Black Aesthetics Boosts Boldness

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Hey Beauties, I have a confession to make. I’m obsessed with Instagram, and I might be an addict.

Recently, I tracked my digital media usage for twenty-four hours to monitor my screen time. It turns out that I spend an hour and forty-five minutes on Instagram. I put my phone down for a maximum of two hours. Soon after, I get bored and suck myself into an Instagram vortex that lasts about two hours and fifteen minutes. I do that on and off throughout the day. In total, I spend ten hours and forty minutes on Instagram in one day. Sister, it’s a sickness.

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Most of my time is spent on black aesthetic Instagram pages. Specifically, I visit @honey.lovez the most (approximately I’m on that page for an hour). Then, I visit @honey.cocoanut for the remaining time. I endlessly scroll admiring pictures of black women’s bodies. These pages represent all black women, whether that be light skin or dark, heavy, or skinny, and those with scarred or marked skin. The women pose to flaunt their bodies and shine a light on what society may consider being imperfect.

Hence, the reason why I love these pages so much. It normalizes different standards of beauty for black women. These aesthetic pages boost my self-esteem. It encourages me to embrace my body and to “post that bikini pic, sis.” The representation of all black bodies and skin types boosts my boldness, where I have little fear of flaunting my stretch marks or hyperpigmentation. Sister, these pages could boost your boldness too. After all, we all can benefit from some self-love and confidence.

So, do I need intervention for my obsession with Instagram? No, because I’m healthily using Instagram. Some may think that being on Instagram for ten hours and forty minutes is excessive. I don’t think it is. I’m therapeutically using the platform to indulge in self-love and appreciation for my own beautiful black body. When I look at these pages, I feel bolder, badder, and more beautiful. Isn’t that how we all want to feel?