Vicky Pattison has been applauded for a candid Instagram message to her followers on Christmas Eve. The former Geordie Shore star and I'm a Celebrity Queen of the Jungle is known for her down-to-earth social media posts promoting body positivity.
In her latest down-to-earth post Vicky, 35, urged her followers to "stop hiding from the camera" and "take the picture" as she discussed the true meaning of Christmas. Vicky, who won I'm A Celebrity ....Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015, was thanked for her inspiring words as she shared a collection of unedited and makeup-free snaps showing herself tucking into a donut, a sandwich, caught by a downpour on a walk and smiling as she enjoyed spending time with her niece Mavie and beloved pet dog Milo.
She started her post by quoting body positivity influencer Alex Light: "Be in the pictures this festive season. Stop hiding from the camera. One day someone who loves you will be thankful that you decided to be in the picture and they won't care if you hair looked nice or if you were sucking in. They will only care that you were there."
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"I read this post this morning on @alexlight_ldn Instagram (brilliant woman btw- her content is super inspiring- 110% recommend a follow if you don't already!) and it was originally a tweet from another pretty amazing female @andimjulie... and it really got me thinking," she explained.
And Vicky told her followers: "Over the years I can't tell you how many times I've said 'oh don't get me in the picture I look terrible' or 'omg, look at the state of me, don't post that!' And I think now about all the beautiful family moments I could have been a part of had I just not been so self conscious or so fixated on all of the wrong things.
She continued: "I have always, ALWAYS been happiest with a bit of meat on my bones, fork in hand and surrounded by people I love the most... And that's what Christmas is all about... not looking perfect in a picture.
"Mavie doesn't care if I don't have my hair extensions in and Milo isn't bothered if I haven't changed out of my pjs- they just want to be with me. So this Christmas why not give yourself the gift of kindness and abit of self love and instead of picking yourself apart- see in yourself what your family sees! A beautiful, kind person just chock full of magic and get in the picture."
She added: "It might seem frivolous now to put so much gravity on a photograph- but that snapshot of that beautiful family moment will be there forever, even when memories fade and those we loved aren't around anymore. And not one single person who treasures that photo will care if you were at your 'goal weight' or not. So happy Christmas Eve everyone.. and take the picture."
Coronation Street favourite Helen Flanagan responded with a love heart and Alex Light told her: "Thank you so much Vicky." And molly.morgan19 said: "I needed to hear this, I’m very insecure and want to look perfect on Christmas but I never do because perfect doesn’t exist. We all have flaws."
zoeguest1987 commented: "Exactly what I needed to hear this morning." And lucyskitchenhull said: "You are so right Vicky. If only all the influencers on here said the same - instead our young ladies look at their filtered perfection and think it’s great. Some going to ridiculous lengths to copy them."
essexpandajules wrote: "Wish I had realised this years ago, it’s taken for me to hit my 50’s before not giving a damn. You are wise beyond your years. Merry Christmas to you and your family." And holtaylor97 said: "Obsessed with this! You’re inspirational. Thank you for posting this, think we all need to hear this."
And alisonsnowling praised: "Absolutely love this! When I lost my mum I couldn't get enough photos of her and it made me realise that one day my son will feel the same about me. Take the photos."
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