Meet Emily Bador: Model, Activist, And Body-Positive Instagram Queen

These days, it’s nearly impossible to scroll through social media without seeing some celebrity talking about body positivity or inclusivity. It’s great, of course—the more we talk about these issues, the more likely we are to inspire change—but sometimes, it can feel a little inauthentic (especially when 90 percent of the posters are average size, conventionally beautiful, white women). British model Emily Bador, however, is different. In 2016, she took some time off from modeling to work on loving herself after realizing the pressure of the fashion industry was causing her to adopt some unhealthy practices. Now she uses her Instagram not only to talk about the issues close to her heart, such as self-love and diversity, but also to document her journey through transparent, unedited photos and insightful captions (all the while putting pressure on the fashion industry to evolve). She’s proof positive that beauty doesn’t lie in our perfections, but rather, in our uniqueness and in the love we show for ourselves and others.

Bador’s first body-positive post was uploaded in December and racked up more than 12,000 likes. The side-by-side photo shows Bador in 2015 at her thinnest and beside it, at her then-current weight. The caption is brutally honest: Bador writes of “hating herself,” even at her thinnest, and feeling that she wouldn’t ever be good enough unless she was skinny.

The honesty of Bador’s post apparently made an impact: According to Elle UK, the model was inundated with messages from women sharing their stories and thanking her for being so damn real. Since then, the 20-year-old model has continued to use Instagram as a sort of personal diary of her journey to self-acceptance, sharing posts on both her good days and her bad days, and being totally, stunningly open with her struggles.

Over the past few months, Bador has built up an impressive following of almost 80k, and hopes to to use her social-media presence to create a safe community for women to share their stories. She tells Elle UK, "The knowledge that you’re not alone in whatever issue you’re having is amazing… To know there are other people out there who feel exactly the same way is kinda comforting. I now have people I can talk to and relate to."

The half-black, half-Malaysian model—with her unedited photos of belly "rolls," and honest discussions of feminism and racism—is a role model for any girl or woman who struggles to feel like she’s beautiful. It isn’t always easy to stay positive and it isn’t always easy to resist social pressure. But as Bador (who really is wise well beyond her years) writes, "Self-love is a journey."

More on our favorite female role models:

1. How One Plus-Size Model Learned to Love Her Body
2. Teyana Taylor Gets Real About Stretch Marks
3. Alicia Keys: “I Think It’s Beautiful When a Woman Is Comfortable Not Being the Norm”

Thankfully, we all get to be along for the ride with Emily Bador on hers. Check out some of the model’s most honest, insightful posts below. Oh, and if Bador looks familiar, she stars in those Lush ads we love so much.

Watch: Tati's Advice on Confidence