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The male body positive Instagram influencer who ditched his six pack | The male body positive Instagram influencer who ditched his six pack |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A man who "wasted years" trying to sculpt his body has become an Instagram influencer on body positivity. | A man who "wasted years" trying to sculpt his body has become an Instagram influencer on body positivity. |
"I always used Instagram for inspiration on losing weight," said Stevie Blaine, 26, aka @bopo.boy. | "I always used Instagram for inspiration on losing weight," said Stevie Blaine, 26, aka @bopo.boy. |
But after seeing his clothes size tumble from XXL to extra small, family and friends said he had "gone too far". | But after seeing his clothes size tumble from XXL to extra small, family and friends said he had "gone too far". |
His 15,000 followers include singer Sam Smith and actor Jameela Jamil who tagged him to her 1.6 million followers. | His 15,000 followers include singer Sam Smith and actor Jameela Jamil who tagged him to her 1.6 million followers. |
"My message is that it's perfectly OK to be unapologetically you," he said. | "My message is that it's perfectly OK to be unapologetically you," he said. |
"And that you don't feel the pressure to conform to a particular beauty standard to make you more valid or worthy because everyone is valid the way they are." | "And that you don't feel the pressure to conform to a particular beauty standard to make you more valid or worthy because everyone is valid the way they are." |
Mr Blaine, from Hampshire, said his 10-year "obsession" with losing weight was inspired by images of film stars with "ripped" bodies. | Mr Blaine, from Hampshire, said his 10-year "obsession" with losing weight was inspired by images of film stars with "ripped" bodies. |
"I needed to have a six pack," he said. | "I needed to have a six pack," he said. |
"I lost an insane amount of weight in my early 20s and was really unhealthy. | "I lost an insane amount of weight in my early 20s and was really unhealthy. |
"I was counting every single calorie. | "I was counting every single calorie. |
"It was literally just enough for me to survive on." | "It was literally just enough for me to survive on." |
He would visit the gym every day after running an hour back from work. | He would visit the gym every day after running an hour back from work. |
But it was a chance view of a post on Instagram that changed his life. | But it was a chance view of a post on Instagram that changed his life. |
"One day I saw a plus-size girl on the beach living her life with a belly roll. | "One day I saw a plus-size girl on the beach living her life with a belly roll. |
"I thought 'I've been wasting the last 10 years trying to be somebody else'." | "I thought 'I've been wasting the last 10 years trying to be somebody else'." |
Mr Blaine said when he started his Instagram account bopo.boy he "went head first into the body positive movement and saw that there weren't any men". | Mr Blaine said when he started his Instagram account bopo.boy he "went head first into the body positive movement and saw that there weren't any men". |
"I want to be the role model that I desperately needed that could have saved me 10 years of destroying my body," he said. | "I want to be the role model that I desperately needed that could have saved me 10 years of destroying my body," he said. |
Follower Sam Smith has taken up the cause of body positivity with a post vowing to "reclaim my body" . | Follower Sam Smith has taken up the cause of body positivity with a post vowing to "reclaim my body" . |
Instagram said there had been 2.8 million #bodypositivity posts on the site and it was growing "as people connect with others and become empowered to share their real selves". | Instagram said there had been 2.8 million #bodypositivity posts on the site and it was growing "as people connect with others and become empowered to share their real selves". |
"Every day we see people come to Instagram to promote a positive body image, redefine body standards and find their own versions of beauty, using campaigns such as #acneisnormal and #myrealselfseptember," said a spokesperson. | "Every day we see people come to Instagram to promote a positive body image, redefine body standards and find their own versions of beauty, using campaigns such as #acneisnormal and #myrealselfseptember," said a spokesperson. |
How do I know if I'm exercising too much? | How do I know if I'm exercising too much? |
The Body Dysmorphic Foundation has identified some signs that you can look out for: | The Body Dysmorphic Foundation has identified some signs that you can look out for: |
In a 2016 survey of more than 1,000 boys aged between eight and 18, 55% said they would consider changing their diet to look better and 23% said they believed there was "a perfect male body to strive for". | In a 2016 survey of more than 1,000 boys aged between eight and 18, 55% said they would consider changing their diet to look better and 23% said they believed there was "a perfect male body to strive for". |
"I was in a school and asked if anyone had uploaded a picture to social media that wasn't edited and none of them had," said Mr Blaine. | "I was in a school and asked if anyone had uploaded a picture to social media that wasn't edited and none of them had," said Mr Blaine. |
"For women there are many body types that are considered beautiful but for for men it's one. | "For women there are many body types that are considered beautiful but for for men it's one. |
"Unless you have six-pack abs and a chiselled jaw you are not considered an attractive guy." | "Unless you have six-pack abs and a chiselled jaw you are not considered an attractive guy." |
And he's taking his message to festivals including Bodykind in Totnes where he will be speaking to local schoolchildren. | And he's taking his message to festivals including Bodykind in Totnes where he will be speaking to local schoolchildren. |
You may also be interested in: | |
He has also worked with The Mix and Ditch the Label charities and is a young ambassador for Instagram "so I talk to kids about how to protect themselves online". | He has also worked with The Mix and Ditch the Label charities and is a young ambassador for Instagram "so I talk to kids about how to protect themselves online". |
"People come up to me and say 'You're the first person who has made me feel good about myself'. | "People come up to me and say 'You're the first person who has made me feel good about myself'. |
"Now I exercise three times a week but it's more to do with how I feel than trying to look a particular way. I just really enjoy swimming and badminton." | "Now I exercise three times a week but it's more to do with how I feel than trying to look a particular way. I just really enjoy swimming and badminton." |
If you have been affected by issues in this story, there is help and advice here. | If you have been affected by issues in this story, there is help and advice here. |
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