Nadia Sawalha’s Instagram followers and Loose Women fans are used to her outspoken comments and frank opinions.
But she still alerted them that there was unvarnished content coming up.
“Warning! Woman showing cellulite,” she posted on Instagram, beside a series of candid photos showing what a difference lighting and posing makes.
In black pants and a monochrome print bra, the TV presenter illustrated the difference subtle lighting and different body positions can make to photography.
She wrote: “Honestly, all I did was change the lighting and the pose and look at the difference.”
Nadia was inspired to get her kit off by body positivity activist Danae Mercer, who posted her own candid images this week.
Danae, who had an eating disorder when she was younger, spelled out what Nadia called the “smoke and mirrors” of Instagram photography.
Danae, who used to work on women’s glossies, has seen at first hand how models and photographers get the best results.
She wrote: “When I worked in magazines, we shot at sunrise or sunset. On most sets, there were people holding sun diffusers and reflectors to help create the perfect flattering balance of shadow and light.
“The same thing happens on social media, just in a different form. Most Insta models know exactly how to pose and work their angles. And they know lighting too.”
After reading Danae’s post, Nadia tried it for herself. These shots were, she said, “all taken within minutes of each other. It’s all smoke and mirrors”.
These days, Nadia is an advocate for self-acceptance and body positivity. She wrote: “I work every day at being more accepting of my beautiful warts-and-all body.”
