Artistic video inspires millions to let go of body image hang-ups

A time-lapse video posted to social media by artist Jody Steel has gone viral, depicting the struggles many people, particularly women, feel about their body image.

The empowering visual statement titled Body Image has been viewed almost 60 million times since it was uploaded yesterday.

Throughout the video, Steel paints a rope onto her stomach, transforming her abdomen into an unbearably tight knot as a symbol of torment many people face as they strive for the “perfect” body.

In the post accompanying the video, she asked viewers to “let go of your demons and learn to enjoy the things you love in life”.

“There have been times I've look in a mirror and wished for a perfect figure. No matter how much I went to the gym or how little I ate carbs and sugar, I still didn't see what I imagined was perfect,” she wrote.

“Once I realized that naturally, I don't have a Coke bottle figure, or long and thin legs, I began to let go of the pressures I've felt to fulfill an image that our society has deemed the pinnacle of beauty.”

Thousands have applauded Steel for the inspirational piece, sharing their own body image struggles.

“Thanks for this, I fell same like you and this helps me so much,” one Facebook user wrote.

“It's awful how people are beating themselves up for not looking like the latest Victoria’s Secret models,” commented another.

Steel followed up the post with a selfie of herself exposing her midriff, telling her followers she still works towards personal goals, “but not towards body image goals that are unrealistic for my body type”.

“I eat food that makes me happy and go to the gym a healthy amount. There's a balance,” she wrote.