And while youth are particularly susceptible to poor body image, it can affect anyone: according to the state government’s Better Health Channel, 45 per cent of women and 23 per cent of men in the healthy weight range believe they are actually overweight.

But two young women hope to spark change in this area, launching a social media project that celebrates the bodies – and specifically tummies – of people in all their varied glory.

Jahmiele Hicks and Georgia Grace have created a social media-based project called Tummies Untucked, through which they share photographs of people’s stomachs with words written by the model about their relationship to their body.

Jahmiele was inspired to start the project by a social media post from a friend who said she refused to be ashamed of her stomach; then she brought Georgia on board, who herself has had struggles with body image.

Their project is a pushback against the ‘perfect body’ that has become ever more conspicuous in society, with social media feeds saturated with body-focused images.

“Social media is completely flooded with videos of working out, and skinny teas, and skinny gummies… and it’s not realistic,” Georgia said.

Since launching in January, the pair have photographed and shared the stories of several people, but have scores more who have expressed interest in participating, even from as far afield as Swan Hill and Geelong.

“Some people are very nervous, obviously about baring themselves,” Jahmiele said about their models.

“It makes them vulnerable,” Georgia added.

But Jahmiele said they were also proud to be participating in something worthwhile.

The women hope people will learn to accept and even love their own bodies.

“We want people to see the photos and think ‘I have a tummy like that, and they love their tummy – why can’t I?’” Georgia said.

To learn more about the project or to participate, visit the Tummies Untucked Facebook page.