All the alternative models you should be following on Instagram right now because Fashion Week is boring

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All the alternative models you should be following on Instagram right now because Fashion Week is boring

There’s more to life than Gigi

No offence, but after endless Fashion Week shows it’s pretty clear that if you’ve seen Kendall and the Hadid sisters walk once, you’ve seen it a million times. Why not diversify? There’s a world of Instagram models out there, in all shapes and sizes, and they’re probably more interesting than anything you’d see on the runways during Fashion Week. Certainly from D&G, at least.

Emily Bador

Perfectly freckled Emily is half-Malaysian and is based in Brighton and London – and has the greatest, straightest fringe known to Instagram. She also regularly posts about the harsh body standards in the modelling industry and her ongoing journey with body positivity. Her reaction to accidentally being on the cover of a hair magazine for women of colour was also pretty great.

baby face bador by @luccoiffait ?

A post shared by e m i l y bador (@darth_bador) on Oct 11, 2016 at 10:38am PDT

i'm gonna be honest, the industry needs to change. man oh man i'm tired of it. on the left is july 2015, my lowest weight. i can't tell you how much i weighed but i can tell you i was size 4/6 and my waist only measured 23 inches. i can also tell you i thought i was fat. i've always had a few body image issues but since becoming a model, they've skyrocketed. at work, i've always felt like i didn't belong, i've always been short, and mixed race. i'd been modelling for just over a year, and going to castings made me feel super insecure. every time i didn't get a call back from my casting i'd start to wonder why. was i too fat? during 2015, i became obsessive with my measurements and clothes sizes. i exercised daily and i would never even look at any carbs let alone eat them. it started making me physically sick, dizzy, exhausted, etc. i ended up getting to a point where i'd have daily panic attacks about getting dressed, and couldn't even leave my bed in fear of catching my reflection in the mirror. at this time, i also started getting the most work i've ever had and travelling all over world. which, instilled in me "the thinner i am, the more work i'm gonna get". my hatred for myself became so overwhelming i knew something had to change, i took some time out and finally got working on loving myself. and today, for the first time in a long time, i felt good about myself this morning. i struggle with getting dressed sometimes, catching my reflection can occasionally hurt still and i have panic attacks now and again but i am getting there. sometimes i forget that self love is a journey. we have to call on this system to change. we need diversity. all bodies, differently abled, shaped, coloured, sized, gendered and aged. diversity is so important. representation is so important. i'm sick and tired of seeing amazing, talented, beautiful women hate themselves because they don't look like that VS model or whatever. too many young women suffer from mental health issues which stem from the pressure of today's media. ✨you are more than your appearance, you are strong and resilient and you are beautiful no matter what and i really hope you remember that✨

A post shared by e m i l y bador (@darth_bador) on Dec 10, 2016 at 11:53am PST

Ceilidh Joy

At just 22 Ceilidh has modelled for Glossier, Urban Outfitters and had a cameo in a video for The Weeknd. Her name, pronounced Kay-lee, is Gaelic for a type of Irish party, but she’s actually based in America, with parents from Seoul and England. She’s also reportedly dating BJ Novak, that guy from The Office. Who knew.

bout 2 wks ago cute pic of me

A post shared by ceilidh joy (@lilmixedhunny) on Feb 15, 2017 at 4:30pm PST

Jesus wept

A post shared by ceilidh joy (@lilmixedhunny) on Apr 12, 2016 at 7:08am PDT

HIT ME

A post shared by ceilidh joy (@lilmixedhunny) on Feb 9, 2017 at 10:11am PST

Barbie Ferreira

thicc Charlie's Angels

A post shared by bobby knocks / barbie ferreira (@barbienox) on Feb 22, 2017 at 12:35pm PST

Today w @highsnobiety ??

A post shared by bobby knocks / barbie ferreira (@barbienox) on Nov 29, 2016 at 1:27pm PST

Based in New York, Barbie works for Whilemina Models and has appeared in campaigns for Teen Vogue, ASOS and Aerie. She doesn’t allow any of her images to be retouched and says: “I really learned quickly how to not care at all. I worked on it, until I became a boss ass bitch.”

Nyané Lebajoa

? @omweekend ??‍♀️

A post shared by Nyané Lebajoa (@nyanelebajoa) on Mar 2, 2017 at 11:00am PST

Day 4 LFW – just chilling on the street with no shows ?

A post shared by Nyané Lebajoa (@nyanelebajoa) on Feb 20, 2017 at 8:52am PST

?? @omweekend Can't wait for the new Stranger Things ?

A post shared by Nyané Lebajoa (@nyanelebajoa) on Feb 25, 2017 at 12:01pm PST

Nyané describes herself as a “digital influencer, blogger, model and aspiring fashion designer hailing form the UK, currently based in Berlin, Germany”. She regularly models for O Mighty and has the sharpest highlighting skills I have ever seen in this world.

Steqhs

??

