Body Positive Hero is a series that celebrates the people who make the fashion industry ― and the world ― a more inclusive, body-positive place.
Model Charli Howard was already one of our body positive icons, thanks to her inclusive “All Woman Project” and the inspired way she responded when a modeling agency dropped her because of her weight.
But we’ve never felt quite so inclined to celebrate our own bodies the way we do after looking at this photo she shared of her backside, cellulite and all.
Howard posted the photo and its accompany message on Monday, even though she said it scared her. She explained that between the women she saw in magazines when she was growing up and her “envy” of girls in her class who didn’t have cellulite, she began to feel like it was “shameful, or an oddity.”
It’s hard to picture someone like Howard, who spends time stressing the importance of self-love and diversity within the fashion industry, ever feeling like she needed to hide something about her body ― and it’s refreshingly honest.
She admits that it’s not her favorite part of her body, but realizes now that cellulite is nothing to be ashamed of (like her “old pal Kendrick Lamar,” she points out it is totally natural).
The post has so far racked up over 4,000 likes and more than 100 comments, which has made her feel less alone, she told The Huffington Post.
“Even though cellulite is normal, it’s always nice being assured that you’re not the only girl with it!” Howard said. “If I can help one girl feel comfortable in her skin, that’s all that matters.”
We have a feeling Howard’s inspired far more than just one girl to love the skin she’s in.
