Best Celebrity Instagram Accounts That Keep It Real
Whether or not you'd like to admit it, it's easy to get burned out from social media — after all, the days of curated feeds, Facetuned figures, and flawless selfies are crashing and burning as people crave more authentic content that they can actually relate to. Just think of all the Kardashian Photoshop fails in recent years, and the growing evidence that social media is having a negative mental health effect on adolescents with its unrealistic body standards, one-sided 'highlight reels' of people's lives, and the pressure to curate a 'perfect' digital image. Enough is enough: But not all Hollywood figures are part of the problem.
Most of the time, celebrities are the least relatable people on the planet, but there are more than a few famous figures who are authentic and candid in both their shared thoughts and photos on Instagram — think Hilarie Burton unabashedly embracing her graying hair, Olivia Munn opening to fans about her battle with breast cancer, Ciara sharing silly Reels of her and her kids, and more.
'Life is so challenging, you know,' Glenn Close once told SheKnows about her own unfiltered social media presence. 'All the things that are being pumped into our collective nervous system are so disturbing and anxiety-making and you just want to say, 'Let's take a breath and do something that might make people laugh.''
If you're looking to fill your feed with inspiring celebs who keep it real about mental health, body image, being weird and silly, parenting struggles, and other relatable but somehow taboo traits when it comes to social media, hit the follow button on these stars' refreshingly real Instagram accounts.
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Glenn Close is a Hollywood legend, but she's more approachable on socials than you might've thought. On Instagram, you'll see the actress celebrate actors like herself (including in this selfie with Andrew Scott), photos of her making silly faces to the camera, and adorable pictures of her dogs and her kids over the years.
Jamie Lee Curtis' Instagram presence sets her apart. While she's an Oscar winner in her own right, she's not afraid to speak for causes that are close to her heart, as well as freak out and show her support for movies and artists she believes in. See it for herself in this sweet video of her opening one of Ariana Grande's PR packages for REM Beauty.
Since March 2024, Olivia Munn has been open to fans about her journey with breast cancer and how she's persevered through it. But her candid posts about her health aren't the only thing fans relate to; Munn also shares sweet snapshots of her kids, throwback photos of herself to celebrate her mom and, of course, some hilarious moments with her comedian hubby, John Mulaney.
Adele might be a very private singer, but her Instagram gives fans a peek into what her life is actually like. She often posts behind-the-scenes moments of her concerts, videos of her cheering for her favorite team, and even some makeup-free snapshots.
If there's a celeb who doesn't mind posting mesmerizing selfies every day, it's Jessica Alba. In between fully glammed-up moments, Alba also posts makeup-free and even bikini-clad pics on IG. She's also known for posting sweet moments with her kids and sharing the love for her best friends.
With a celebrity as big as Jennifer Aniston, fans are always dying to know more about what her life is really like. Luckily, her answers give us some inside scoop. It's filled with videos of her working out, candid pictures with her best friends, and even some adorable pictures of her doggos.
Reese Witherspoon doesn't feel like your online bestie — she feels like your digital big sis. Her Instagram is full of casual book reviews in which she talks to you like you're Facetiming, candid carousels of time spent with her kids, Reels of her skincare routine, casual, imperfect selfies, and more content that feels homey and happy and full of gratitude. If you're looking for good vibes, you'll find them all on Witherspoon's feed.
There's just something about those This Is Us women, Susan Kelechi Watson included! The TV star takes to IG to share uplifting affirmations, trending memes making fun of herself, hilarious Reels, photos celebrating history-making milestones in the Black community, and other relatable content that you'd just as soon see on a friend's feed.
Paulina Porizkova is so refreshingly real on Instagram, especially when it comes to the subject of aging women, mental health, and body image. She shares unposed selfies under the hashtag #betweenjloandbettywhite, makeup-free photos of her looking incredibly beautiful in bikinis, joyful everyday moments that have a profound impact on her, and some romantic snapshots with her BF, Jeff Greenstein. Her vulnerability and authenticity make her an inspiring role model for women of all ages.
Rebel Wilson is a riot onscreen and on Instagram — scroll her feed and you'll find cackle-worthy photos of her with friends, totally unposed and unfiltered 'mirror' pics, sweet snapshots of her daughter Royce, and other content that's silly, refreshing, and real.
While Gwyneth Paltrow's goop storefront may be a bit unrealistic for the budget of us everyday folk, her personality is undoubtedly down to earth. Scroll her Instagram feed and you'll find impromptu, makeup-free selfies, carousels of ordinary moments, snaps of her favorite books, and more real, unfiltered moments that show her easy-going persona beyond her mega-celebrity status.
