Model Chrissy Teigen’s good looks are just an afterthought when it comes to why many fans adore her.
She fights back against sexist double standards, defends fellow moms from ridiculous parent-shaming, and is unashamedly a big fan of cheese.
No wonder the internet tends to be on Team Chrissy.
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images.
But Teigen has also used her platform to promote body positivity on more than one occasion. And on Aug. 16, 2016, she did just that.
Teigen shared a photo of leg stretch marks on Snapchat, joking that her “thighs have tributaries.”
It’s not the first time she’s shown the world what her “stretchies” look like, either.
The snap quickly spread to all corners of the internet this week, with many praising the star for being able to poke fun at herself while promoting a message of self-love.
But the best thing about the snap was seeing how it actually made a real difference to many people.
Because when celebrities share themselves with the world, people are listening.
Many fans found it refreshing to see a celebrity just being real.
Others pointed out that Teigen’s snap challenges our tired, harmful definition of beauty.
And some fans simply appreciated knowing that others are in the same boat.
Because, let’s be real, having anything in common with Teigen is pretty much awesome.
Some fans used the snap to point out that no one should feel ashamed of their stretch marks.
And others reiterated the idea that embracing your body is the best way to go.
Teigen’s snap was the perfect example of how sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat can humanize celebs.
Social media can be superficial, silly, and even downright harmful at times. But it can also be a powerful tool for good.
When an actor opens up about his struggles with depression, it lets others know they’re not alone. When a comedian shares a personal experience exposing the harsh realities of racism, it can unite communities against hate. And when models share photos of their non-Photoshopped legs, it can have a ripple effect of empowerment.
Thank you, Teigen, for being real in an industry that can feel so fake.
We all have bodies, after all, and there’s no feeling quite like being comfortable in your own skin.
