Social media is currently filled with envy-inducing bikini snaps taken in a variety of stunning holiday destinations.
But now, one Instagram star has revealed the truth behind those seemingly perfect pictures – in order to promote body confidence among young women.
Chessie King, 24, from London, has posted a series of side-by-side shots to show how different her body can look in photos, depending on the angle, lighting and posture.
The lifestyle blogger said she decided to share the comparison pictures as she wanted to be ‘honest’ with her followers.
She explained how she had edited some of the photographs to slim down her legs, pull in her belly and make her breasts and bottom look larger and contrasted them with the un-edited version.
In other shots, the social media star demonstrates how posture can dramatically change the way her body looks, as well as the type of bikini she wears.
Chessie King, 24, has posted a series of side-by-side shots taken just seconds apart to show the truth behind those seemingly perfect Instagram snaps
Chessie told FEMAIL: ‘Every time I do one, I’m showing my “not so perfect bits”. I want people to feel like they’re not alone.
‘Instagram is one of the biggest reasons for everyone wanting to look “perfect” in their bikini, definitely.’
She explained how she has struggled with body confidence in the past, when she would compare herself to other women who had shapes that were ‘unrealistic’ for her to achieve.
‘All I could see on Instagram was just “perfection”,’ she said. ‘It’s taken me a long long time to actually wear a bikini without wanting to grab a towel and wrap it round me whenever anyone looked at me.’
In another post, the presenter shared two snaps of herself in a pink bikini – one which she had already shared on her Instagram feed, and one which she had initially deleted
By sharing the side-by-side comparisons, she hopes that she will help educate other women about their bodies, and help improve their confidence.
In one post – which includes two photographs of herself in the same white bikini – Chessie explained to her followers how she was able to ‘change my body in two seconds’.
Captioning the snap ‘My “bikini bod”‘ and ‘Also “my “bikini bod”‘, she urged women to ’embrace’ their bellies and ‘give it a little jiggle’.
In another post, the presenter shared two snaps of herself in a pink bikini – one which she had already shared on her Instagram feed, and one which she had initially deleted.
Sharing a side-by-snap of herself in a red swimsuit, Chessie showcased just how easy it can be to digitally alter your body. In the right hand picture, she has slimmed down her legs, pulled in her belly, and made her breasts and bottom look larger
In another recent post, Chessie busted the myth around the perfect poolside legs shot – showing how different her legs look depending on how she’s posing
Sharing the snap, she explained: ‘Left photo: Favourited out of the 8 taken & posted. Right photo: Immediately deleted & forgotten about. Both photos unedited & seconds between them.
‘I was going through my recently deleted folder ready to “delete all” but saw the right photo & recovered it. I felt this sense of guilt that I’d deleted it & posted the left one.’
Chessie continued: ‘[I]t was a huge reminder for me today that Instagram can be such a “perfection trap”.
‘I’m clearly super happy in the right one after had cracked a hilarious joke, I don’t hate it but the lighting isn’t “flattering” nor is the way I’m holding my body or the angle of it but it’s ME.
‘Both of the photos are me. I am proud of how I feel about my body looking at these photos. I feel like I look healthy in both & look after myself but also live without controlling myself like I have done in the past.’
Chessie also shows how her thighs and her rolls are both ‘completely normal’ in a couple of fun snaps
She demonstrates how different her body can look depending on her posture in this side-by-side shot
The type of bikini you wear can also make a difference, with high-waisted bottoms giving the illusion of a smaller waist