Lupita Nyong'o has such cool girl energy — she's so herself in the most wonderful, free-spirited way. Her IG feed is full of joyful photos with food, body-positive posts, funny Reels, vlog-style shorts of her love for New York City, sweet family videos, and more serendipidous, care-free moments.
Kerry Washington is a mega-celeb, but she keeps it real on her Instagram with funny videos of her lip-syncing to viral sounds, moments of her freaking out about a Scandal reunion, makeup-free Reels raising awareness for mental health, and more chuckle-worthy content that uses humor to bring light to issues many people struggle with, both famous and not.
Florence Pugh is beautiful and glamorous, but she's also silly, weird, and unapologetic in the best way. Her Instagram features photos of her with her grandma, powerful messages about women's bodies and rights, carousels of her being goofy with friends, and other candid, unstaged, carefree moments of realness that are oh so refreshing.
Zoe Saldaña keeps it real on IG by sharing a little bit of everything: viral TikTok attempts with her kids, her hilarious jogs during her glam session, cute shorts of her trying different face filters, carousels of real-life mom moments, and other good-humored, relatable content.
Jodie Sweetin lives up to her name — her sweet personality is undeniable on and offline. If you scroll through her IG grid, you'll see adorable pictures of her vacationing with her parents, makeup-free selfies with her best friend and their daughters, carefree shots in the salon chair, and other uplifting content that the world needs to see more often.
Taylor Swift is another celebrity who doesn't take to Instagram too often, but when she does, it's to share her trademark authenticity. The singer/songwriter is known for being true to herself on every occasion, and her realness shines on her Instagram through videos with her cats, candids from birthdays spent with friends, shots of her goofy Halloween costumes, and other human rights history and issues, and more.
With Chrissy Teigen, what you see is what you get, and her authenticity is incredibly refreshing. Scroll her feed and you'll see adorable videos of her kids, the reality of certain cosmetic procedures, snaps of her sleeping with her pups, and more content that resonates with everyday people.
Gabrielle Union-Wade's presence on Instagram feels like that of your cool older sister. She shares playful videos with husband Dwayne Wade, bloopers from filming with her daughter, Reels celebrating her transgender step-daughter Zaya, and more authentic messages that are inspiring and refreshing to see from a celebrity of her stature.
Mandy Moore is one of the sweetest, most authentic celebs out there. Her personality exudes a soothing, friendly nature, and you can feel it through her Instagram posts. Sharing her honest journey rebuilding her LA home after the fires, cute Reels of her kid being a messy eater, behind-the-scenes moments from This Is Us, and more, her good human-ness is a breath of fresh air.
With 'Amateur Goofball' in her bio, follows know that they're in for a hoot when they follow Elizabeth Banks. The actress often posts hilarious voice-over Reels, sweet selfies with fellow actors and even some bikini-clad shots on vacation.
Drew Barrymore is such a bundle of joy on Instagram that she went viral back in 2022 for being so happy in the rain. 'Whenever you can, go out into the rain!' she famously said. 'Don't miss the opportunity!'
But that one reel isn't the only reel we love; in fact, Barrymore is always posting hilarious reels, adorable dog pics, and even some behind-the-scenes content.
Kristen Bell is hilarious, and her Instagram fans are obsessed with it. On socials, she'll post candid, makeup-free tutorials, behind-the-scenes pics with her co-stars, hilarious moments with her kids, and, of course, some sweet tributes to her hubby Dax Shepard.
Hilarie Burton's Instagram presence is all about sharing the love with her family and friends and raising awareness for causes that are close to her heart. Alongside a sweet pic of her kids with husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan, she'll repost a reel criticizing Elon Musk and Donald Trump. We're here for the variety!
Fellow One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush also gets candid with fans online. She'll post hilarious reels for her birthday, show behind-the-scenes moments on set and even share some sweet tributes to her girlfriend, Ashlyn Harris.
Ciara is one of the most beautiful stars in Hollywood, but she lets herself get real on Instagram. In between sweet photos of her adorable kids, she also posts makeup-free selfies, hysterical mom moments and photos of date nights with her husband, Russell Wilson.
Emilia Clarke's Instagram is so genuine, you might forget you might forget you're following an actual celeb. She's posted candid pics of her enjoying a friend's birthday party, some photos of her freaking out over attending a Formula 1 race, makeup-free moments from a summer vacation, and many more candid moments.
