Celebrities Are Using their Platforms to Spread Body-Positive Messages
For years, celebrities, especially female celebrities, have been viewed as representative of beauty ideals unattainable for the average person. Some, however, are now using their platforms do combat this perception of celebrities and influencers as perfect. Celebrities such as Anne Hathaway and Ashley Graham are encouraging body positivity from their followers through honest posts and motivating words.
Ashley Graham encouraged her followers to embrace their bodies this summer, writing on Instagram “Believe me when i say your body is beautiful, and i know it's easy to tell yourself the lie that you're not good enough, thin enough, sexy enough, 'flawless' enough to wear a tank top or a swimsuit, but it's hot out there and so are you.”
Hilary Duff also shared on Instagram a photo of her in a swimsuit with a body-positive caption: “Ladies, let’s be proud of what we’ve got and stop wasting precious time in the day wishing we were different, better, and unflawed.”
Amy Schumer expressed gratitude for her post-pregnancy body on Instagram, writing in her comments to followers “I am loving my warm soft post baby body. Grateful to be feeling so strong again!”
Serena Williams shared a photo of her daughter and celebrated her strength and beauty with her caption: “I was looking at my daughter (OMG, yes, I have a daughter 😳) and she has my arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body. I don’t know how I would react if she has to go through what I’ve gone through since I was a 15 year old and even to this day….”
Lena Dunham shared a nude photo of herself and encouraged her followers to practice self-love with the caption “Any negativity that comes your way is just an excuse to love yourself even more, right? Comment below with a reason you love yourself.”
On Instagram, Anne Hathaway commented on the unrealistic expectations that new mothers face. She shares “There is no shame in gaining weight during pregnancy (or ever). There is no shame if it takes longer than you think it will to lose the weight (if you want to lose it at all). There is no shame in finally breaking down and making your own jean shorts because last summer‘s are just too dang short for this summer’s thighs. Bodies change. Bodies grow. Bodies shrink. It’s all love (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.)”
Danielle Brooks expressed gratitude for her body on Instagram, too, writing “Why I am grateful for MY BODY: The body is your ride or die, literally. So I’m thankful for Good Health!! I’m thankful that my body functions at 💯 regardless of the imperfections the world might see. It holds me up. It sustains me through long work weeks. It takes me on trips around the world, and carries me through my most stressful days and my most exciting. My body has my back, because it knows that I am learning to listen to what it needs to have it function at its best. I don’t take my body for granted, so thank you body for taking me on an incredible ride this year!”
This summer, follow celebrities and influencers who inspire you to feel confident and celebrate your summer body and share your body positive posts with us on Instagram!