Bikini designer lashes out at 'fake' photo claims

Bikini designer Karina Irby has lashed out at trolls who claim the countless photos she posts of her body on Instagram are fake.

The 29-year-old Moana Bikini founder took to her social media account to address her one million followers, after a public forum was brought to her attention where a posed photo was being compared to a raw video screenshot of herself.

Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, Karina said she also strives to show the real side of herself on social media.

“I think that people are so heavily inundated with ‘perfect’ content on social media that when someone shows the reality behind their image it’s really refreshing,” Karina said.

“Everyone is always trying to showcase their best side/s on Social Media - myself included, to an extent - and I get it.

“But I’m not afraid to show the ‘other’ side of these ‘perfect’ images and if it helps someone become more comfortable and confident in themselves, then I am all for it!

“Social Media gets a bad reputation for negative comparisons, bullying, emphasising stereotypes and making people feel alone and isolated etc.

“But, over time, I’ve found that being open and real - as uncomfortable and scary as it can be sometimes - and showing off sides of yourself you may not have been comfortable with actually helps to foster and really loving, supportive and understanding community of people.

“There will always be haters - as always in life - but, of course, this says more about their issues and insecurities than it does about you."

On Instagram, Karina uploaded an image which showed her posing one one side and video footage of her in a bikini splashing about in a pool on the other.

“No no. I’m real! And I’m sorry I’m not walking around holding my s*** together and posing at anyone who looks at me from any angle. Although, that would be a GREAT workout,” Karina continued.

Karina then said that she wanted to “redo their work, but do it better”.

“Posing for photos comes with angles, timing, lighting, location and cute outfits. Candid is from any angle, anywhere at any time from anyone,” she wrote.

“This is why I’m always telling others to never be self critically from images they see on the internet.

The internet can be a scary place! We just need more and more of positive, open minded and kind people sharing their thoughts

“Considering the mass amount of raw video/photo content I have on the internet I think it’s pretty clear what I look like. I’m not fooling anyone, I can’t be bothered trying.”

This isn’t the first time Karina has come up against claims that she edits her photos before she puts them online.

In 2018, she uploaded a snap where she was posing in one of Khloe Kardashian’s Good American bodysuits, which garnered hundreds of comments from people calling it Photoshopped.

“I'm accused of Photoshop if I post photos and I'm accused of surgery if I post videos,” Karina told the Daily Mail at the time.

“But all I want to spread is that you should never be afraid to show off your natural body.

“These days, being curvy seems to mean you're either "fat" or have had drastic ‘surgeries’.”

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