Laverne Cox is not only a great follow because of her incredible talent and fashion taste, but she's super informative too! In between fashion posts showing off her new archival pieces, Cox often posts about her experience as a trans woman with the hashtag #TransIsBeautiful and inspires us all.
Ayesha Curry is another celeb in this list that we recommend following for the baby picks alone (seriously, look how cute Cai is!) But babies aside, Curry also posts throwback pics with hubby Steph Curry, some of their sweet date nights together, and some mesmerizing pictures of their vacations together.
Pictures of Jenna Dewan's kids will also have you pressing the 'Follow' button! On Instagram, she shares what her busy schedule on work trips is really like, some heartwarming moments with her friends and family, as well as some heartfelt tributes to her partner, Steve Kazee.
Proud momma of four Hilary Duff is a must-follow for all things cute and adorable. She'll not only post pics of her babies when they're up to not good, but she'll also post adorable videos and moments she shared with her kids (like this NYC trip with her son, Luca!).
On red carpets, Tracee Ellis Ross is all things fun and glamorous, but she really lets loose on her Instagram. She posts makeup-free workout videos, sweet tributes to her famous family, and, of course, some less glamorous behind-the-scenes moments of her star-studded events.
America Ferrera used her Instagram for all sorts of things; she raises awareness for causes she holds dear, shares sweet shout-outs to her team and famous co-stars, and gives us an unfiltered look into her life with her husband, Ryan Piers Williams.
Isla Fisher describes herself in her bio as a 'ginger ninja,' so followers are truly in for a treat. On IG, she posts adorable throwback pics of herself, some makeup-free selfies, and some hilarious BTS from her promo tours.
Lady Gaga is a true artist, but she lets her fans, aka the 'Little Monsters,' into another side of her on Instagram. In between all her incredible music videos and posters, she'll change it up and post a casual Reel of her explaining her album. It's the perfect balance!
It's no secret that Jennifer Garner is one of the nicest celebs in Hollywood – and her Instagram surely proves it. Setting herself apart from some of the other stars on this list, Garner has no problem hopping on viral trends and making her own videos to make her fans laugh. Her feed is also filled with parenting hacks, hosting tips and tricks, and there's her Pretend Cooking Show too!
Sarah Michelle Gellar has been loved by fans for decades, so of course she's built on Instagram that fans love, which mixes her photo-ready fashion moments with her sweet candid pics with friends, family and her hubby Freddie Prinze Jr.
Selena Gomez's Instagram has a bit of everything: some behind-the-scenes content from her glamorous events, some cuddly moments with partner Benny Blanco, and even some throwback moments of her life and career. Plus, she often posts 'Get Ready With Me' videos, and we can't get enough of them!
Ashley Graham is living the dream, and her Instagram fans know it! Her Instagram sees her accomplish major career highs, some parenting milestones, and much more relatable and fun content.
Anne Hathaway is a Hollywood powerhouse, but her Instagram might make you feel like her best friend. Not only does she post fun videos of her celebrating sports games and doing face masks with her (famous) friends, but she's also not afraid to speak on important issues like the environment and politics.
If celebrity life is usually full of filters, Kate Hudson's Instagram presence is decidedly filter-free. She'll post candid snapshots of her birthday, some hilarious throwbacks with mom Goldie Hawn, and, of course, some adorable mom content with her kiddos.
Mindy Kaling's Instagram is as adorable as she is. In between adorable pics from her kids' lives, like her daughter's zoo-themed birthday, Kaling will also share real and honest cooking videos, and videos pulling up the curtain to her everyday life, like attending Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour!
Anna Kendrick is hilarious, so it's no wonder that her Instagram feed is quite funny too. Some of her best moments have been this Reel of hers crying after seeing her movie The Woman of the Hour's first billboard, her stylish NYE party with friends, and, last but not least, whenever she has a Pitch Perfect reunion.
Kendrick's Another Simple Favor co-star Blake Lively also has a beloved Instagram presence. She'll often post tributes to her husband Ryan Reynolds, behind-the-scenes of red carpets, and some candid OOTDs from her living room.
Leslie Mann is hilarious, both onscreen and on Instagram. If you follow her, you'll find videos of her goofing around in the sand, being cheeky with her husband Judd Apatow and sharing some sweet moments with her daughters, Maude and Iris.
Eva Mendes stepped back from acting, so following her on Instagram is the best way to know what she's up to. While she doesn't post much about her husband Ryan Gosling, she shares unfiltered how-to videos, funny memes of herself, and some stunning, makeup-free selfies.
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