Ah, cellulite. The dimpled, cottage-cheesy texture millions of women view as an enemy to vanquish from our thighs and butt. We battle it with creams, oils, massages, coffee grounds, fake tans, and all manner of workouts in hopes of eliminating the shameful evidence of imperfection.

Like so many of us, fitness instructor Riva Siggins has fought that war with herself. But a powerful photo series she shared is inspiring people to raise the white flag and put down the cellulite shame for good.

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The difference angles and lighting can make

“Exposing myself in the hope it helps at least one of you be kinder to yourself and celebrate what your body can do more,” Siggins wrote on a photo carousel that starts with a side-by-side of two captured moments in the same athletic event. On the left side, labeled “the picture I posted…” her legs look smooth. On the right side, labeled “the one I went to delete…” the cellulite on the back of her thighs is visible.

The rest of the photos show her body in various moments during the competition, some of which show her body in ways she considered not sharing.

“It’s so easy to only share photos you only feel you look ‘your best in,’” she wrote,” but bodies are meant to move and both angles and lighting can massively impact how your body looks in a split second photo.”

Siggins has clarified that none of the photos are edited. It’s a bold reminder that the images we see on people’s social media, even if they are 100% real, don’t necessarily show the full reality. We all curate what we share,........

© Upworthy