Meet the plus-size mum, 28, using social media to transform the way women view their bodies

Plus-size curve model and mum Shani Chantel has encouraged other women to channel their natural confidence rather than consider it as something that has to be sought or achieved.

Shani, 28, from Victoria, has devoted her Instagram page to discussing topics relating to womanhood, motherhood, and body positivity and told FEMAIL her online ‘girl code’ community can transform the way her followers view their bodies. 

After winning a modelling competition at the beginning of the year and building her portfolio, Shani’s social media has quickly grown to gain an attraction of 14,400 followers, which she says increases daily. 

When discussing ways to boost self-confidence, Shani said after realising confidence is an emotion unlike any other, rather than something you ‘find’, her perspective about her body changed for the better.

‘I don’t wakeup feeling confident, but I do take time to sit down and remind myself everyday that I choose to accept my body, because without it I’m nothing,’ Shani said.

‘Confidence is an emotion like happiness and sadness, and if you channel it that way it’s a ripple effect,’ she said, implying that once you recognise what makes you feel confident, you should stick to it.

She said you may realise your confidence levels increase if you wear a certain outfit, drive a certain car or live a certain way.

Another tactic Shani said helps boost confidence is to avoid comparing yourself to someone else’s ‘perfect’ reality and instead focus on your own.

‘If you silence or control negative thoughts about yourself you can concur your insecurities,’ she said.

‘Pay close attention to your intuition too, what it is that works for you and what you want for yourself.’  

When asked about her perspective and philosophy on body positivity, Shani said everything changed after giving birth to her daughter at the age of 25.

‘I wondered when my body was going to “bounce back” and it was a bad feeling remembering that I was a size five or six before pregnancy and now I’m a size 14,’ she said.

‘I was getting dressed one day and I was so frustrated with myself that I actually said “I can’t believe how fat I am” – it was really overwhelming to hear those words come out of my mouth not just for myself, but for my daughter as well!’

Shani wondered where these negative thoughts about her body initiated and soon realised it wasn’t from social media but from the way family members and friends thought about themselves.

And now with her young three-year-old daughter in the world, Shani said it’s her responsibility to act as good role model and ensure her child grows up to respect and love her own body.

‘I promised myself I’m not going to disappoint my daughter, so I’m going to talk to her about everything in a positive way – she already talks about her hips and what she’s going to look like when she’s older,’ Shani said. 

The underlying correlation between both self-confidence and body positivity circles back to the way an individual chooses to see themselves and the mentality controlling it.

‘Unlearn the type of thinking that is keeping you prisoner from your own insecurities,’ Shani said, adding: ‘Because if you think a certain way you’re keeping yourself hostage from moving forward and thinking differently about yourself’.

‘And if you know every inch of you and choose to see yourself for all you really are, I promise nothing will be able to stop you on your way to what you want.’