Gemma Collins has both shocked and delighted her fans by uploading a throwback photo from her teens onto Instagram.
In the snap, the 38-year-old looks relaxed and natural as she stands on a boat wearing a swimsuit.
The reality star published the photo with a message about of body positivity, where she mused about how the world has changed since that photo was taken.
The Towie star explained that back then she had “no body hang-ups and pressure”, and encouraged young people to “be body confident and free”.
She said: “ I never grew up body conscious it wasn’t a thing when I was younger I was just young free and me.
“Yeah I look good but in an innocent way there was no panic. This pic was NOT taken to fit in with a wall page on make it Instagram worthy.”
The Diva Forever star then turned her attention to the negative impact that Instagram can have on body image, and said the way people “expose themselves” on the social media platform is “way too much”.
She said: “Instagram is way too exposed now for young members who are on here .... they do have pressure and it’s just so nice to look back on this picture and not have had any of that pressure growing up. I was just a happy teenager with no body hang ups or pressure.
“I think it’s so important for our younger generation to be body confident and free. Also the way people expose themselves now days on the gram is way too much nothing is held back anymore everything on show nothing is left to the imagination it is way too much.”
Speaking directly to young people, she added: “I just want to say to the younger ones on insta be YOU and don’t worry about what you see on insta be young be happy and free.”
Gemma’s 1.4 million followers, which included a string of fellow reality TV stars including Love Island’s Amy Hart and Belle Hassan, and Towie star Georgia Kousoulou.
One fan said: “You could not have put it any better @gemmacollins1so many celebrities on here post ridiculous pictures in bikinis with their noons practically hanging out and it’s disgusting!”
Another said: “This really needed to be said by someone with a platform like yours! Well done.”
A third posted: “More inspirational real women like you needed!! Preach it GC x you’ve got the power and girl behind you.”
