Redefining Beauty

Retraining Our Brains to See Real Bodies

In a world that glorifies thinness and fills social media with carefully curated, filtered bodies, it’s no surprise that so many people struggle with what they see in the mirror.

Weight stigma is real. People in larger bodies often experience direct judgment, discrimination, and exclusion—and that harm is undeniable. At the same time, people in bodies that are considered more socially acceptable are also affected. When thinness is constantly rewarded, fear of weight gain and body changes becomes a quiet, ongoing pressure.

Either way, everyone is impacted.

This is why representation matters. Seeing people living full, expressive, stylish lives—across different body sizes, shapes, ages, and appearances—helps loosen rigid ideas about what beauty is supposed to look like. It retrains the brain to recognize that beauty is not one size, weight, or aesthetic.

Since childhood, many of us have been conditioned to believe that beauty equals thinness. In the same way previous generations were taught that straight hair was better than curly hair, or lighter skin was more desirable than darker skin. Now curly hair is “in” and lighter skinned people are “dying” for a tan. These ideas weren’t facts—they were learned beliefs. And learned beliefs can be unlearned.

One of the most effective (and underestimated) ways to begin this shift is by intentionally changing what you consume on social media.

Thankfully, there are creators today—some in larger bodies, some in midsize bodies, some in slimmer bodies—who show up without filters, without body-hiding poses, and without trying to “fix” themselves. By following them, you slowly retrain your brain to see natural bodies as normal, stylish, and worthy of visibility.

Over time, your feed changes. And gradually, so does your internal dialogue.

Below is a curated list of accounts that celebrate fashion, self-expression, and real bodies, without chasing perfection. Check them out and follow the ones you like and similar to your body shape and size. 

Accounts That Help Retrain Your Definition of Beauty

Alex Hazen

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Alex shares midsize fashion content that feels refreshingly honest. Her outfits show how clothes actually fit and move on a real body—standing, walking, sitting—without filters or body-hiding tricks.

Bassma Azzam

Instagram
Bassma is a plus-size fashion creator and founder of Curvy Station. She helps plus-size women explore style without shame while encouraging confidence and self-trust beyond appearance.

Bree Lenehan

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Bree shares honest conversations about body image and self-worth, showing what real bodies look like without strategic posing or editing. Her content gently encourages gratitude and neutrality toward the body you have today.

Caleigh

Instagram, TikTok, Website
Caleigh is a size-inclusive personal stylist who helps people build wardrobes that fit the body they have now. Her work emphasizes comfort, fit, and personal style—without waiting for weight loss.

Chloe Xandria

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Chloe creates midsize fashion content that centers realism and visibility. Her videos show clothes on a moving body, making her content especially grounding and relatable.

Diana Dares

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
With her focus on “everyday plus-size style,” Diana shows how fashion can be elegant, expressive, and confidence-boosting at any size. Her outfits encourage dressing for how you want to feel, not how you think you should look.

Grace Tutty

Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
Grace combines elegance, education, and confidence in a larger body. Alongside fashion inspiration, she shares facts about women’s bodies that help normalize change, softness, and diversity.

Larissa Al Ashkar

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Larissa is a Lebanese filmmaker and actress who often appears without makeup or heavy styling. Her content quietly challenges the idea that beauty requires effort, polish, or perfection.

Rachel – Everyday Outfits

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Rachel is a school teacher who shares casual, everyday outfit inspiration that feels realistic and approachable. Her content reminds you that style doesn’t require a “perfect” body—just creativity, comfort, and presence.

Tally Rye

Instagram, Podcast, YouTube
Tally actively dismantles the belief that thinness equals health or happiness. She speaks openly about joyful movement, body respect, and unlearning diet culture in a way that feels both educational and grounding.

How to Gently Clean Up Your Feed

Changing your feed doesn’t require a dramatic reset. Small, intentional steps make a big difference:

• Unfollow or mute accounts that trigger comparison, shame, or urgency to change your body
• Follow diverse bodies on purpose—across sizes, ages, and styles
• Engage (like, save, comment) with content that feels grounding so the algorithm learns what to show you more of
• Remember: your feed is not neutral. It’s something you curate.

With time, the algorithm begins reflecting your values instead of reinforcing old beliefs.

A Gentle Reminder

Even body-positive or body-neutral content can sometimes feel activating—especially on hard days. If certain accounts don’t feel supportive right now, it’s okay to mute them temporarily. This work is not about forcing yourself to “love” your body, but about creating enough safety to relate to it with less judgment.

Go at your own pace.

Why This Matters

Accepting your body is not a single decision—it’s a process. One that becomes more accessible when your environment supports it instead of undermining it.

By intentionally following creators who:

• Show real bodies
• Avoid filters and heavy editing
• Celebrate fashion and self-expression at all sizes

you create a non-toxic digital space that reinforces trust, neutrality, and permission to exist as you are.

And slowly—but surely—your perception shifts.

Note: These accounts are just a starting point. Many creators are doing meaningful work in this space.

Question for you:
Which social media accounts help you embrace your natural body or enjoy fashion without pressure? Share them in the comments.