Lesley Miller is an inspiration to us all.
In a candid Facebook post, Miller - who has struggled with her weight since she was as young as three - shared a photograph of herself in her first ever bikini.
Miller said she spent years and years covering her body and hiding away, waiting to feel good enough.
But in a empowering Facebook post, which was shared by 'Love What Matters', she said she has finally learned to love herself.
"Because the secret is, I was always enough. And you are too."
In the Facebook post, which has since accumulated a staggering 30,000 reactions, Miller wrote: "I've spent the past 18 years of my life waiting.
"I kept my body covered up and hidden away. I told myself that one day I would finally let myself be seen; I would finally do all of the things I dreamed of when I was enough. Thin enough, happy enough, confident enough. When my body looked the way that it was 'supposed' to.
"I fought my body every step of the way, continually ashamed and silent."
She explained that when she was three years old, her classmates would ask why she was "so much bigger than them" and why she didn't wear the same dress as them.
She recalled how when she was seven, she lied to the lady at Weight Watchers because she was "desperate to sit in on meetings full of middle aged women trying to shed a few pounds".
When she was nine, Miller went to weight loss camp. When she was eleven, she had weight loss surgery.
At age 15, she started self-harming because she was unhappy and thought she "deserved" it.
SEE ALSO:
Iskra Lawrence Reveals The Secret To A Strong And Healthy Body
Amy Schumer Is A Greek Goddess In Post Preaching Body Positivity
"When I was twenty, I lost half my body weight in nine months, my worth for the day solely determined by the number on the scale being lower than the day before," she explained. "And then I got tired of waiting."
Now, aged 21, Miller has bought her first bikini and has proudly shared a photo of her body to encourage others to love themselves.
"You can see it all. Weird bulges and rolls of fat. Hanging excess skin. Stretch marks, cellulite, surgical and self harm scars. Awkward protrusion on my abdomen from my lap band," she said.
"I want to learn to love all of myself, not just the parts I've been told are 'acceptable'. Because the secret is, I was always enough. And you are too."
Her incredibly inspiring post has received an influx of positive comments.
Sarah Schlorman wrote: "Lesley, you are beautiful, with a beautiful heart, and body. Keep being you, and never let anyone bring you down."
Lauren Elyse Heldreth added: "You are stunning! Your strength And confidence make you even more beautiful! I admire you so much!"
Her brave post also encouraged others to share their own experiences of low self esteem and feeling negatively about their bodies.
Charlene Smith, 78, said: "I always fought, cried and abused my self esteem over my weight.
"I'm now 78 and [have] finally decided it's ok to look like I do."
She said it took her "way too long" to realise this, and commended Miller for realising it sooner rather than later in life.
"Good for you," she said. "If you are beautiful inside you will be outside."
[H/T Hello Giggles]
