Illustrator's viral comics tackle society's 'oppressive' beauty expectations

Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 8, 2022. It has since been updated.

Lainey Molnar, who has gained internet fame for her empowering illustrations of women, is an illustrator based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Her thought-provoking comics about society, its double standards and her own observations of how it functions have taken the internet by storm. By challenging oppressive beauty expectations, to tackling some of the microaggressions women face on a daily basis, Molnar highlights some of the nuances of the world we live in today. Now, thousands of folks share her artwork, hoping to build better communities that support women rather than shame or judge them for their choices. Here are 24 of her best illustrations.

1. Independence

2. Working Moms

3. Grief

4. Mornings

5. Body Types

6. Generational Trauma

7. Beach Bodies

8. Respect

9. Babies

10. Colorism

11. Being a Woman

12. Cellulite

13. Love is Love

14. Catcalling

15. Her Body, Her Choice

16. Weight

17. Loving Your Body

18. The Complete Woman

19. Birth Control

20. Marriage

21. Consent

22. What is Normal?

23. Mental Health

24. Friendship