A post shared by Stephanie (@steqhs) on Nov 30, 2016 at 3:14pm PST

?

A post shared by Stephanie (@steqhs) on Aug 2, 2016 at 3:15pm PDT

While Stephanie doesn’t model for any major labels, her photos are amazing and she also sells her clothes on her Depop store.

Bella McFadden

I had the most anxiety-ridden day ever so I'm re living this moment & hoping for the best ?

A post shared by I ❤️ My Attitude Problem (@internetgirl) on Feb 20, 2017 at 9:11pm PST

I have a few PURE Chokers left on my Depop?

A post shared by I ❤️ My Attitude Problem (@internetgirl) on Feb 15, 2017 at 10:52am PST

Mood

A post shared by I ❤️ My Attitude Problem (@internetgirl) on Feb 11, 2017 at 2:15pm PST

Described as a “mall-rat Lolita” Bella (AKA Internetgirl) dropped out of college and makes her living selling on Depop full time. She’s been featured in Vogue and hailed as the new Nasty Gal. She told Vogue: “I dress like a full-time princess. Is that not the dream come true?”

Elita Harkov

A post shared by @yungelita on Oct 29, 2016 at 1:24pm PDT

When ur way too high for class and accidentally call ur teacher Daddy

A post shared by @yungelita on Jun 15, 2016 at 8:47am PDT

Canadian student Elita, better known as Yungelita, designs most of the clothes she’s wears (and she doesn’t wear a lot) on her Instagram. She describes her painstakingly creative 90’s aesthetic as: “Clean, composed, provocative, pink, perverted, sparkly and shiny. But it’s always changing.

“I see art in everything.”

Jane Stanley

??

A post shared by Angelic Virtue ?? (@virtualbabyangel) on Nov 30, 2016 at 5:06pm PST

?☁️ @snake.god captured me in manga heaven today ☁️?

A post shared by Angelic Virtue ?? (@virtualbabyangel) on Nov 19, 2016 at 1:45am PST

At just 20 Jane, who’s based in Australia, has a massive Instagram following and describes her cutesy manga photo style as “internet curation”. She says: “I spent three whole years inside my house. I didn’t leave; I was afraid to because I was hurt by people. It wasn’t until I started posting online that I found a community of people who were similar to me, who wore similar styles and had likeminded views. That was when I realised I’m not the only person who dresses like they came from a Hello Kitty factory.

“It helps when you find people similar to you, whether that be online or in person.”

Ericka Hart

A kinky, poly, cancer-warrior, activist, sexuality educator and performer with a Master’s of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University, Ericka Hart has taught sexuality education for elementary aged youth to adults across New York City for the past six years. Her work in sexuality education was catalyzed by her service as a Peace Corps HIV/AIDs volunteer in Ethiopia from 2008-2010. Diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in May 2014 at the age of 28, she realized that neither her identity as a queer black woman, nor her sex life as a survivor, was featured prominently in her treatment.

Oanhdaqueen

I'm literally just a kid

A post shared by OANH ? (@oanhdaqueen) on Feb 8, 2017 at 2:29am PST

???

A post shared by OANH ? (@oanhdaqueen) on Feb 28, 2017 at 1:33am PST

Like Nyané, Oanh models extensively for O-Mighty and also writes about freedom of expression and nudity in her Instagram captions.

Rhea Carter

A post shared by Indigo (@rheacarter) on Oct 7, 2016 at 8:01pm PDT

? @omweekend ?

A post shared by Indigo (@rheacarter) on May 9, 2016 at 6:00pm PDT

Model Rhea is best known for her curly ombre hair (which was inspired by Storm from X-Men), has been featured in Vogue and also makes her own music, which you can listen to on Soundcloud.

Jackyara Tatis

An idle mind is the devils playground. Stay focused. #GrindNowPlayLater ?: @don_anon100

A post shared by Jackyara (@jackillem) on Jan 30, 2017 at 5:12am PST

Described as a muse of underwear guru Creepy Yeha, Jacky also runs Killemretro, a soon-to-launch vintage store.

Paloma Elsesser

had a chat with @oystermagazine , up on site today ? ~ photo by my darling @zaraeloise

A post shared by Paloma Elsesser (@palomija) on Jan 16, 2017 at 6:01pm PST

room service w/ @inprint_magazine ? ~ photos by @benedictbrink words by @meghakapoor ❤️

A post shared by Paloma Elsesser (@palomija) on Nov 12, 2016 at 11:08am PST

Paloma moved to New York from LA in 2010 to attend the New School, but quickly became an Instagram muse and plus sized model. In an interview with Allure she said: “I went through my whole life thinking I’m a pretty, chubby girl. I’ve never been skinny, so it’s something that was really born out of the visibility that social media granted me. I’m not supertall, and I don’t have this classic plus-size body, but I’m special in my own way, and I think that story is really inspiring to a lot of girls.”

@rosielanners