A fitness trainer named Jessi Kneeland is proud of her body. She decided to share photos of herself showing cellulite on her thighs to prove that, no matter how great of shape you're in, dimples are completely normal.
She posted the cellulite photos on August 7, 2017, and they've since received 461 likes.
"Oh hey there, have you met my fancy fat? It's these pretty dimples along the back of my legs and butt," Jessi writes in her post. "Some people think fancy fat is 'bad,' and will try to convince you to get rid of yours, but we know better. Fancy fat is just a natural, healthy, built-in decoration. (Or at least that's how I choose to see it.)"
Despite Jessi feeling comfortable with her cellulite, there was one hateful stranger who felt the need to comment on her post.
"Spin it anyway u want, having unhealthy body fat like that is not natural," the person said on her Instagram post.
She was quick to fire back at the commenter — not only in a reply to him but by also uploading another post. She's shaking off the hate, continuing her journey to self-love, and helping other women feel the same way!
Keep scrolling to see the cellulite photos and Jessi's response!
This is Jessi Kneeland. On August 7, 2017, the fitness trainer posted two photos of herself sitting down and showing off the cellulite dimples on her thighs.
"There’s a real need for more transparency online, especially when it comes to female bodies, I think," Jessi tells LittleThings.
Along with her photos, she posted a long caption explaining that her "fancy fat" is perfectly natural and no less attractive than smooth skin.
Jessi's post has already received 461 likes and dozens of comments in the few days it's been posted. She aimed to draw attention to the fact that — although she's a fitness trainer — she, like millions of other women, has cellulite.
"Note: There is absolutely nothing objectively true about statements like 'cellulite is ugly' or 'perfectly smooth and toned is more attractive,'" Jessi writes. "Those are just examples of a social reality we pass along to each other so often, that our brains start to believe they must be true."
Jessi had no issue sharing two photos clearing showing her cellulite to her 16,300 followers.
This is the first cellulite photo Jessi posted along with her note. She took the image while at the gym.
Jessi urges others who are embarrassed about their cellulite or hate it to rethink standards of beauty. Jessi associated positive words like "fancy fat," "pretty dimples" and "decoration" to show her thousands of followers that it's possible to change the way you were taught to think about cellulite.
Jessi posted a second photo in addition to this one showing cellulite on her other thigh.
Jessi shows off her "pretty dimples" in a photo taking in the mirror of her gym.
In her post she writes:
We can change the way we see things by interrupting those old thoughts, challenging and examining them, noticing how they affect us, changing what we expose ourselves to, and finding new beliefs that affect us in a more positive way.
Along with the above, Jessi wrote a lengthy note to her followers about the way she’s changed her thinking about cellulite.
Along with the two photos she posted, Jessi wrote this long, poignant caption to go along with the pictures.
Her whole caption reads:
Oh hey there, have you met my fancy fat? It’s these pretty dimples along the back of my legs and butt. Some people think fancy fat is “bad,” and will try to convince you to get rid of yours, but we know better. Fancy fat is just a natural, healthy, built-in decoration. (Or at least that’s how I choose to see it.)
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Note: There is absolutely nothing objectively true about statements like “cellulite is ugly” or “perfectly smooth and toned is more attractive.” Those are just examples of a social reality we pass along to each other so often that our brains start to believe they must be true, they’re “natural,” or they’re “just the way things are.”
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But they’re not. We can change the way we see things by interrupting those old thoughts, challenging and examining them, noticing how they affect us, changing what we expose ourselves to, and finding new beliefs that affect us in a more positive way.
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Which exactly what I’ve done by re-casting my so-called embarrassing cellulite in the role of beloved Fancy Fat.
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P.S. — my fancy fat is more visible in some lighting or poses, and less visible in others. These 2 photos were taken when I happened to notice it popping recently in the mirror at my gym.
While her followers were inspired by what she wrote, there was one hateful comment that stuck out to Jessie. That’s when she decided to fire back at the stranger.
One commenter named Laura admitted that she had grown up with the stigma that cellulite was bad and was appreciative of Jessi's post.
"I love this post!!" she writes to Jessi.
Others wanted to educate in the same way Jessi was helping her followers.
Danielle commented on Jessi's original cellulite post that she'd be teaching her nieces to love the skin they're in and that cellulite is completely natural and normal!
If Jessi's cellulite post inspired you, please SHARE this post on Facebook with family and friends!
