"The Way She Makes Me Feel": Examining The Effects of Celebrity Instagram Images on Body Satisfaction and self-esteem in Young Nigerian Women

Using an experimental method, we examined the effects of local female celebrity Instagram images on women's body satisfaction and self-esteem among groups of young Nigerian women. Result showed that women reported the highest self-esteem and body satisfaction when viewing thin-ideal images, but self-esteem and body satisfaction decreased after viewing plump ideal images, followed by neutral images. Additionally, while state appearance comparison was found as a partial mediator of the effects of image type on body satisfaction and self-esteem, extent of celebrity worship fully mediated these effects. Nonetheless, the intensity of Instagram and other SNSs use did not mediate the effects observed in the study. These findings highlight the significance of how celebrity images and diverse body ideals to the 'thin' one can have negative effects in a non-Western sample. Study results and future research directions are discussed within the context of social comparison and agenda setting theories.