The Real Reasons You Should Stop Comparing Yourself to Instagram Models

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Last Updated on February 3, 2022

You may know the feeling: you’re scrolling through Instagram, just trying to pass the time or see what everyone’s up to. But then, almost without even realizing it, you start comparing your face, your legs, your LIFE…to the Instagram models and influencers you see. 

And while you might already know that social comparison in general leads to negative self talk and self-doubt, the issue of comparing yourself to other people on social media runs even deeper than that. 

There are a lot of different elements at play because so much of what we see on social media is curated (on purpose) to paint an unrealistic picture. People are able to hide what they want to hide and accentuate what they want to show. 

{YOU MIGHT LIKE: Why It Can Be Good to Express Your Feelings On Social Media}

And that increases tenfold when we’re talking about Instagram models, and not just everyday people, who have the resources to literally make themselves look however they want. 

So here’s why you shouldn’t feel too bad if you don’t “match up” to the standards you see on Instagram.

This post is all about comparing yourself to Instagram models

The photos that make you feel bad are often edited or manipulated in some way

Whether it be through filters, Photoshop, Facetune, etc…a lot of what you see is absolutely edited. Cellulite can be blurred out, waistlines cinched, acne blended away…

But many women don’t realize this. Or, at least, not enough to believe it all the time. It can leave you guessing if something you admire is real or not. 

For example, 90% of women have cellulite. But you might be encouraged to believe that the slim women you see on Instagram don’t have it, even though chances are they totally do. They might just be hiding it. 

Or what about all those bikini pictures with the perfectly flat stomachs? Angles are everything. The way you wear the waistband of your bikini is everything. Lighting is everything. Photoshop is everything!

As you can see, there are SO many elements that can contribute to photos appearing a certain way. “You can’t believe everything you see” is truer than ever on Instagram. 

Instagram models have resources. You don’t.

Depending on how big of a celebrity an Instagram model is, they could very well have a whole team of people managing their photoshoots and editing their photos in ways you never could.

It’s a whole lot easier to look “flawless” when you have someone with tools to manipulate the lighting, capture your best angles, and dab the oil off your face as needed. And on top of that, having the best access to professional photo editing tools. 

There is no way you can compare the way your face or body looks when it’s up to you to capture selfies on self-timer, or at most, having a friend photograph you! 

And if those were the only resources these Instagram models had, they’d look a lot more like you. 

Instagram models don’t even look like Instagram models

So, those Instagram models you can’t stop comparing yourself to? Yeah, the craziest part is they don’t even look like that in real life!

Yes, they can alter their appearance through cosmetic surgery, which many of us don’t have access to, sure. But even that does not translate to the extent you think it does in these Instagram photos. The editing and photography goes beyond any “work” that’s been done. 

Have you ever seen unfiltered paparazzi photos of celebrities caught off guard? They often don’t look as touched up and “flawless” as they do on their social media profiles. They look a little more like normal people. That’s just further indication that you cannot take Instagram photos at face value. 

There’s a book that talks all about the “constructed realities” we see on Instagram and the destructive standards of “flawlessness” going on. 

This book, Why Social Media Is Ruining Your Life, explores the impact social media has on our body image, money, relationships, etc. and how we can gain control over these aspects instead of being so heavily influenced by social media.

I highly recommend this great read if you want to learn more about how social media can sometimes negatively impact us!

You’re only questioning yourself because beauty standards change–ALL the time

Seriously! Remember how one minute we were told to be a size 0, blonde, and petite like Paris Hilton–and the next minute curvy, full-figured, and brunette like Kim K? (And now who knows what is idolized these days because it’s all changing so fast??)

And it’s all intentional. It’s meant to leave us insecure and questioning ourselves and our beauty–even our worth, at times. 

Worse is that it takes away our perception of choice. We might feel like we don’t have the choice to control our appearance in the way we truly want, in a way that makes us happiest, because we feel so much pressure to fit in whichever specific box is most adored at the moment. 

But you know what? You really don’t have to. 

Think about it. You work so hard to live up to the current beauty standard, but what about when that beauty standard changes? And when the next one changes? Do you want to be forever chasing whatever society deems “beautiful?”

Or would it be better to live by your own rules, your own standards, and do whatever makes YOU feel beautiful, happy, and confident? 

And that way, there’s nothing to “keep up” with. 

(I know I sure could benefit from taking my own advice here!)

It’s easier said than done, absolutely. It can be hard to make the shift toward doing more of what matters to us, especially when it comes to our outer appearance. But valuing your own ideal of beauty over society’s ideal of beauty is so very worth it. Which leads me to my next point.

How to stop comparing yourself to Instagram models

It’s a little challenging to turn the social comparisons off autopilot, especially on Instagram. But there’s a few things you can do to adjust your mindset and habits and make it possible!

Shift your comparison mindset to one of admiration

I explain in this article, 10 Powerful Ways to Overcome Self Doubt, that it’s important to reframe negative comparison dialogue to that of positive admiration instead. 

So instead of “ugh, her abs are so toned, if only my stomach looked like that!” reframe that dialogue to something like, “wow, her abs are so toned! Good for her!” and leave it at that. 

It’s possible to recognize admirable qualities in these Instagram pictures without having to turn the conversation back to yourself. 

Remember the truth of the matter

Remember that Instagram hardly ever reflects reality. If you are a normal person, you cannot compare your limited resources to the major resources (and $$$) these Instagram models have. 

You can’t question why you don’t look like them when they would look exactly like you if they didn’t have what they have. 

Start following accounts that help you feel better about yourself

I suggest following more “everyday people” on Instagram and consider staying away from following too many “IG model” type accounts with hundreds of thousands or millions of followers.

There is so much great content out there on Instagram, beyond the focus on fashion and beauty (not that fashion and beauty accounts are bad at all! But it’s a good idea to diversify the types of accounts you follow.) 

My Instagram account, much like my blog, is all about personal development (@ambitiouslyalexa if you’d like to take a look!). I do like to share cute, posed Instagram pictures, but my captions always have a focus surrounding mental health, productivity, and overall self-improvement!

I also wear what makes me feel beautiful and happy! And these yellow pants, yellow purse, and cute sandals make me very happy 😊 (Links to pants and purse aren’t the exact items, but very similar! Mine are sold out). 

So play around with following a wide variety of content on Instagram and take some pressure off yourself.

So there you have it, those are the real reasons you should stop comparing yourself to Instagram models. You simply can’t believe everything you see, so don’t hold yourself to curated, ever-changing standards that aren’t always real!

You never know what is going on behind the scenes to make a photo look “perfect,” so don’t feel bad if you don’t measure up to what’s on your Instagram feed. 

Instead, focus more on what makes you feel beautiful and happy about yourself, not what you think you’re supposed to do!

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