Khloé Kardashian finds the pressure to look "perfect" is "too much to bear".
The 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' star has explained to fans why her team moved to have a seemingly unedited photo of her taken down earlier this week after it was shared without her consent and reflected on how she has "struggled with body image" her "whole life" after being compared unfavourably to her siblings.
Alongside a short video showing off her body on Instagram, she wrote: "Hey guys, this is me and my body unretouched and unfiltered. The photo that was posted this week is beautiful. But as someone who has struggled with body image her whole life, when someone takes a photo of you that isn’t flattering in bad lighting or doesn’t capture your body the way it is after working so hard to get it to this point – and then shares it to the world – you should have every right to ask for it to not be shared – regardless of who you are.
"In truth, the pressure, constant ridicule and judgment my entire life to be perfect and to meet other’s standards of how I should look has been too much to bear. 'Khloe is the fat sister.' 'Khloe is the ugly sister.' 'Her dad must not be her real dad because she looks so different.' 'The only way she could have lost that weight must have been from surgery.'
"Should I go on? 'Oh but who cares how she feels because she grew up in a life of privilege. She’s also on a reality show so she signed up for all of this.'
"I’m of course not asking for sympathy but I am asking to be acknowledged for being human.(sic)"
The 36-year-old star feels she is asked to reach "impossibly standards" every day when she's just trying to be a good person.
She continued: "I am not perfect but I promise you that I try everyday to live my life as honestly as possible and with empathy and kindness. It doesn’t mean that I have not made mistakes.
"But I’m not going to lie. It’s almost unbearable trying to live up to the impossible standards that the public have all set for me."
And Khloe - who has two-year-old daughter True with Tristan Thompson - claimed she has learned to believe she is "not beautiful enough" after having all of her "flaws and imperfections" highlighted and analysed by the world.
She continued: "For over a decade now in photos, every single flaw and imperfection has been micro-analyzed and made fun of to the smallest detail and I am reminded of them everyday by the world. And when I take that criticism to use as motivation to get myself in the best shape of my life and to even help others with the same struggles, I am told I couldn’t have done it through hard work and I must have paid for it all.
"You never quite get used to being judged and pulled apart and told how unattractive one is, but I will say, if you hear anything enough then you start believe it.
This is an example of how I have been conditioned to feel, that I am not beautiful enough just being me."
The Good American founder doesn't see anything wrong with enhancing her photos to look her best and vowed to continue to do so.
She wrote: "I love a good filter, good lighting and an edit here and there. The same way I throw on some make-up, get my nails done, or wear a pair of heels to present myself to the world the way I want to be seen and it’s exactly what I will continue to do unapologetically.
"My body, my image and how I choose to look and what I want to share is my choice. It’s not for anyone to decide or judge what is acceptable or not anymore."
Khloe ended her lengthy post by reassuring her followers they are all "unique and perfect" in their own way.
She concluded: "For those else who feel the constant pressure of not ever feeling perfect enough, I want you to know I see you and I understand.
"Everyday I am told by my family and friends who love me that I am beautiful but I know that it needs to be believed from within. We are all unique and perfect in our own way. Whichever way one chooses to be seen.
"I have realized that we cannot continue to live life trying to fit into the perfect mold of what others have set for us. Just do you and make sure your heart is happy.(sic)"