In a world where social media posts by popular celebrities routinely "break" the Internet, it's hard to get excited about yet another bikini photograph. But when chart-breaking American pop star Demi Lovato recently posted a picture of her in her beachwear, millions of followers sat up and paid attention. The photo in question stood out not because of its masterful framing or careful editing. On the contrary, Lovato's unedited photo fearlessly flaunted cellulite: a condition that most people believe celebrities are immune to.

In the accompanying post, Lovato also discussed how the pressure to constantly keep up with others' expectations from her body pushed her to extreme measures, including punishing workouts and a slice of watermelon instead of cake on her birthday. With posts such as these, Lovato is part of a growing list of celebrities — including Beyoncé and Jennifer Lawrence — who have publicly vetoed efforts to airbrush their images to meet unrealistic ideals. And while naysayers are quick to dismiss these moves as publicity gimmicks, they do play a crucial role in helping dispel the flawed perception of beauty that celebrity culture and social media routinely peddle to millions of unwitting users.