A pair of plus-size models have taken to Instagram to highlight just how easy it is to completely change someone’s figure with Photoshop.
Size 16 Diana Sirokai, 21, from London and size 24 Callie Thorpe from Wales posted a black and white photo of them laughing together in their underwear, but people who are familiar with the girl would immediately have spotted something amiss.
That’s because the image had been heavily Photoshopped, slimming the girls down, smoothing cellulite and nipping in waists – proving just how deceptive digital enhancing can be.
Diana who has modelled for the likes of lingerie brands Curvy Kate and Scantily also shared the real image, saying they had asked for the photo to be edited to prove a point.
‘The purpose of this was to show you all how magazines and the media takes editing to a different level,’ she explained. ‘Models and celebrities do not even look like theirselves. We live in such a fake world its time to bring real back. Own who you are, and slay
The post has now received more than 12,000 likes and fans told the girls they were an ‘inspiration’ and ‘beautiful’ – with many saying they much preferred the unedited version.
The retouched version of Callie and Diana’s photo has drastically altered their figures
BEFORE: Diana Sirokai, (left) 21, and Callie Thorpe (right) in their unedited photo
Callie, who has posed for Miss Vogue, added: ‘We want to show women that it’s okay to look “normal” to have cellulite, stretch marks and tummies that aren’t flat and toned.
‘Be happy with you who you are and the skin you are in.’
She went on to say: ‘Whilst Photoshop has its place and need in some parts of industries this is the extreme when it comes to editing, it just goes to show how much we can really alter ourselves.’
Diana explained that they had specifically asked their photographer to deliberately photoshop the photo for their experiment, and praised her in the caption.
AFTER: The Photoshopped photo shows just how much the photo editing software can change the appearance of women in fashion
Diana, who is from North London poses in heels and underwear for her thousands of followers
The body confident model has her own fashion range out with brand ‘Diana by Xehar’
Callie added: ‘I think @dianasirokai and I look perfect just as we are, two friends smiling for a photo.’
Both models have built up their own successes, Diana is also a fashion designer, whilst Callie is a blogger. They both use their Instagram to share messages of body positivity.
This summer Callie appeared in Vogue wearing a bikini, whilst the feedback on her Instagram was largely positive, she was subject to vast amounts of hate mail and fat shaming.
Standing up against the bullies she shared a video titled ‘Dealing with online abuse’ which has now been viewed over 26,000 times, but sadly also became a target for trolls.
Callie has 158k followers on Instagram and runs a lifestyle blog where she typically tackles beauty standards
Callie and her husband, Dan, pictured on a beach in Ko Lanta, the pair were married last year
Callie also appeared in Vogue wearing a bikini for a feature. She was subject to hate mail, so she posted a video discussing the topic of ‘fat shaming’