Who you spend time with the most is who you will become. The average person spends around an hour a day on Instagram, so it makes sense to surround yourself with positive, uplifting, self-loving people online just the way you do offline.
@allaboutannieblog
Our local endo warrior was one of the first endometriosis voices in New Zealand. Unapologetic, loud and confident, Annie quickly gained an audience of women used to suffering quietly and alone, and created a safe space and a supportive community on her account. Her page is full of inspirational quotes, humour and strong language – it’s like an endless besties’ pyjama-party with champagne and no filters here.
@sophia_malthus
Would you tandem-jump out of an aeroplane? What about rafting on crazy waves? Ok, here’s an easier one – completely dominating the New Zealand Fashion Week catwalk? Sophia does all that and more in a wheelchair. At the age of 19 she fell off a horse and broke her neck, but refuses to let that stop her living a fulfilling, exciting life. Sophia hopes she can inspire young girls with disabilities to do the same. Well, she definitely inspires us to do better every day. And it’s impossible not to love her sense of humour.
@thislifeasjasmin
If you love dancing and prefer videos to photos, you’ll love Jasmin’s account. The avid foodie from Wellington had always been known for her colourful photos of vegan meals and Stories from her scenic morning runs. Recently Jasmin opened up about spending the past five years restricting and controlling her portions behind the scenes and how it affected her physical and mental health. She’s now learning to enjoy her food and appreciate her new body, and invites you on a journey to self-love.
@meganonair
Fashion, colours and cats – that’s a brief description
of Megan’s Instagram account. A well-known radio announcer, she admits becoming a body-positive inspiration was never a conscious decision for her; she just started posting photos of herself and her family and people loved her style and confidence. She went through an eating disorder as a teenager and now prefers to live her life happily and freely – something she used to deny herself.
@jessicaemilyquinn
An Auckland-based ray of sunshine went through cancer as a kid and lost a leg. Did it stop her? Hell, no! All grown- up, always smiling and confident Jessica is inspiring over 175K followers with her daily reminders that you only see what people choose to show you online, pictures don’t equal real life and you can be healthy and beautiful in any size and shape. She’s advocating for more diversity in advertising and removing heavily photoshopped images off magazine pages.