I'm an influencer and this is the difference posing and editing makes

I’m an influencer and this is the difference posing and editing can make to your pictures – what you see isn’t always real

• Danae Mercer Ricci shares the difference between posed & edited snaps online
• The new mother, from California living in Italy, is an advocate for body positivity
• Read More: ‘The bodies we so desperately attempt to look like don’t exist!’

An influencer has been praised after sharing a shocking look at the difference between posed, edited and natural pictures.

Danae Mercer Ricci, who is from California but living in Florence, has built up a following of 2.3 million followers on her Instagram @danaemercer, where she is an advocate for body positivity.

Danae, who welcomed her first child last month, recently shared an insight into how pictures can be digitally altered on social media – and the difference is unbelievable.

Posing in a blue workout outfit, she showed her body in its relaxed form, without posing.

Next, she showed a carefully posed picture which appeared to have been taken moments later, where her legs are spread and her hand is on her head, appearing to draw in her stomach.

Danae Mercer Ricci, who is from California but living in Florence, has been praised after sharing a shocking look at the difference between posed, edited and natural pictures 

Finally, she showed an edited version of the posed picture with subtle tweaks including lightened hair, a smaller waist, smoother skin and brighter eyes, as well as a narrower face.

In the same outfit, she sat next to her bed and snapped a picture in the mirror, showing the natural shot next to a series of digitally altered ones.

She captioned the post saying: ‘Only one of these is real.’

In another post, she wore a casual tracksuit and smiled at the camera, unposed. 

Next to this, she placed a posed shot and shows how her leg placement appears to completely change her body shape.

Later, Danae posed in a bra and shorts, showing how moving her legs and drawing in her stomach can give her a completely different shape.

Finally, she sat on the ground and she lowered the waistband of her leggings and shows her stomach protruding.

The influencer is on a mission to showcase the reality behind carefully curated social media snaps and encourages her following to embrace their natural looks.

Danae, who welcomed her first child last month, recently shared an insight into how pictures can be digitally altered on social media – and the difference is unbelievable

Posing in a blue workout outfit, she showed her body in its relaxed form, without posing and a carefully posed picture where her legs were spread and her hand is on her head, appearing to draw in her stomach

She has built up a following of 2.3 million followers on her Instagram @danaemercer, where she is an advocate for body positivity

Danae welcomed her first child last month but she shared her full pregnancy journey online with her followers 

Danae posed outside the maternity ward of the hospital before she gave birth to her first child 

The popular post racked up over 75,000 likes and Danae captioned it: ‘When I was healing from my eating disorder, my therapist recommended something that I still do today:

‘Whenever I put lotion on, I should say kind things to my body. It felt silly then. It still feels a bit silly now. But it helps.

‘Because the words we say to ourselves, they form pathways – like little roads in our mind. And over time, those roads become stronger, more concrete, easier to go down.

‘When it comes to self love, we often have to create new routes, build new bridges. So we start small. We start with positive words.

Danae also shared an insight into how her body was changing throughout her pregnancy with stretch marks

In the same outfit, she sat next to her bed and snapped a picture in the mirror, showing the natural shot next to a series of digitally altered ones

 The influencer is on a mission to showcase the reality behind carefully curated social media snaps and encourages her following to embrace their natural looks

‘I’ve been doing this lately, quite deliberately. Because my body has changed so much. And it’s important to me that I treat it gently.

‘So I hold my tummy and say ‘powerful’ and ‘strong’ and ‘home’. I touch my thighs and think ‘capable’ and ‘supportive’.

‘I focus on self love. And today, maybe this little post will help remind you to focus on self love too. Even if it feels a bit silly, even if you’re not sure it works.

‘Because over time, words become habits, and you, darling soul, deserve self kindness that feels natural. You deserve all the kind words in the world. Your body does too.’

The mum’s followers flooded the comments with praise and they thanked her for her honesty.

One user said: ‘You look plastic in the edited one! Thank you for showing all of this and being vulnerable with us. It is incredible how our society is working to shape this as our future. I have a nine year old and to see how AI image is becoming what they want to look like is insane.’

‘Thank you for showing a real post pregnancy body. It helps so much and you’re beautiful,’ said another fan.

Danae documented her pregnancy journey with her followers and shared snaps online of her growing bump 

The mother also talks about bloating on her Instagram page letting woman know it is normal 

Another person added: ‘My insides just cried reading those words ‘strong’ and ‘capable’. Yes we are, and we need those reminders.’

‘We have to give it to you though you sure do know how to pose,’ joked another fan.

Someone else commented: ‘I think marketing company’s should see this stuff I’d much rather buy stuff with lots of models body types.’

One person said: ‘I do this! I also practice speaking kindly to myself when taking a bath —bit awkward but definitely helps.’

‘Functionality over aesthetic any day. Our bodies are tools, not ornaments,’ another fan agreed.

Danae posed up a storm poolside in a colourful pastel bikini  showing off her toned midriff

The new mother beamed for a snap while in hospital preparing to give birth to her baby girl Aurora

Someone else commented: ‘That is really inspiring, I for sure need to start doing this too! We give ourselves such a hard time sometimes but ultimately our bodies are amazing!!!! Thank you for sharing!’

‘Such good advice. I used to think really negative things when I was working out… A girlfriend actually noticed and called me out on it. Ever since then I started saying positive things. At first, as you said, it sounded insincere or silly but now it feels more honest and empowering!’ wrote one viewer.

Another user said: ‘Not silly at all. It’s empowering and liberating to be kind to our bodies in a world/society which feeds into us hating ourselves so much that we’ll pay for anything and do anything to carve/sculpt ourselves into the ‘acceptable’ versions…’

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