Molly Ava isn’t your average personal trainer – she has a very body positive approach to fitness and is determined to celebrate ‘real’ bodies. People love her empowering posts
When we move, our bodies change.
No matter how hard we work out in the gym, it’s normal for your skin to fold, wrinkle and roll. And this happens to everyone – even ripped fitness coaches like Molly Ava.
To normalise “real” bodies, the 23-year-old posted a candid video on Instagram. She wanted to demonstrate how quickly your figure can change when you relax.
The Bournemouth lass rocked activewear from Oner Active to prove her point. In the first snapshot, titled “my body”, she sucked in and pulled her leggings up.
But in contrast, the second clip, titled “also my body”, she relaxes and rolls her leggings down. She looks gloriously happy when she stops posing and embraces her natural beauty.
Molly captioned the post: “Starting the week with good vibes, self love and real bodies.” Then, she included uplifting hashtags like #YouAreEnough and #PositiveEnergy.
Fans couldn’t get enough of Molly’s message of self love – and her post racked up an impressive 6,100 likes. Many also responded kindly in the comments section.
One follower said: “Me watching this video right before going to the gym. Confidence went from zero to hero.” Another wrote: “Thank you for making videos like these they help so much.” And a third added: “Beautiful both ways!!”
After graduating university with a geography degree in lockdown, Molly began posing authentic body photos of herself two years ago. She then got her personal training qualifications – and has been working in fitness ever since.
Her aim is for more ‘real’ bodies to be celebrated online, in the mainstream media and on television. It’s important to do so as many of us are used to seeing snaps on our feeds that have been heavily filtered.
Molly told Daily Star: “Everyone has the absolute right to post their favourite photo or look through hundreds and pick one. But for me the line is choosing the photo and then adding filters on to everything.
“You are paying for 10 filter subscriptions a month and use apps to warp the way you look. So I do think there needs to be more authenticity, particularly with the big influencers and celebrities and reality TV stars.
“I am sure they feel pressure to look a certain way too but without sharing that side and vulnerability it puts pressure on people younger or the people who look up to them and I think they should definitely do more. Even if it’s baby steps to try and push your own comfort zone or share a bit of realness in your life.
“There is a lot of social pressure for people. I’ve seen comments like ‘I’m 14 and want to lose weight and I want to look like so and so’ and there is not enough protection out there to help educate.”