Canadian meteorologist Kelsey McEwen tells fans not to compare their 'real' to a 'reel'

Canadian meteorologist Kelsey McEwen tells fans not to compare their 'real' to a 'reel'

Kelsey McEwen is showing fans why they shouldn't compare themselves to what they see on social media.

On Wednesday, the Canadian meteorologist for CTV's "Your Morning" shared a message on her Instagram Story, showing off what she looks like with and without a filter to challenge unrealistic beauty standards.

"Don't compare your 'real' to their 'reel,'" she penned over a video of herself posing in a hot pink top, first with a beauty filter, then without. "Filtered or not, you are worthy as you are."

Lines, pores, freckles, nose shape, eye colour, it's all worth showing and nothing to be ashamed of," she continued, adding, "If you like filters, use them. But never forget you are worthy of love without them, too."

The mom-of-three has always kept it "real" with her 23,000 Instagram followers. In January, she shared a candid message about her motherhood journey, admitting that she had been feeling "lost" since welcoming her youngest child, Charlotte, in May 2021.

McEwen told her fans in a since-deleted post that she has been struggling to raise three small children during another COVID lockdown to find time "to be me," and that she was feeling envious of other people's seemingly "perfect" lives on social media.

"I’m having a hard time with social media these days. Not because of trolls or critics. But honestly? Because of the envy I feel. Everyone’s highlight reels just look so shiny. And happy. And perfect," she captioned a makeup-free selfie, in which she is holding her eight-month-old baby.

McEwen explained that seeing other moms on social media who look like they live "balanced" lives began to affect her. Aside from a lack of time for herself, McEwen admitted that she misses who she is outside of motherhood.

"I miss me. I do. I miss me, a lot. I know I’ll get back to me soon, and this isn’t forever, but sometimes it’s hard to see past the sleepless nights and the nursing bras and remote school and lockdowns and the lack of showers or alone time or grownup conversations," she penned, adding that she recalled feeling the same way with each of her older children after the "newborn haze" faded.

"Deep down, I know my highlight reel might look different, but it’s happy," she added. "It’s perfect. It’s shiny (even if that shine is baby vomit or greasy hair). I guess I just needed to say that out loud today. I’m a great mom. But I’m also more. I’m a great ‘me’ too."

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