Orange is the New Black star Danielle Brooks shares gym selfie on Instagram

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The actress posted a selfie on Instagram in her sports bra and admitted that she's never taken her shirt off at the gym before
She commented on the photo: 'Sometimes, it's a struggle. Sometimes, I don't like what I see'
Danielle, 25, plays Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson on Orange is the New Black, which returned for season three in June

Published: 16:11 EST, 29 July 2015 | Updated: 16:49 EST, 29 July 2015

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It takes confidence to take your top off at the gym, but to then share it with the world, requires courage of a different kind.Yet actress Danielle Brooks did just that in a body-confident selfie she posted to Instagram earlier this week.

The 25-year-old Orange is the New Black star admitted to her one million followers that it was always something she had wanted to do and finally became motivated to take the personal picture after overcoming her insecurities about body image and finding a new level of confidence in herself.

'I've always wanted to do this but have felt shameful and have told myself, “Until my body is perfect, I'm forbidden,”’ she wrote alongside the photo, in which she is posing in a pink sports bra, and a pair of high-waisted training leggings.

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Complete confidence: Danielle Brooks, 25, wrote on Instagram, 'I'm a confident woman! That doesn't stop once I take off my spanx.' It's the first time the Orange Is the New Black actress has taken her top off at the gym

Feeling fabulous: She explained to her one million followers that the moment was significant because of the 'shame' she had felt in the past of her body

'Today my inner being told me to turn up the notch on my self-love,' she wrote in the caption. 'I should not be ashamed of my body. I'm not a walking imperfection! I'm a Goddess. Secondly, I'm a confident woman! That doesn't stop once I take off my spanx.'

Danielle, who plays Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson explained that in the past she has 'felt shameful' of her body, but not anymore.

'Sometimes, it's a struggle. Sometimes, I don't like what I see.'

Danielle then shared an empowering message, brimming with self-confidence, in an attempt to inspire the same level of ‘self-love’ among her followers.

Personal triumph: Danielle shared a photo of herself at the gym to celebrate something she's always wanted to do and workout in only a sports bra, without shame

Winning role: The actress, who plays Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson on Orange Is the New Black, returned in season 3 of the series last month

'I have the power to change the way I relate to my body both physically and mentally. Today I woke up feeling beautiful and motivated to love myself and take care of the ONE body that I've been given.

'I'm not saying World take your shirt off, twist it round your head, spin it like a helicopter (lol),' she wrote before giving some amazing words of advice. 'I'm saying everyone live in your confidence. One Life. One Body. Take Care of It.'

She finished the posting with a series of humorous hastags including #yesmythightstouch, #voiceofthecurves #imabadshutyomouth and #ivebeeneatingmygreens.

Danielle recently penned an essay about self-love for Glamour magazine and just a few weeks ago she announced on Instagram she was joining People Style Watch for a #LoveYourShape campaign.

Speaking out: Two weeks ago, she announced on Instagram she was joining People Style Watch for a #LoveYourShape campaign, prompting others to share their photos with the hashtag