Here is the “raw, real” Demi Lovato.
The singer and actress, 27, shared an unedited bikini photo showing her cellulite on Thursday and the post is being widely praised for its body-positive message.
“This is my biggest fear,” the Instagram began. “A photo of me in a bikini unedited.”
Lovato said she was “just literally sooooo tired of being ashamed of my body, editing it ... so that others think I’m THEIR idea of what beautiful is, but it’s just not me. This is what I got.”
Lovato, who went on to rename her cellulite “celluLIT,” said in this “new chapter” — post overdose amid a comeback with new management, an upcoming album and acting gigs in the works (Will & Grace!) — it’s about “being authentic to who I am rather than trying to meet someone else’s standards. So here’s me, unashamed, unafraid and proud to own a body that has fought through so much and will continue to amaze me when I hopefully give birth one day.”
Lovato also wrote about how she’s relieved to be done with “a strenuous workout schedule” on top of 14-hour workdays and “depriving myself from a real birthday cake rather than opting for watermelon & whip cream with candles because I was terrified of REAL cake and was miserable on some crazy diet sh**.”
She continued, “Here’s me, RAW, REAL! And I love me. And you should love you too! Now back to the studio. I’m working on an anthem.”
In a P.S., she added, “Just so everyone’s clear. I’m not stoked on my appearance BUT I am appreciative of it and sometimes that’s the best I can do. I hope to inspire someone to appreciate their body today too.”
And inspire she did. Messages of praise from her fans — famous and non flowed in. Amy Schumer, Ashley Graham and Alyssa Milano all reshared the post with positive messages.
Others commented on her bravery — and beauty. Here are some messages from her manager, Scooter Braun, model Hailey Baldwin, Lovato’s mother Dianna de la Garza, Bebe Rexha, Will & Grace’s Megan Mullally and many others:
Some fans also shared photos of their bikini bods, which Lovato then posted in her story.
Lovato later wrote on social media that she was “shaking” after she first posted the unedited bikini photo, adding, “That was so hard for me.” However, she said she was “blown away” by the “love and support. Let’s be the change we want to see.”
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