Demi Lovato socks it to the body shamers, proudly reveals cellulite in unedited bikini shot

Demi Lovato has been praised by fans for keeping it real and revealing an unedited bikini selfie, complete with cellulite.

The former Disney Star shared the true-to-life image with her Instagram followers alongside an empowering message about no longer being ashamed of her body.

Just months after she hit back at a body-shaming troll, the ‘Sorry not sorry’ singer flew the flag for body confidence by posting an unedited bikini snap while on holiday in Bora Bora.

Rocking a PILYQ animal print bikini and sleek sunglasses, Demi may have appeared to ooze body confidence, but in the accompanying caption the star revealed that it had taken courage to share the image.

“This is my biggest fear,” she wrote. ‘A photo of me in a bikini unedited. And guess what, it’s CELLULIT!!!! [sic]”

The singer went on to say that she’d finally reached a point where she didn’t feel the need to photoshop her images before sharing.

More to the point, she no longer cares what people think.

“I’m just literally sooooo tired of being ashamed of my body, editing it (yes the other bikini pics were edited – and I hate that I did that but it’s the truth) so that others think I’m THEIR idea of what beautiful is, but it’s just not me,” she explained.

“This is what I got,” she added.

The star continued by explaining that she hopes this will be a new chapter in her life, where she stays true to who she is rather than trying to match up to someone else’s standards.

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“So here’s me, unashamed, unafraid and proud to own a body that has fought through so much and will continue to amaze me when I hopefully give birth one day," she continued.

Adding how glad she is about not having to stress about putting herself through a strenuous workout or depriving herself of certain foods, the actress was keen to encourage her fans to try to embrace their own bodies too.

"Anyway, here’s me, RAW, REAL! And I love me," she wrote. "And you should love you too!

“Just so everyone’s clear.. I’m not stoked on my appearance BUT I am appreciative of it and sometimes that’s the best I can do. I hope to inspire someone to appreciate their body today too,” she added.

And people were quick to comment on the post thanking the star for sharing the image and the inspiring message.

“YESSSSS Such a Queen!! Beautiful and strong and stunning and empowering — thank you,” one fan wrote.

“That’s an amazing message to give and damn you’re beautiful the way you are,” yet another fan commented.

Others shared their own battles with eating disorders and revealed that the star’s message had inspired them.

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“I’m admitting to treatment today for my eating disorder, this is exactly what I needed to see,” one user wrote.

“Thank you posting that is so authentically you,” another wrote. “Keep fighting the good fight.”

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Lovato later posted on her Instagram Stories, thanking people for their support: "Literally shaking still…that was so hard for me to post. But wow… so blown away by the love and support."

The singer has previously opened up about her struggle with eating disorders, revealing that her mother also suffered from bulimia.

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In a 2016 interview with American Way magazine, she revealed: “Even though I was two or three-years-old, being around somebody who was 80 pounds and had an active eating disorder... it's hard not to grow up like that.”

After starting to binge eat aged just nine, the singer went on to speak candidly about her worries over her future children also struggling from the condition.

“I'm nowhere near having children but already I ask myself questions,” she explained. “My grandma had bulimia, my mum had it, I had it, and hopefully my kids won't have it, but it's kind of like addiction. It's hereditary.”