This Recovering Anorexic Now Shares Bikini Pics Of Herself To Promote Body Positivity

    "Your purpose, whatever it may be, that is so much more than your outer shell."

    This is 22-year-old Megan Jayne of Colchester, Essex, in England. Jayne is happy, healthy, and full of life, but that wasn't always the case.

    Jayne has struggled with anorexia for years but is now in recovery.

    She was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 14, and at one point got down to just 70 pounds. She was hospitalized and had to be fed through a feeding tube.

    Jayne told Mercury Press the profound effect the disease had on her body.

    At my lowest weight, size 4 clothes were falling off me, my hair thinned, and I was constantly freezing cold.

    Thin would never be thin enough. The eating disorder overcame me so much that I believed it was all that I was and all that I had.

    I became an empty shell of a girl, still obsessing over whether my stomach was visible through my hospital gown.

    Jayne made a life change at 16 and starting eating more. In one year alone, she nearly tripled her body weight but was still haunted by old demons. For the next five years, she would go through phases of bingeing and dieting.

    Then last summer, Jayne was using Instagram for workout inspiration and found communities of people who embraced body positivity.

    One of the communities, Pizza Sisters, encourages people to love the skin they're in. Jayne embraced the positive attitude and achieved a level of confidence she had never felt before.

    Galvanized by the positivity, Jayne started her own body-positive Instagram account to help people feel good about the way they look.

    Jayne discussed her goals for creating the account with the Mercury Press.

    I try to show people that the impossible beauty standards on our screens and in our magazines are not requirements for happiness. If I can fall in love with my body after all I've been through, anyone can. They just have to believe that they deserve it.

    I honestly believe that body positivity has the power to save lives, and that is my mission.

    The account has garnered 72,000 followers as of Friday, promoting confidence and acceptance over shaming and self-loathing.

    Jayne also recently launched her website BodyPosiPanda, which encourages people to love every part of themselves.

    One of her site's mottos is simple: "Your purpose, whatever it may be, that is so much more than your outer shell."

    Anorexia is a very serious condition that requires medical attention. If you or someone you know has anorexia or another eating disorder, you can visit The National Eating Disorders Association website for resources, or call their helpline at (800) 931-2237.

    In the U.K., visit The National Centre for Eating Disorders website, or call 0845-838-2040.