Nourish your Insta: 10 self-love advocating women to follow in 2017
Your Instagram feed is likely nowhere near the top of the list of things stressing you out in 2016, but why add to it?
The end of the year is the perfect time to cut things out of your life that make you feel low. And Instagram envy is no good.
Fitspo models with unrealistic advice? Cut 'em. Spruikers of "clean eating" with all the cash in the world to afford an organic lifestyle? Unfollow. Your high school frenemy who you still creep on? Nope.
But no need to become anti-fitness or switch off your social media entirely (unless that sounds good, in which case, go for it).
Instead, consider who gets your precious "follow" and fill up your feed with positive women who make you feel good about yourself -- creative people who genuinely inspire you.
Here are seven Australian legends to start you off.
1. @jesscochranepaints_
Jessica Cochrane is an artist from Canberra who plays with representations of femininity. She paints over images that at first seem to represent tropes of conventional beauty, shifting them into something unexpected.
Come for the art, stay for the puppies.
2. @definatalie
Queensland's Natalie Perkins is an artistic extraordinaire with an Etsy shop called Fancy Lady Industries, that's well worth a visit. Her Instagram account is full of arty activities, with a welcoming community that mandates "no diet talk" and "no fat shaming."
3. @saramaijewels
Sarah Jane Adams is a Sydney jewellery designer and Instagram superstar. With beautiful fashions, plus frequent trips to India and other locales, Adams' account shimmers with fun and daring. If you needed some motivation for living well, here it is.
4. @stefania_model
Stefania Ferrario is an Australian model with an important message. She popularised the #DropThePlus hashtag, advocating for the "plus" to be removed when describing models more curvy than the fashion industry's unrealistic standards.
"It implies bigger than normal; it's already giving off the idea that this whole group of women who fall under this label are not the norm," she told Broadly.
5. @flex.mami
Not only does Sydney DJ FlexMami (otherwise known as Lillian Ahenkan) play great music, she also has the best fashions and spreads a message of self love. If you like one or all of those things, please follow her on Instagram as soon as possible.
Plus, she gives perfect elevator selfie.
6. @femmeplastic
Laura Vudé is a Queer identified, Melbourne-based photographer and plus size model. She's well worth a follow if you like your feed full of technicolour makeup and stylish, joyful images of Vudé and her friends. As her site says, she's about "celebrating all bodies as good bodies."
7. @amrita_moves
Amrita Hepi is a Sydney-based dancer, choreographer and activist. Of Indigenous Australian Bundjalung and Ngāpuhi (Maori) heritage, she has funnelled her A+ creativity into social good.
Her Hollaback dance classes are a place for no judgement, where even the freshest beginners can learn some of Rihanna's best moves, free of shame. Let her Instagram pics get you to the dance floor.
8. @beibadgirl
Bei Badgirl is a Melbourne artist and self-proclaimed expert in "Cute (Kawaii かわいい)." Not only does she serve some impressive manga-inspired fashions, she has great art and merch -- please see this Kim Kardashian pin if you doubt it.
9. @elliagreen
Ellia Tiriseyani Green is a bona fide Olympic gold medallist. She and Australia's womens rugby 7s team (the very first of its kind) dominated at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
If you want some legit fitness inspiration, from someone who knows, here's where to find it.
10. @ellecurve
If you need a quick serve of fashion inspiration, Elyse "Elle" Lithgow is there for you. Her Insta is full to the brim with great styles for all occasions. Want to wear stripes on stripes? Let Lithgow show you how. Fashion rules -- into the bin!
Topics Instagram Social Media
Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
