‘I snapped a bikini pic at seaside and it went viral for a cause I did not count on’

A woman shared some snaps of herself on holiday – and what people said about them totally blew her away.

US influencer and podcast host, Carly Weinstein, recently shared some pictures of herself sunning it up in Spain. She was seen posing in a gold two-piece bikini while she was spending some time in Mallorca.

It wasn’t long before her “hot” photos went viral, as women celebrated her for promoting “realistic” body image. It seems the social media star unknowingly started a body positive movement online.

READ MORE: ‘I’m a size 14 model – trolls bash me for it but I’m the CEO of confidence’

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She recently opened up about why she thinks so many people connected with the snaps. The influencer even shared her own “ups and downs” abound how society perceives women’s bodies.

Writing on Instagram, she said: “I posted a bikini photo around a week ago and it kinda went viral because of the way my body looks. So many people have been commenting things like ‘this is what a real body looks like’, or ‘I finally see a body that looks like mine!!’

“Now first of all this sent me into a SPIRAL because I didn’t even think twice about the fact that it might have looked like a ‘realistic’ body to some people, I was just vibeing in my bathing suit showing my awesome view!!”

She continued: “But it reminded me that there is STILL a huge lack of body diversity in my industry and on social media in general. I’m not just talking about the lack of different body size, but also a lack of things like cellulite, bruises, peach fuzz, things that are totally normal and HUMAN!!”

Carly previously opened up about body image on the REAL with Carly Weinstein podcast. During the candid chat, she explained that the “shock” and “confusion” wore off as she realised women are growing “tired” of society’s beauty standards.

She said: “This post is not meant to be preachy because, I’m just like all of you – I absolutely do not like what I see in the mirror all the time and that is fine,” she continued. But I want to remind you that no matter what, how you look on the outside does not and NEVER WILL determine the human being that you are.

“So yes, we all want to slay on the beach, but if you wake up and aren’t feeling yourself, it’s not the end of the world!!”

She also reminded others to “give yourself grace”, and told her followers that” no one will ever remember you because of how you looked, but rather the impact that you made on others”.

Concluding her story, she added: “A photo like that should not send everyone into oblivion,” she finished. “You don’t need to strive for perfection, you are worthy no matter what.”

Carly also shared a video of the post on TikTok – and has since received a host of responses.

One replied, saying: “We are just SOO TIRED of filters and smoothing pictures before posting them that seeing this just felt so refreshing and real.”

Another added: “I feel like we’re only seeing extremes like models or really fashionable plus size. But not really in between.” A third replied: “Happiness is realising my body is not the full picture. Every girl needs to hear this.”

Meanwhile, others said Carly’s candid snap encouraged them to “take the damn picture” more.

“This makes me sad. I went to Jamaica, and Mexico and refused pics bc I felt so self conscious… I should’ve taken the pics, you look so hot,” another said.

Another chimed in with: “This motivated me to just stop freaking out internally and take the picture.”

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