Minnie Dlamini on the importance of loving your body
"I spent my 20s self-conscious and obsessed with meeting societal standards and expectations of what my body should look like."
Body image is a big thing, especially in today's world where social media is flooded with photos of women who seem so perfect.
Whether some use filters or go the cosmetic surgery route to obtain the perfect look, it doesn't take away the pressure of trying to look perfect.
Minnie Dlamini is not immune to the pressures of social media when it comes to body image.
The 33-year-old took to Instagram to share how after many years of struggling with body image, she has now fallen in love with her body.
"The older I get the more I love my body!" she wrote.
She says giving birth to her son, Netha Makhosini Jones, gave her a confidence boost.
"After having my son and seeing the amazing things my body can do, I have an unimaginable appreciation for it. My body is much more beautiful to me than it has ever been," she wrote on Instagram on Sunday, 26 November.
READ: Minnie Dlamini reveals she's kissed a girl in 'Never Have I Ever'
She went on to explain how she was obsessed with how her body looked in the 20s, and failed to appreciate it.
"The reality is things aren’t the same, but this is the youngest my body will ever be!!! I spent my 20s self-conscious and obsessed with meeting societal standards and expectations of what my body should look like, and looking back I’m like “girl you were perfect and you missed it!” she wrote on Instagram.
"So I’ve decided to love my body now more than ever before!" she wrote.
Many people around the world struggle with body image.
According to the Mental Health organisation's report, 'research has found that higher body dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer quality of life, psychological distress and the risk of unhealthy eating behaviours and eating disorders'.
Another publication, Mental Health Foundation, reports that 'one in eight (13%) adults experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings because of concerns about their body image.'