Melissa Suffield has been praised by fans for promoting body confidence after sharing a 'real' pic of herself on Instagram.
The 28-year-old former EastEnders star admitted that she was in two minds about posting the photo due to fears about how it will be accepted and the potential for trolling.
Melissa, who is best known for being a child actress playing Lucy Beale in the BBC soap, is now making a name for herself with her honest and candid posts about parenting on social media.
She has celebrated her post-baby body in the year since she had her son River and her updates have proved to be popular with fans and has seen her following increased.
On Thursday, Melissa posted a photo of herself in the garden after admitting that she almost didn't.
Captioning the pic, Melissa wrote: "I almost didn’t post this. Fat and rolls spilling over the top of the thick waistband of a pair of Robert’s pants, the dress clinging to it.
"The angle I’m sat at, that’s accentuating my lower half and messing with my proportions. I could probably sit and dissect this photo for ages.
"But I won’t. We’re so conditioned to pick out our flaws, and then just stop there. And it can be so hard to see past them once we’ve acknowledged them, and it just leaves us feeling so much less than."
Melissa continued: "I’ll see a photo of me, and be gutted when I don’t look as good as I thought I did in the real world - that’s bonkers! Surely the real world is what matters, not the photos we take on those days.
"Capturing memories is a beautiful thing, but it’s important to remember that they’re nothing compared to the memory itself. I felt fierce that day, and no photo is going to make me feel otherwise."
Melissa finished the post with: "Also, omg GALS. Boys pants are so great- that thick waistband is an absolute winner"
The actress showed off her natural beauty as she wore minimal make-up while posing in a red dress, with her blonde hair loose and tumbling over her shoulders.
Melissa's sensational look was praised by her fans, who have also appreciated her honest approach to motherhood and her body.
One follower commented: "You look blummin gorgeous!!!! But as a girlie that frequently shrieks 'oh my god, do I look as fat in real life as I do in that photo?!', I appreciate this post soooooo much!!"
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