We live in a world where filters and apps can alter our appearance to perfection with just the swipe of a finger, convoluting our concept of beauty and reality.
But one Instagram celebrity teen is using the social media site to expose the truth.
Australian model Essena O'Neill took once used Instagram to post bikini pictures of herself. But now she is using the very site to reveal the staged nature of many Instagram photos.
"I found myself drowning in the illusion," O'Neill wrote on her new site, Let's Be Game Changers.
"Social media isn't real. It's purely contrived images and edited clips ranked against each other. It's a system based on social approval, likes and dislikes, validation in views, success in followers ... it's perfectly orchestrated judgement. And it consumed me."
"A 15 year old girl that calorie restricts and excessively exercises is not goals. Anyone addicted to social media fame like I once was, is not in a conscious state."
Since opening up about the realities of modeling and social media, she has deleted thousand of posts. She has even changed the captions on the remaining photos to explain the truth behind the pics.
One caption says, "NOT REAL LIFE - took over 100 in similar poses trying to make my stomach look good. Would have hardly eaten that day. Would have yelled at my little sister to keep taking them until I was somewhat proud of this. Yep so totally #goals"
In another she wrote, "NOT REAL LIFE - I didn't pay for the dress, took countless photos trying to look hot for Instagram, the formal made me feel incredibly alone."
O'Neill also shared the secret about brand deals: "Was paid $400 to post a dress. That's when I had maybe 150k followers, with half a million followers, I know of many online brands (with big budgets) that pay up to $2000 per post.
She added, "Nothing is wrong with accepting brand deals. I just think it should be known. This photo had no substance, it was not of ethical manufacturing (I was uneducated at the time). SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT REAL is my point. Be aware what people promote, ask yourself, what's their intention behind the photo?"
Her expose' on social media and modeling then took an emotional turn: "The only thing that made me feel good that day was this photo. How deeply depressing. Having a toned body is not all we as human beings are capable of."
"This is what I like to call a perfectly contrived candid shot. Nothing is candid about this. While yes going for a morning jog and ocean swim before school was fun," she wrote.
"I felt the strong desire to pose with my thighs just apart #thighgap boobs pushed up #vsdoublepaddingtop and face away because obviously my body is my most likeable asset. Like this photo for my efforts to convince you that I'm really really hot #celebrityconstruct"
Then, she reminded us of another truly disturbing fact. That thousands of Instagram users were ogling her body—her underage, 16-year-old body.
She wrote, "and yet another photo taken purely to promote my 16 year old body. This was my whole identity. That was so limiting. Made me incredibly insecure. You have no idea."
O'Neill has quit modeling and social-media sponsorships. She is hoping to use her new site to spread healthier values of environment preservation, veganism, and "being present."
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