I remember how many issues I had about my body when I was younger and how much joy and peace it stole from me,” she wrote in another post.
“I am grateful to walk in truth now knowing my weight and shape does not determine my value as a person.”
Charli Howard
Charli Howard brought much-needed attention to eating disorders and the negative effect they have on people’s mental and physical health.
While she battled an eating disorder, she also suffered from anxiety and depression. I’m so glad she’s overcome all that and is serving as an inspiration to others.
In an Instagram post, she wrote a heartfelt message about her struggle and transformation.
Nathalia Novaes
This year, Nathalia celebrated three whole years of recovery, “No matter where you are on your journey … love your body today! nothing justifies us not feeling comfortable in our own bodies.”
Maeve Madden
Fitness model and influencer Maeve Madden shared her weight gain photo with a reminder that gaining weight can actually help your fitness goals, and in turn, make you stronger.
“3 Years in the difference from skinny to strong.”
She continued, “maybe you would think twice about commenting on another persons weight.
Amie Wiley
Amy’s transformation was both through her body and through her behavior. She wrote in an instagram post that she has gone through many phases but ultimately landed on weightlifting as her solace.
She also explained how the solution to her personal body issues was to simply eat more.
“I get so many questions on here from people asking me for tips on how to put on weight and the simple answer is: eat more, lift more, sleep more
Victoria Niamh Spence
Victoria struggled with anorexia, before she turned to bikini competitions that put even more of a focus on not only her body, but her food and every minute shift in body fat she experienced. She worked hard to change her relationship with food, health, and her body.
“I’ve learned that I am not defined by my body or food & health and happiness has nothing to do with my size,” she wrote.
“I’ve learned that a bad relationship with food has nothing to do with food, you always need to look a little deeper.”
“And, I’ve learned that being ‘in control’ isn’t having everything planned out, it’s actually just feeling ok with freedom and allowing life to just happen.”
She concluded, “Trusting that your mind & body will align and lead you to making the right choices in the moment.”
Bridget Malcolm
As a former Victoria’s Secret Angel, Bridget’s body had been the focus of her life since she was a young girl. But she recently opened up about her struggle with body image and health.
“I deleted all the gym selfies from my Instagram, and all of the ‘progress’ shots from my phone,” Malcolm wrote in an instagram post.
“Basically, I wanted no point of reference any more of a time when I was smaller, or larger. I just wanted to stop looking in mirrors and telling myself that I was ‘too fat’ and ‘not doing enough.'”
She continued, “I looked at my life, and I realized through obsessing over my body I was selecting the easy path.”
“I was choosing to focus on externality, and ignoring the larger picture. I was choosing the ego path. There are far bigger fish to fry in the world than your thigh size. “
Emma O’Neill
Model and fitness trainer Emma O’Neill wrote , “I was so unconfident in myself and had unhealthy relationships with food. I never EVER could have imagined that I’d be able to change my body (and my mindset) the way I have, genuinely.”
“You don’t need to be perfect or even NEAR perfect to achieve your goals and transform you body/life.”
“Sure, you do have to work hard. But I promise you can still mess up, eat the things you love, miss your gym sessions and be a normal human, too. Fitness and health should be a fun addition to your life, rather than the whole of it.”
