An influencer has been praised for sharing her “real body” after revealing how clever poses can completely transform her physique.
Danae Mercer Ricci has built up a following of 2.3 million followers on Instagram (@danaemercer), where she is an advocate for body positivity.
In a recent post, the mum-of-one shared a series of pictures showing how careful posing can make her body look different.
In side-by-side snaps showing Danae in a bikini, she is first seen facing away from the camera and posing, whilst an image taken the same day, shows her sitting down with the camera at her side.
Danae, 36, also shared another picture in the same bikini, this time standing up with her back to the camera.
The influencer, who lives in Dubai, but is originally from the US, also posed in front of the mirror, once with her legs crossed and stomach held in, and the other in a more natural stance.
Finally, she showed the difference between standing up and sitting down, saying: “Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s posing and a filter…”
Sharing the post with her followers, Danae wrote: “What would you do, if you knew just how wonderful all the parts of you are?
“Would you wear that swimsuit? Would you go relax on the beach? Would you let your thighs feel the sun?
“What would you do, if you hadn’t learned along the way that hips should look like this and skin must look like that and a woman must always, always, be some unachievable standard?
“What would you do?
“I’ve been asking myself this question a lot over the last year. And then again, over the course of these last few months.
“I think my answer is this: I would pose. I would relax. I would move and flex and wiggle and dimple and stumble along the way.
“I would be myself.
“I don’t know your answers. I don’t know how you, the real and raw and delicate you, feels the most truth when it comes to your relationship with your body and your soul.
“But I do know this: posted or deleted, Insta or reality, you are wonderful. You are special.
“And you don’t just deserve to feel the sun; you deserve to know that you have the capacity to bring it, to make it, to create light and love wherever you go.
“Because darling soul, you’re powerful.
“So whatever you do, just make sure it’s you.”
Her fans flocked to the comments to laud her for sharing the pictures.
One commented: “Thank you for sharing your body with this community to help so many women try to break free of our society’s expectations…”
“[…] Your posts really do help to reinforce the importance of accepting my aging body, honouring it for all it’s allowed me to do and accept myself where I’m at!” said another follower.
Someone else added: “You made me see my own body and I love that. Thank you.”
“I’m bawling…I love this post, and feel so seen right now,” said another fan.
A spokesperson for Dove also got involved, commenting: “Thank you for sharing the real you online! This is beautiful!”
