4 INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS INSPIRING US RIGHT NOW
Social media is a giant sea of information and voices (and endless selfies), and we're all swimming in it. Sometimes we tap in just to kill a little time or connect with friends, but sometimes we are also searching for answers to our questions, validation for our experiences, examples of what we're trying to do or be. And every now and then, we find something that really hits home (a project, an attitude, a point of view) and gives us that special "hell yeah" rush. We (electronically) meet someone who is putting down what we want to pick up. Such a good feeling right? Validating, inspiring, warm and fuzzy: these four accounts give us all of that. We're all complicated, with different but overlapping wants and struggles, and these folks are touching us in all the right spots. Enjoy!
1. @plussizetransguy: INSPIRING US TO UP OUR FASHION GAME
For some of us, seeing the person we want to see in the mirror can be a real struggle. The fashion industry floods us with pictures of chiseled, "perfect" looking people, so it might seem like a weird place to find self-confidence. But studies have actually shown that finding your personal style can be a life-affirming way to show who you are. Playing with your look can also be a healthy form of self-exploration. Interested but need a little inspiration? @plussizetransguy can put together a look like nobody's business. An advocate of thrift shops, @plussizetransguy also shows that you don't have to have a huge budget to look fly. He also happens to be a total hottie with a blue steel smolder.
Who inspires Plus Size Trans Guy: @cisgusted (extra points for having the best Instagram handle of all time) and @k_hotstuff
2. @king_femme: INSPIRING US TO LIVE AS AUTHENTICALLY AS POSSIBLE
“To be nobody but yourself in a world doing its best to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human can ever fight and never stop fighting.” (E. E. Cummings)
It's no secret that transpeople's bodies are often put under the public microscope without our consent. When not scrutinizing the ways in which our bodies may be different from cis bodies, people looking to discredit the authenticity of transfolks are targeting our gender expressions looking for "proof" that we are not who or what we say we are. So even the bravest of us have to push back against rigid rules about masculinity just to find our way to our truest selves.
Eli's Instagram feed is our favorite cure for the crushing weight of toxic masculinity. Fierce, fabulous, and unapologetic, @king_femme is out there living his truth, and in his words "fighting dysphoria one gay body-roll at a time." Get it.
Who inspires Eli: @th3gayagenda and @foolsnghouls
3. @gorilla_shrimp: INSPIRING US TO GET OUTSIDE
These days, it’s easy to spend every free moment thumbing away at our smartphones, checking Facebook, scrolling through Reddit... And while, for many of us, the Internet is the only way we get to connect with people like us, there’s nothing like spending a little time in nature to reset.
In addition to being on a several-year-long road trip, @gorilla_shrimp, also known as Malcolm Ribot, works with an organization called The Venture Out Project that leads backpacking and wilderness trips for the queer and transgender communities. Check out his feed to see pics of his most recent excursions and hit The Venture Out Project website to find out if they're planning a trip near you!
Who inspires Malcom: @theventureoutproject
4. @deelovesdeadlifts: INSPIRING US TO GET OUR BUTTS TO THE GYM
It's Thursday and you've just spent 8 hours in a cramped office and 45 minutes on a crowded subway fighting rush hour traffic. You barely have the energy to put your sweats on and flip the remote, let alone slog through a 45-minute workout. @deelovesdeadlifts is like a shot of Monster Rush XPlode pre-workout, only way better for your heart. Day in, day out, this guy is doing his thing, showing up at the gym and sweating away towards his fitness goals. Not only is his feed great motivation for getting your booty to the gym, but his personal transformation is truly impressive.
Who inspires Dee: @alionsfear and @advokayden
Are there any accounts out there that inspire you? Post in the comments below!