During a recent trip, I found myself trailing my middle-school daughter like her own personal photographer. She handed me her phone and instructed me to snap away as she leaped into the pool, lounged in the sun, and enjoyed smoothies beneath the trees. It was a blast! A quick peek at my Instagram feed when we returned to our hotel room revealed she wasn’t alone. Almost every girl aged 12 to 22 seemed to be busy posting perfectly staged yet seemingly effortless SB photos. Because, let’s be honest, if it’s not on social media, did it even happen?
As the week progressed, my newsfeed transformed into what could only be described as “Instagram: The Swimsuit Edition.” Kudos to these girls for their confidence! However, my heart sank as I began reading some of the comments beneath the bold images: “your a stick,” “eat something,” “hottie with a body,” “skini mini,” “go find food,” “stop ur so skinny,” “literally body goal,” “your so skinny and ripped.”
Oh no, I thought. Here we go.
The pressure to look good in a bikini is nothing new—it’s something we’ve all experienced. But when social media is thrown into the mix, it escalates to a whole new level. This is why I’m particularly interested in Lane Bryant’s #ImNoAngel campaign, which aims to celebrate women of all sizes by challenging traditional views of beauty. Launched on a Monday, the campaign features stunning curvy models, including Mia Williams—known for her groundbreaking presence in Sports Illustrated—showcasing lingerie from the brand’s Cacique collection.
While this campaign has faced criticism for seemingly taking aim at Victoria’s Secret and its iconic angels, the empowering message behind it is resonating on Twitter and Instagram. Many women and girls are embracing the #ImNoAngel hashtag, proving that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and wings aren’t a prerequisite for confidence.
“We’ve had young girls approach us and say thank you, you’ve changed my perspective on body image,” Williams shared with Today. “It makes me want to cry. We’re literally changing lives by emphasizing that nobody is perfect.”
While that might sound a bit dramatic, there are still countless girls out there who view Angels as their ultimate beauty goals. Nevertheless, it’s a step in the right direction.
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In summary, the #ImNoAngel campaign by Lane Bryant is a bold move in the fight against unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by social media. It encourages women to embrace their bodies, regardless of size, while sparking conversations about body positivity and self-acceptance.