The incredible reason why one woman took lingerie selfies for a week

A few months ago, Courtney Mina, a 29-year-old blogger, made a decision. She was going to post selfies on Instagram every day for a week—and not just any selfies, but lingerie selfies.

Inspired by the #effyourbodystandards movement, Mina’s decision, which has since earned her a massive Instagram following (35k and counting), was both a personal challenge and public statement.

“I wanted to not only explain and show how I gained my own confidence, but show people what actually happens when you’re a plus-size person being confident, sexy, and showing off your body,” Mina told People this week.

In an article for Bustle, where she first chronicled her selfie “experiment,” she wrote about growing up feeling less-than-comfortable in her own body, always hoping to change herself, until one day she had a revelation.

Next came her decision to share her photos with pride on Instagram. For one week, she posted a series of gorgeous lingerie selfies. While she faced her share of trolls hell-bent on body-shaming her, Mina was surprised to receive far more positive affirmations, support and appreciation than anything else.”You are so inspiring,” wrote one commenter, “and you help me to look in the mirror and love myself, something I never thought I’d be able to do. Thank you.” Ultimately, Mina concluded on Bustle, that her week-long selfie project wasn’t just about channeling her own body confidence, but spreading the message of body love. She writes: